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What you'll need:
TOOLS
Excavator
Concrete mixer
Sledgehammer
Pickaxe
Hose and water supply
Stake flags
SUPPLIES
Pool liner
Concrete or gravel foundation materials
Rebar for concrete foundation
Pool drainage and plumbing
Electrical wiring
Pump and filter
Pool heater (optional)
Whether you need to practice your cannonball or brush up on your butterfly, an inground pool is a coveted backyard luxury. Learning how to build a pool yourself is a good idea, but taking on all the work yourself is not always advisable, at least not without the attentive oversight of a local pool installation team. If you're about to embark on the pool-building process and want to get a sense of how much you can DIY—or simply what to get back the time it takes to build a pool—this guide will walk you through what you need to know.
Prepping to Install a Pool
Photo: C5Media / Adobe Stock
Choosing to install a pool—particularly a permanent inground pool—is a big move. There are several things to consider before installing a pool. For one, the cost to install an inground pool ranges from $39,000 to $55,000, which is more than an above ground pool, which costs about $8,000. If you are trained to DIY the installation, you will still pay two-thirds of the cost of an inground pool on materials alone. You should also budget for any equipment rentals you will need, such as an excavator, if you don’t already own them.
Here are a few other steps to take while prepping for pool installation:
Check the local pool requirements set by your town or HOA.
Research necessary safety equipment for during and after the construction process.
Hire a local soil tester to ensure the density of your soil can hold your ideal type of pool liner.
Consider hiring a team of contractors and acting as the general contractor instead of fully going it alone.
Choose Your Pool Type and Location
Begin by brainstorming what your pool will look like and where it will go. How will you use your pool? Are you more of a lounge-with-a-book or a get-in-those-laps kind of person? Do you have kids in the house and do they know how to swim? Let's look at some ways to choose the best pool for your home.
Size
The size of your pool will play the most significant role in the price of your pool materials and installation. It will also determine how much it may raise your home's property taxes.
Pools come in squares, rectangles, ovals, circles, and custom shapes. They often range from three to eight feet deep, depending on their use.
Local zoning laws may dictate the distance of the edge of your poor from your house, your property line, and any local utilities.
Types
Narrow down the size of your pool by considering the most popular pool types. Lap pools, for example, focus on length, ranging between 30 and 70 feet long. Plunge pools are much smaller and can go as small as six-by-six feet.
The type of pool will also determine whether you opt for traditional chemically treated water or a saltwater pool. Saltwater pools cost just a little more than typical chlorine pools. Maintenance for saltwater pools tends to be easier, though. Keep in mind that saltwater pools require salt-resistant liners.
Location
In addition to local zoning laws, choosing the right location for your pool takes some foresight. Inground outdoor pools should ideally:
Receive several hours of daily direct sunlight.
Sit away from large trees and shrubs that shed leaves or flowers.
Be easy to view from several windows of your home for safety.
Leave enough room around its edges for decking and safe travel.
Avoid water main lines, septic fields, and sprinkler systems.
Sit on clear and level ground.
Special Features
Take a moment to make a list of must-have special features so they make it into the final plans. These may include decking, an outdoor kitchen, water features, a pool grotto, slides, diving boards, or a raised wall for a semi-inground pool.
Design and Plan Your Inground Pool
Photo: Lev / Adobe Stock
Transform your brainstorm into concrete plans by drawing up sketches with proper measurements and desired materials. A great place to start is the type of pool building materials and pool liners. Here are the three major players:
Concrete: Concrete pools cost an average of $50,000 for materials alone, or between $70 to $310 per square foot. The range includes several concrete distribution methods and types of foundations. They last up to 75 years but often require meticulous maintenance.
Fiberglass: For an average of $40,000, a fiberglass pool is long-lasting and easier to install and maintain. When it comes time to replace the liner—or if you already have a pool foundation in place—you'll pay around $8,800 for the fiberglass liner alone. However, these liners often come in set measurements, so you'll pay more for custom shapes.
Vinyl: Vinyl pools cost the least upfront—an average of $30,000, which includes about $2,400 for the liner. While a vinyl pool liner will only last about 10 years, it is easier to install and mold to unique pool shapes.
Use this phase to mark out the entrances and exits to your pool, where the surrounding walkways will go, and how deep you need to excavate. We highly recommend running your plans by a professional pool installer before proceeding.
Apply for the Necessary Permits
Building permits cost between $250 and $2,000 for outdoor projects. Depending on how busy your local office may be, obtaining a permit could take weeks or even months. You may also need plumbing, electrical, or gas line permits, depending on your pool design. Additionally, don't forget about permits for your decking or outdoor kitchen installation down the line.
Mark the Layout of Your Pool
Photo: Joni / Adobe Stock
Measure and mark the edge of your pool design with stake flags. With the help of a plumber and electrician, place additional flags over electrical lines, gas lines, pipes, and parts of your septic system. You may also need to investigate or remove large tree roots that could get in the way of your excavation.
Excavate the Pool Area
While less than hiring a professional, you will still pay for the cost of pool excavation with specialized equipment. Heavy-duty digging equipment costs an average of $100 an hour or $2,200 a week. Be sure to receive the proper training to use the equipment before renting and attempting to excavate your property.
You or your contractor will remove the proper amount of soil and rock to lay the pool foundation, liner, and connecting plumbing.
Once you have excavated the land, ensure that it is clear and level for laying the foundation.
Install Plumbing and Electrical Lines
Photo: oneSHUTTER oneMEMORY / Adobe Stock
At this point, you will need to hire a local plumber who has experience with installing inground pools. Pools have plumbing for both drainage and filtration. It is critical to use a professional for this stage to avoid serious water damage to your yard and foundation.
You will also need to call a local electrician for the powered elements of your pool. Your pool uses electricity for its pump, filter, water features, lighting, and, in some cases, an automatic cover.
Adding dedicated circulate or running gas lines for outdoor kitchens will require additional certified and licensed specialists.
Install Framework or Shell
All inground pools require a support system no matter the type of liner you choose. Concrete foundations require reinforcement with a frame of metal rebar. Wood paneling, gravel, or leveled soil are additional options. For example, fiberglass shells can sit right on soil, gravel, or concrete depending on the recommendations during the design process based on weight and soil composition.
These structural elements support your pool's depth and overall shape—including a sloped area or steps—as well as the surrounding walls.
Apply Concrete and Finishes
Photo: oneSHUTTER oneMEMORY / Adobe Stock
If you opt for a concrete pool, you are now ready to pour and level the concrete into the mold of your reinforced excavation. Shotcrete—named for the method of shooting concrete through a device into the desired area—can take an average of one week to cure and may require daily watering.
During this phase, you will also ensure that the concrete cures at the proper level and shape of your desired pool. Add coping—stone or tile frame—to the top of the pool to ensure the bond between the pool itself and the surrounding deck. Finally, use this as an opportunity to add tile, stone, or plaster finishes to the surface of the pool.
Add special installations, such as unique water features, water slides, diving boards, and railings.
Prepare for a Final Inspection
Call your local municipal office to inspect the final installation before filling it with water. It may take time to get the final approval on your pool—up to a couple of weeks—so be sure to budget in this time and be prepared to make changes if necessary.
Between the large investment and extensive excavation work, building a pool yourself is not advisable. Even though you'll save about a third of the total price in labor, the cost of pool repairs from DIY errors could offset the savings.
If you are longing to DIY as much of the pool-building process as possible, consider acting as the general contractor instead. While it is still not wise for new DIYers, those with construction experience could manage a team of contractors to get the job done right. However, it’s best to lean on the expertise of trained designers and builders for projects this large.
Frequently Asked Questions
Building a pool yourself will take at least eight to 12 weeks. After all, this is the building timeline after hiring a pool contractor who knows how to draw up plans, analyze your landscape, and apply for proper permits. If you choose to tackle any part of the process alone, assume building a pool will take two to three months at a minimum.
Off-season pool-building prices often align with the time of year you're least likely to use a pool. Many contractors offer deals in the late fall and winter to bolster the slow time of year. However, if you live in an area with freezing winters, you'll need to wait beyond the final frost and threats of extreme weather.
Vinyl pools are the least expensive for installation thanks to the relatively low cost of vinyl pool liners. However, vinyl liners do not last as long as fiberglass or concrete designs, which could balance out the cost of the pool overall depending on its size.
The depth of your pool typically depends on its intended use, the size of your lawn, and whether you opt for an inground or above ground pool. Above ground pools tend to be between four and six feet deep while inground pools range anywhere from three to eight feet. Permanent installations also have the option of shallow and deep ends.
Fiberglass pools typically require the least care over time and are therefore the easiest to maintain. Fiberglass pools are not prone to breakage and leaks like vinyl and concrete pools. Not only does this free up lots of time and energy, but it also reduces the overall cost of a fiberglass pool.
