What to Know Before Building an Inground Pool
In 2014, my family and I moved from Nashville to Houston. My husband wanted to get a pool installed as soon as we signed the closing papers. I on the other hand was definitely more hesitant since our youngest was 2yrs old at the time. Plus, we had moved around so much that I didn’t want to invest in any home since my thinking was more of “What’s the point if we are going to move anyway?”.
Fast forward to 2020, I was finally ready to give the green light to get our backyard transformation underway. My husband was thrilled that his vision was going to finally come to fruition. We had worked with a pool designer in 2015 and still had the plans. We made a few adjustments to the original plans (adding built-in bar stool type seats) and overall we are absolutely thrilled with how our pool turned out.
Having just experienced an in-ground pool build, I wanted to share some insight and tips with you that may be helpful if you are considering getting a pool.
What to Know Before Building an In-ground Pool
Have a Vision
This is important. Scroll through the internet to find inspiration for things you like. Having an idea of what captures your interest is important. Save the images and create a “mood” or ” vision” board of images of pools that you like. It’s great to bring that information with you to your pool design meeting. We decided to go with a custom free-form resort feeling pool. We kept the design clean and simple. I didn’t want to add features since that can really date your pool years later.
If you are interested to see my other post with all the furniture and decor we used for outdoors, click HERE.
Talk to the Experts
What I found most interesting during this whole process is how many people seem to know or have an opinion about pools when they have never built one before OR haven’t had one for a long time. It’s important you take what they say with a grain of salt. Rather, talk to the experts, the pool companies! These are the people that have dedicated their lives to the pool industry. It’s wise to schedule appointments with several companies and get their perspective and views of what works best for the area you live in.
Know your Ground
Every area of the country is different. This means that the materials used to build a long-lasting pool structure will vary from area to area. In our area in Houston, it was highly recommended to go with thick walls of gunite. When I asked some of the veteran pool companies, that have been around longer than 15yrs, each one said other pool options would not fare well in this part of Texas long term. So we ended up deciding on concrete.
There are 3 types of in-ground pools one can consider:
- Concrete
- Fiberglass
- Vinyl
Differences in 3 Types of Pools
Concrete: This allows the builder to have complete freedom when designing a pool and also changing things years later if needed. You can create a pool in any size, style, or add any pool features you like. This material is durable and porous which helps to add to the longevity of the pool.
Fiberglass: Are pre-formed smooth finished pools. They come in one piece and need to be installed with a crane. Many manufacturers have different styles and sizes but you won’t be able to customize much of your pool.
Vinyl: Heavy vinyl liners are used in an excavated hole that has supporting walls made of plastic, steel, or aluminum. It typically rests on sand or another material at the bottom of the pool and is held up by the edging of the pool.
Salt or Chlorine
Should we do Salt or Chlorine? This is something that came up a lot when talking to my husband and the pool companies. What I learned, after much research, is that neither one is better than the other. They are BOTH a type of chlorine pool (I didn’t know this). And both will require similar chemicals (shock etc). The difference is that saltwater pools have less chlorine in them, so they don’t produce that chlorine smell. People with allergies, asthma, or skin sensitivities typically prefer Salt over Chlorine.
Saltwater Pros:
- Cheaper in the long run
- Requires less maintenance
- Better for your skin and body
Saltwater Cons:
- Higher initial price on the equipment
- Doesn’t kill bacteria as fast
- Not great for all types of pools
Chlorine Pros:
- Cheaper initial upfront cost
- Available for all types of pools
- Easier to get help and information about
Chlorine Cons:
- More expensive long term
- Requires more maintenance
- More likely to get a green pool if the water isn’t treated correctly
Pool Maintenance
Each type of pool will require weekly, monthly, and yearly maintenance. Chlorine pools do cost more in the long run due to the delicate pH level that is needed. But long term saltwater can cause early erosion of pool, decking, and equipment which can lead to added expenses.
I feel like that no matter how you slice or dice it all comes down to personal preference and what is best for your family. And no matter what you choose, having a pool in your backyard is a pretty awesome thing to experience.
Hope you found this post, what to know before building an in-ground pool helpful. If you have any questions please reach out and let me know. Will try to help you as best as I can with my experience and perspective.
Hi! We are building a in ground pool and I came across your blog on Pinterest. It has
Been so overwhelming deciding on pool tiles and stacked stone. I love your pool tiles. Would you be able to send me the info on them?
Adrienne
So sorry just getting to this. Have you completed everything?
I would like to have an inground pool built in my house since this will help improve the property’s value. Thank you for sharing here as well the importance of keeping the deisgn simple and neat. I’ll also keep in mind to hire an experienced contractor that will be able to execute the project successfully.
yes, don’t always go with the cheapest, that can lead to a whole LOT of headaches.
Reading about fiberglass pools and how easy they are to install was really helpful. I could see this being the best way for us to get our backyard swimming area set up quickly before summer starts so we can prepare other things like the surrounding seating areas. I’ll get a pool contractor to help us out with this for sure so things can get done quickly.
We’re glad you talked about how our house’s weather conditions affect our material selection when it comes to swimming pool installations. I heard that my brother’s planning to install a pool in his backyard soon, so I’ll make sure he reads your material selection tips right away. Thanks for the advice on inground pools and how to make sure ours lasts for a long time.
Glad this was helpful in some way. Very best, Alley
I thought it was informative when you mentioned that each type of swimming pool requires yearly maintenance. I would think that it would be a good idea to have your swimming pool serviced in spring and fall. Performing maintenance twice a year seems like a good way to keep your swimming pool in perfect condition.
Yes, and it is also depends on where you are located. For us in Houston, we typically service our pool 3x a year since its open all year long.
I totally agree when you said that it is best to talk to experts when it comes to pool designs because they have dedicated their lives to that industry. And I think that means that we can definitely trust them with their ideas it’s suggestions. For example, we want an inground infinity pool, so we should ask first if it is going to be applicable to the kind of property that you are going to buy next year.
yes, its important to go with a pool company you trust so when they advise you options you can fully trust them.
Building an inground pool is an extensive process. This article gives an effective breakdown on what to expect. Thank you for sharing!
Appreciate that. Thank you.
Thanks for pointing out that we should research on the internet to find inspiration and have an idea of what we like when it comes to pools. I will make sure to look for photos of the idea I have in mind because I already have something I like. Since I cannot draw that good, it would be better if I could just find a photo or a couple of photos that will represent what I envision for my property when hiring in ground swimming pool services this year.
Excellent insights! This blog beautifully outlines the crucial factors to consider before taking the plunge into building an inground pool. From budget considerations to design options, it covers everything one needs to know. A must-read for anyone planning to add a touch of luxury to their property with an inground pool. Thanks for sharing these valuable tips!
Thanks for stopping by and reading
Your tips are incredibly detailed and practical, from budgeting to choosing the right materials. It’s clear you’ve put a lot of thought into every aspect of the process.
I appreciate that, thanks
Thank you for sharing a great guide! Having guidance from an expert is crucial in this project. They will help us decide to have a perfect pool area for our home.
Its the most important step
Wow, I really loved this article! The pictures of the Natural Swimming Pool/Pond in Texas are absolutely stunning, and they really helped me understand what goes into creating one of these beautiful, eco-friendly pools. I had no idea that something like this could be built with the help of a How-To eBook, but now it seems like a fun and doable project. The way the article showed how it all came together, from start to finish, was so inspiring and made me realize how much creativity and care go into designing a natural pool. This article has definitely sparked my interest in NSPs, and I’m excited to learn more. Great job on making it so informative and exciting to think about!
Thank you
Thank you for sharing a guideline. This is an excellent help to all readers who plan to build a pool because many factors are needed to ensure quality and aesthetic appeal.
thank you