Tips for Building Your Dream Swimming Pool: Look for the Right Contractor to Help Deal with Expense, Mess, Permits and Geology
Like so much else else, pools have changed dramatically. It’s a far cry from the cookie-cutter look of yesteryear. Pools can be free-form, outlined in flagstone, or in natural rock that forms grottos and waterfalls. A formal pool can incorporate an adjacent spa. A vanishing edge pool, with its stunning visual impact, is a grace note in the landscape. And even a seemingly tiny yard can accommodate a properly designed lap pool.
These days, the pool is not just a place where the kids can splash, but is a vital focal point in the total look of a home. The aesthetics of the pool count as much as its entertainment value.
“People are trying to create a unique environment in their back yards,” said Raymond Whitford, president and CEO of Lifetime Pools in Palo Alto, California. The ambiance of the yard can be enhanced by the pool as well as complementary structures, hardscape, landscape and lighting, both inside and outside the pool.
This unique environment comes at a price, however, and the cost is just one of the considerations.
Not only is building a pool an expensive project, but it involves a considerable investment in time and effort, a willingness to put up with noisy machinery and workers digging up the yard, and a variety of permits and inspections.
“It’s major construction. It can be traumatic,” said Whitford, who estimates that the typical pool installation will take from eight to 12 weeks, although it may take longer if the permit process goes slowly. “Sometimes it can take from weeks to months to secure permits.”
How much does a pool cost? Depends on how elaborate your plan turns out to be. Your total expenditure depends on the design, depth and length, but plan on spending at least $18,000 for a basic in-ground pool, according to www.costhelper.com. Custom designs will run more.
The first, and most important step, is finding a reputable pool contractor. According to Christina Cozzi, a public relations executive for the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, it’s important to get recommendations from friends, neighbors and family members who have had pools built. But avoid unlicensed contractors, and check with the Better Business Bureau to make sure there are no outstanding complaints or suits against the builder you have in mind.
Using an experienced contractor is important in any kind of construction, but particularly when it comes to pools, because of the engineering involved, said Whitford. “You need to have a contractor who is familiar with the geology of the area,” he noted, especially on California’s slip-prone hillsides. “The finished pool might look beautiful, but there could be a potential for problems years down the road.”
Whitford said to look for pool builders who are licensed, have been in business for some years, and are members of professional organizations such as APSP, the Master Pools Guild, and the California Spa and Pool Industry Education Council.
As with any other major construction project, homeowners should get bids from two or three different contractors, Cozzi said. Have a look at their finished work as well, and ask if you can visit any projects that are under way, adds Whitford.
An experienced pool contractor will be able to guide homeowners through the process more easily than a less knowledgeable builder, Whitford said. There are a bewildering number of options and choices. Does the homeowner prefer a free-form, formal or lap pool? What will its purpose be? What style suits the home?
Savvy contractors will be able to ascertain the owner’s needs and wants, and will also be well acquainted with local permit and approval processes needed to complete the project.
Whitford said that a pool builder should be able to direct homeowners to energy-saving options, such as heating the pool with a passive solar system, installing an automatic pool cover that keeps debris out and heat in, or using variable-speed pool pumps that substantially reduce electricity costs.
“The choices can be overwhelming,” said Whitford. Some intriguing modern options that he mentions include pool interiors in dark colors, and underwater fiber optic lighting.
Additional help may be required to help tie together a backyard plan with the anticipated pool. An integrated landscaping design makes sure that the pool’s style meshes with the rest of the property, said landscape architect Steve DuBridge, owner of DuBridge Design in San Jose, California.
“A landscape architect can make sure the (yard) design is cohesive, coherent, and that it all fits together,” said DuBridge, noting that ideally, the shape and style of the pool, outdoor structures, exterior lighting, hardscape and landscaping should all work together. A creative pool contractor and the landscape architect collaborate to create a look that enhances the property as a whole.
And what do you get, for all this money and aggravation? In the end, a place to relax. A thing of beauty. And a very important enhancement to a home’s value.
“These days, every pool becomes a custom project,” said Whitford.
