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Friday, May 13, 2005
  Articles on this page: • In the swim
In the swim A backyard pool is just the thing for family fun For at-home family enjoyment, exercise and entertainment, few other home features match the swimming pool. With the right yard and a little research, homeowners can dive in with confidence. If cost is a factor, install an above-ground pool, recommends Tom Pickford of Pleasure Pool and Spa in Peoria, Ill. For approximately $2,000 to $8,000, you can have an above-ground pool for a fraction of the installation cost of an in-ground pool. For a more permanent installation and an investment that will hold its value when it comes time to sell your home, choose an in-ground pool, says Aqualand's Tammy Hunt. If you live in an area that freezes during winter, one of the most cost-efficient, durable and maintenance-free in-ground pools is vinyl-lined with steel or polymer walls. This construction won't shift and pop out of the ground during the freeze-thaw cycle, doesn’t have to be painted and, depending on the size and options, costs one-half to one-third the price of a concrete pool. Assuming you balance your chemicals properly and keep sharp objects out of the pool, Hunt says, you can change the liner every 10 to 15 years and look like you have a brand-new pool again. Other construction options are all-concrete, or concrete with fiberglass or stainless-steel walls. The price of a vinyl-lined pool is typically $18,000 to $30,000. The price of an all-concrete pool usually ranges from $54,000 to $60,000. In choosing size, shape and features, consider not only the price of the pool and equipment, but also the cost of chemicals to keep the water fresh. Also look carefully at your lot. Don't fill up your entire back yard with a pool, recommends agent Bonnie Wabner with the Real Estate Group. "An all-concrete yard is not a selling point," she says. "You need some green space so you can barbecue and sit out, including seasons when the pool isn't in use." Plus, people with pets need some grass in the yard. Most in-ground pools are rectangular, L-shaped or kidney-shaped with either a level, slanted or dish-shaped bottom. For the lap, splash and water-volleyball crowd, the maximum depth is usually no more than 6 feet. A few homeowners also build a dive well into the pool, Hunt says. Kids love to have a diving board, but Hunt doesn't often recommend dive wells. "You get more pool for the money with a straight bottom pool," Hunt says. The kids grow up and don’t care if you have a diving board or not, but you still have to fill that deep end with water and chemicals. Extra features can add a lot to a pool. Select from among curved wall panels, lights, ladders, an automatic cleaner, walk-in steps, slides, fiber-optics, water falls and fountains. A pool deck can also be customized with colored concrete, aggregate, brick, stamped concrete and flagstone. When it comes to considering resale value, a pool can be considered a good investment, but that shouldn't be the first consideration in deciding to build, according to Wabner. She recommends installing a pool first and foremost for your own enjoyment. It takes four years of your own use before you’ll see a return on your investment when you sell your home — and that is assuming the right buyer who wants a pool is shopping when you’re selling.  RETURN TO TOP |
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