THE RIGHT POOL FOR YOU AND YOUR BUDGET

Anyone who comes to your home for the first time recieves the obligatory tour: "...and this is the kitchen... ” just in case the presence of a range, disherwasher and refrigerator weren’t adequate enough clues. As the official-unwritten-first-time-guests-rulebook requires, they respond with comments such as, "Tom, these are the kinds of cabinets I’ve always wanted to have.” Tom nods at his wife, smiles and hopes this is the end of the tour. Sorry, Tom, there’s just one more thing: “And this is the pool.” As my husband ushers Tom toward the grill to inspect the kabobs, I lead my friend to a poolside lounge chair where her favorite cocktail is waiting. What our friends say is, "This is beautiful"..."I’ve always wanted a pool"..."Is it a lot of work?" But what they want to say is, "How the hell can you afford a pool?"

Fiberglass  ($20K - $30K)
Ours happens to be a fiberglass pool which, before it was placed into a hole in our backyard, was a premanufactured shell.   We were actually able to view an assortment of different shapes and sizes before making a decision and this helped us to better visualize the end result.  All told, pool, pump, contractor to dig the hole and installation cost us a little under $25,000. 

Gunite ($30K and up)
A fiberglass pool like ours is right at home in our well maintained middle class subdivision.  But in the backyard of a Beverly Hills mansion or a Palm Beach Estate it would stick out like a sore thumb.  If the home, and surrounding environs, are upscale then a gunite pool is almost always the rule.  Gunite pools maintain their ‘like new’ look and feel longer, the owner can be more creative in shapes, design and color.  The cost of a gunite pool depends on the creativity of design and they cost more to maintain. 

Where Vinyl Fits ($10K - $25K)
If your mind is firmly set on an inground pool but are wondering if your budget is up to the task, consider a vinyl pool.  Like any other inground pool, vinyl’s begin with a hole in the ground.  Vinyl pools can take on any shape you like and they cost less than on average than fiberglass pools which are restricted to the size and shapes of preformed shells.  However, there is a catch.  Imperfections in the hole wall not properly and evenly patched with cement can cause tears.  Certain toys, activities and such can also cause tears.  Tears can be repaired with patches and over time a tear-prone pool can come to resemble Lil’ Abners overalls.

Above Ground Pools ($1,500 - $5,000)
A lot of people look down their noses at above ground pools and that’s too bad.  For pure fun and family recreation they can be just the ticket.  They won’t add much if any value to a property but that isn’t their purpose – they’re just for fun.  However, the fun can be short lived if the land the pool is placed upon is uneven or rocky.  It’s important, even though the dollar investment is lower, to take the time to make triple sure the place you decide to put your above ground pool is perfect for the job.

The right pool for you and your budget depends on a variety of factors, not the least of which is the value the pool will add to your home come resale time.   Also, a swimming pool requires care and maintenance.  Consider those costs as well.  The whole idea of having a pool to make life more enjoyable and a big part of the pleasure comes with knowing, the big hole in your yard hasn’t put a big hole in your budget