While you can always head to a local pool to cool off on a hot summer day, nothing beats having your own pool to swim in and lounge around with friends and family. If you've decided to get your own pool, you're now trying to decide whether you should get an in-ground pool or one that is above-ground. Since both have advantages and disadvantages, here are some tips that might make your decision easier.
Cost Variations
As you would expect, there are wide cost variations between in-ground and above-ground pools. For an in-ground pool that's 12x24 and includes a safety fence, retractable cover, and concrete apron, you can plan on spending about $32,000. Should you opt for other features like diving boards and sloped entries, costs could go as high as $70,000. If this is too much for your budget, an above-ground pool of similar size and amenities may only cost about $10,000.
Installation
Typically, for above-ground pools, transporting the pool and getting it installed where you want it is going to get handled by experts. However, if you are a seasoned DIY person who likes tackling home projects, chances are you and some family members or friends can install an above-ground pool yourself in about three days. If you have questions or don't have the experience and tools needed for such a job, leave above ground pool installation to the experts. That way all of the equipment and needed hardware are installed properly.
Should you want an in-ground pool for your home, this will require extensive excavation and likely take weeks to finish and you should turn this job over to professional installers. In addition to the excavation, the cement, sealing, and tiles is an extensive job that needs to be done perfectly for it to last. This makes it incredibly important to work with a company that specializes in pools with a record of successful installations.
Adding Value to Your Home
Like most home improvement projects you've had done over the years, one of your goals was to add value to your home, which can be important should you decide at some point to sell. An in-ground pool can be a great way to add value. Often viewed by prospective buyers as a status symbol, an in-ground pool will add several thousand dollars of value to your home, especially if your pool has an elaborate design and has numerous features. Unfortunately, if you get an above-ground pool, this generally adds little to no extra value to your home. There are some ways to make the above pool seem more luxurious and attractive to help drive value but even the most elite features won’t compare to an in-ground pool when it comes to selling your home.
Pool Maintenance
Ensuring that your pool is properly maintained is essential. Filtering, cleaning, and maintaining your pool’s chemical balance are all tasks you’ll have to perform no matter which type of pool you choose. The time and frequency of needing to complete maintenance tasks are also similar between in-ground and above-ground pools. In terms of maintaining the structure of the pool itself, in-ground pools have the advantage of generally being more durable and longer-lasting. That being said, both pools will eventually require these kinds of repairs. In addition, the repairs of both the in-ground and above-ground repairs will eventually lead to the pool being replaced so consider that when considering how long you intend to live in your home with the pool.
Safety Issues to Consider
In-ground pools are usually not a great option for people with small children and pets. Unless your pool has a fence with a locked gate around it, you run the risk of your kids or animals falling into the pool and potentially drowning. In fact, well more than half of all accidental drownings occur in in-ground pools. Of course, drownings can also occur in an above-ground pool. Nonetheless, above-ground pools are statistically far safer, which is definitely something you’ll want to keep in mind when making your decision.
No matter which type of pool you choose for your home, it will be a source of fun and relaxation on the hottest of summer days.
