Purchasing a Pool is Exciting – But What Options Do You Have?

Congratulations, you’ve saved up enough money and purchased the house and are now looking to buy a swimming pool for beautiful home! You’ve worked hard to get to this point and you’ve got dreams for your home and family. You foresee your children growing up and enjoying time outdoors with mom and dad. When reflecting back on your past, you remember all of the memories spent outdoors with your parents – and you want the same for your family too.

Illiana Backyard Fun is all about building lasting family memories and we believe that swimming pools help build some of the best ones! In fact, studies show that most people are investing in their outdoor living spaces and spending less on family vacations. You can still escape once in a while to an exotic place, but home is where you spend all of your time. Therefore, it might be a good idea to spruce up your outdoor living space and create your own daily escape.

When you begin your research, you’ll notice that there are several types of swimming pools and hundreds of options for brands and models. Where do you even begin to draw the line and determine which is right for you? For a quick synopsis, let’s review each type of pool and we’ll cover more. This list comprises the 5 basic categories of pools in order of most expensive to cheapest.

• In Ground Gunite (Concrete) Pool
• In Ground Fiberglass Pool
• In Ground Vinyl Pool
• Semi-In Ground Pool
• Above Ground Pool

What’s The Difference in Each Type of Pool?

Each category of swimming pool has its strengths and weaknesses. The fastest way to compare each pool style is to evaluate the cost and characteristics of each. Let’s begin!

In Ground Gunite (Concrete) Pool: $35,000 – Unlimited

This is where creativity meets unlimited possibilities. Builders can create exotic designs or basic layouts. The choice is yours and it all depends on what you envision for your family. Simply let the builder know what water features, lighting options, tanning ledges, etc that you would like and they can make it happen. These pools are constructed out of reinforced steel and concrete which means they can take any shape and design. This gives you the greatest flexibility, durability and therefore – the highest price.

In Ground Fiberglass Pool: $25,000 – $75,000

Fiberglass Pools are the new fad in the swimming pool industry. Gone are the days of basic layouts and two color choices. These manufactured swimming pools provide stellar warranties, a huge range of shapes and sizes and a wide array of colors. Builders give you a menu of options (with very accurate pricing) and make your choice. These pools often have short lead times and can be installed in a matter of weeks after you sign the contract. These are the fastest to install, provide an actual warranty and have a wide array of choices. For their strength, speed and great selection they land in the second highest price category.

In Ground Vinyl Pool: $20,000 – $50,000

These pre-packaged swimming pools are a blend of custom designs or stocked components. Buyers typically have a menu to choose from (similar to fiberglass) but there are some options for customization. Vinyl Pools provide similar lead times that range from 4-6 weeks from the date of purchase. They require a bit more maintenance and need a replacement liner approximately every 3-5 years. With that in mind, these pools are made out of simpler materials and therefore have a much lower price associated to them. Vinyl Pools are still labor intensive to install and therefore, it elevates their price compared to the other options (listed below).

Semi-In Ground Pools: $15,000 – $30,000

Alas, a new category of swimming pools has finally hit the market and it is exploding in popularity. Many home owners enjoy the new style of these pools and the functionality they provide. Able to be installed full in-ground, semi-inground or completely above ground – you have complete control over the design of your new swimming pool. This is truly a unique design and it adds a modern touch to your outdoor living space. Due to the cost effectiveness and ease of installation, these semi-in ground pools are the second to lowest price category.

Above Ground Pools: $10,000 – $25,000

Last but not least, we have the wide popular and very notable above ground swimming pools. You know this option by its basic look and popularity across the United States. Many home owners purchase or construct these swimming pools out in a short time frame. Once installed you can expect these pools to last between 5-10 years based upon the level of care and maintenance they receive. Because they are above ground, they are exposed to the elements such as freezing and wind. The are fairly rugged but aren’t expected to last more than the warranty states due to their stainless steel or resin materials. This is also the cheapest option for new swimming pools.

Can I Visit with Kristie to See My Options?

With so many options, how do you possibly decide which one is right for you? Well, at Illiana Backyard Fun – we believe in helping our clients achieve the backyards of their dreams. We are a business built on good old-fashioned values and we will meet you at your home or our store for free consultations. Our ultimate objective is to help you determine which type of pool you’d like and deliver exceptional service from install to pool school.

If you have any questions over this information, we invite you to give us a call or fill out our contact form! We’d love to meet you and get you started with helpful information to make the shopping process easier and a lot more fun!