How Much Does a Lined In-Ground Pool Cost?
- A lined in-ground pool is also more commonly referred to as a vinyl in-ground pool. Rather than the interior walls of the pool being made of a dry cement mix known as gunite, they are made of a series of bonded layers of vinyl sheeting. There are a few upsides and downsides to this as opposed to a normal in-ground pool. The good things about vinyl pools are that algae blooms have less of a porous surface to cling to, so they are easier to clean. The construction process is faster and uses fewer materials, so they are generally a few thousand dollars cheaper. The downside is that the foundation of a vinyl pool can be less stable. If the packed earth beneath shifts or gives way, the pool will be destroyed, while a normal pool may not. Also it's possible for the vinyl to be cut or torn, so nothing with jagged or sharp edges should go near it.
- How much a pool costs depends on many variables. What size pool are we talking about? What part of the world do you live in? Do you want diving boards, slides, Jacuzzis and other frills built in? How easily can workmen get their trucks and equipment to the pool area? Will workers have to clear the land first? Will they have to move power lines, phone lines, or plumbing lines before they can begin digging? All these questions can easily double the initial cost of construction. But let us say you live in an easily accessible area with land cleared and ready to be built on. You want a no-frills pool. You will probably pay about $10 per cubic foot. That may not seem like much until you do the math. Let's say you want a plain rectangular lined in-ground pool that's 36 feet long, 18 feet wide, and gradually slopes from 4 to 8 feet deep. That will end up being 3,888 cubic feet, which translates to about $40,000.
- A pool that size kept running year-round will cost $1,800 in chemicals each year. There's the initial cost of the pool pump and filter, which is $1,500 and will have to be replaced every 10 years. That works out to $150 each year. There's also the increase in your electrical bill to run the pump. Depending on the type of pump and the base rate you pay for electricity, I would allow at least $30 each month. From personal experience it will probably be more than that. Keep in mind that the pump would only be running about eight hours a day. That equates to $360 or more each year. All totaled, the yearly cost of keeping the pool running is $2,310.