A pool is an impressive feature of a home, but it can also be the most difficult and expensive to maintain. When it comes time to decide between DIY pool care and using a professional pool cleaning service, consider such tasks as maintaining the filter, surface skimming and chemical testing.
The average cost to maintain a pool is $80 to $150 monthly or about $960 to $1,800 yearly. For a first-time pool cleaning service, expect to spend $150 to $350 on average. The annual cost to own a pool is $3,000 to $5,000, which includes maintenance, repairs, electricity, and water.
A pool can increase not only your social worth but also the value of your home. However, the increase is probably not as much as you think. According to HouseLogic, there's no real guarantee that you'll make your money back. In fact, adding a swimming pool may only increase your home's value by 7%.
Fiberglass pools need the least maintenance, and they cost the least ($3,750 over 10 years).
Pools with vinyl liners will last more than 20 years, as long as you replace your liner every 6-12 years. Concrete pools have exceptional longevity, but you need to resurface the concrete every 10 years or so. Fiberglass pools have the longest lifespans of any in-ground pool, often easily surpassing 30 years.
Maintenance. A typical pool cleaner would cost you about $100 per visit, every four to six weeks plus $200 each year for extra chemicals required. That's a total of $1400 each year.
It's recommended having a depth fewer than six feet to meet most pool needs. For a family of six to eight people, an 18 foot by 36-foot pool is recommended. This should be sufficient to avoid crowding and allow for the playing of games. Rectangle shaped pools look best for this size.
Pros of Saltwater Pools
There's less chlorine and less of the heavy chemical scent and content. They're gentler on the skin, with less irritation to the eyes, hair and swimsuits. The water has a softer, silkier feel to it compared to chlorine water. They have lower maintenance costs than chlorine pools.
8. You may be paying for weekly service but the guy is coming every other week, or even every three weeks. Since pool guys usually come when you're at work, you have very little way of verifying if and when they're there.
Is a salt water pool easier to maintain? Yes, a salt water pool is easier to maintain! There's no need to purchase, store and add chlorine to your pool. Simply add salt and your pool's salt chlorinator will do all the work of making chlorine.
16 x 32 Rectangle (most popular)
When it comes to construction, take note: Rectangular pools typically cost more than curved pools. The reason why is increased perimeter footage. Rectangles may require more square footage in a backyard. A perfect rectangle provides zero flexibility to incorporate or allow for the intrusion of other structures.
A 12x24 foot pool has a surface area that covers 288 feet, so it should be big enough for your needs based on this rough calculation.
To get the most enjoyment out of your swimming pool, it's important to keep it clean throughout the year. This requires weekly to monthly maintenance, which entails detailed tasks such as scrubbing, skimming, and vacuuming, as well as checking filters, water levels, and pool chemicals.
Chlorine serves a vital purpose in keeping swimming pool water clean and healthy. In theory, if you have a cloudy swimming pool, you can add chlorine to “shock it” and clear things up. Chlorine will get the job done.
Shock is liquid or granular chlorine. You should add one gallon (or one pound) of shock per 10,000 gallons of pool water every week to two weeks. During hot weather or frequent use, you may need to shock more frequently.
Keep in mind that this does not include space for water features, a spa, slides, or extra patio work around the pool. If your backyard space is smaller than 1,200 square feet, you may still be able to get an inground pool, but it likely will not be bigger than 12 feet by 24 feet.
The construction process of a swimming pool is costly because of all the equipment involved. When you put in an above-ground pool, the process is typically quite a bit easier. However, very few people realize how much work is done to level the yard to put an above-ground pool in place.
The Incredible Stealth Semi-Inground Pool
The Stealth Semi-Inground Pool can be sunken partially or it can be almost entirely submerged into the ground. This makes it perfect for backyards with a slope and it all it takes is some simple decking or stonework to completely hide the walls of the pool.
It generally takes between three and 12 weeks to install a concrete pool. That's longer than other types, but concrete is considered the strongest, most durable type of pool. And unlike other in-ground pools, existing concrete pools can be rebuilt, refinished, enlarged, or updated.
Gunite pools are among the longest-lasting pools on the market. When gunite pools are properly installed they could potentially last 100+ years. They are extremely durable and totally customizable.
Intex is a popular manufacturer of temporary above-ground pools. How long they last depends on a number of factors, but the simple answer is that the inflatable pools will last 2-4 years and the metal frame types will last between 4-8 years.
12x24 Inground Pool Cost
The cost for this size, on average, will be between $26,000 and $38,000, depending on the type of material used. Materials and their average associated costs are as follows: Concrete, $38,000. Fiberglass, $34,000.