Before you dive in
When deciding what to design and purchase, make sure to do your homework. First, what is your budget? Setting a budget will help narrow your options during the selection process. “Determine your minimum budget and your maximum budget, and go for something in the middle,” says Christopher Raley, office manager for Sunbelt Pools of Georgia in Atlanta. Make sure your budget includes costs for the entire installation process, such as pool options, fencing, landscaping and maintenance.

Next, decide on the function of the pool or spa. Do you just want to get wet or do you want to design an aesthetically pleasing water feature in your backyard? Do you plan to use the pool for exercise or therapy? The answers to these questions can help narrow down the options.

Third, examine the landscape and grade of your property. Decide where you want the pool and check on its proximity to the house. Also, flat yards require less work than hilly yards when preparing the site for installation. “You may have the expense of landscape or hardscape work if the yard is not ideal,” says Bruce Miller, owner of Miller Landscape in Woodstock. For example, depending on the slope of your yard, a retaining wall may be necessary to facilitate the pool installation. When consulting a pool professional, find out if the person also is skilled in the landscape and hardscape work associated with pools. If not, you should consult a landscape and hardscape professional to determine any extra costs associated with installing a pool or spa.

Another consideration should be county government and homeowners’ association restrictions or guidelines on installing a pool or spa. Building permits are necessary for pool construction, so make sure these are obtained prior to the commencement of work. In addition, most counties require some type of barrier around the pool area, while many homeowners’ associations restrict the type or size of pool installed. The homeowners’ associations also may require the homeowner to install a specific type of privacy fencing and/or border on the property.

If you’re thinking about installing a pool, be aware that Georgia law stipulates that a pool must be surrounded by a 5-foot fence, with no gaps greater than 4 inches, with a self-latching gate. In addition to the state law, each county and city may have its own laws. “I’ve found that inside city limits, things are a bit more strict,” says Mickey Layman, president of Atlanta Pools Inc. A city or county inspector has to check the pool before a green light is granted, and you could be fined if you don’t have a fence, he says.

Also, insurance companies consider diving boards and slides an increased liability, so check with your insurance company before you get started. Layman recommends hiring a builder that is a member of the National Pool and Spa Institute (NPSI). NPSI regulates the safety and construction of the swimming pool industry. “Builders should be a member of NSPI so that you can be sure they’re building a swimming pool to code,” Layman says. “Everything has a certain amount of liability. Do what you can to protect yourself, your family and others from having an accident.”

Next, determine if the pool or spa will add value to the home. In the past, some homes experienced an increase in resale value, while others have been harder to sell based on the age and location of the house. However, most pool and spa professionals today are seeing an increase to property values when a pool or spa is installed. Layman says a pool is no longer seen as a liability to the home’s value. “I think I’ve seen that pretty much disappear,” he says.

However, some real estate agents disagree. “Whether or not a pool increases the value of a home totally depends upon the buyer,” says Steve Romak, with Keller Williams Realty, Premier Atlanta. Some buyers will look at a pool as a potential liability; others will be attracted by the entertainment value. While Romak says there is no rule regarding whether a pool will increase or decrease the home value, he does caution homeowners not to expect to get their money out of it. “If a homeowner spends $60,000 on a pool and they choose to sell their home, they can’t tack $60,000 on the selling price,”
he says.

Finally, ask yourself how long you will be in the home. If you plan to sell your home within the next five years, you may not recoup a significant cost of the pool or spa. However, the longer you stay, the better chance of recouping—and perhaps increasing—your investment.

Selecting a liner
When it comes to in-ground pools, there are generally three types: vinyl-lined, fiberglass, and gunite (concrete).

VINYL-LINED: Similar to above-ground pools, vinyl-lined pools usually consist of a frame of steel walls braced on all sides, which is set into the ground. A vinyl liner is laid on top of a sand bottom and stretched to fit the frame
.
Vinyl-lined pools continue to be a good investment. “You can change the look with different vinyl liners, they’re quicker to install than gunite, they’re softer on the feet and the materials cost less,” Miller says. However, with vinyl, homeowners should be aware that the liner could leak around the filtering system. The liner could also leak if punctured, which would require patching or replacement. Depending on the amount of use as well as on the liner’s thickness, the liner eventually will need to be replaced. The average lifespan of a vinyl liner is seven to 10 years, but some may last as long as 20 years.

FIBERGLASS: Gaining in popularity, fiberglass pools resemble gunite pools but have the ease of an above ground pool installation. Essentially, the structure is the entire pool shell, which is lowered into an excavated hole. “They are smooth as silk and have low maintenance,” says Marty Woody, president and owner of Oasis Pools and Spas in Marietta. “It’s the pool of the future.”

Much like above ground pools, fiberglass pools can be installed in a matter of days, usually three. With more than 150 shapes available, homeowners are sure to find one they like.

The one potential problem with fiberglass pools is they may crack. If that happens, it may be difficult to patch, and a total replacement may be necessary. However, with proper care, most fiberglass pools last for many years to come.

GUNITE (CONCRETE): Easily the oldest pool type, gunite or concrete pools consist of a steel frame covered in a special mixture called gunite. The mixture is sprayed on the frame under pneumatic (air) pressure so that it bonds tightly with the frame. A finish is then placed over the gunite. Homeowners can choose from a variety of finishes—plaster, paint or pebble—to customize their pool.

Construction and installation of concrete pools can take 30 to 90 days, depending on the weather and how busy the installer is. “The spring season is usually the time of year where it takes the longest—primarily due to the backlogs in construction and the fact that Mother Nature is usually not as cooperative,” says Tom Casey, vice president of sales for Anthony & Sylvan Pools. “As the season progresses, backlogs disappear and the weather starts working in the installers’ favor—so it takes less and less time to build.”

Since it is a permanent structure, a gunite pool will last for many years.However, the finish will need to be reapplied periodically. In most cases, plaster will need to be reapplied every seven to 10 years. A pebble finish like Pebble Tec may last approximately 20 years. Keep in mind that these time-frame estimates are for those pools where water chemistry and maintenance are kept up properly. To determine how much this will cost, check out your pool installation estimate. The finishing cost at installation is roughly the same as the reapplication.

A natural look
Because a gunite pool is created piece by piece, it can be completely custom-designed by the homeowner. “Concrete construction gives the designer the greatest flexibility for form to meet function,” Casey says. This includes size, shape, depth and appearance.

In fact, while they remain popular, 20-by-40-foot rectangular pools are no longer the norm. If you have a design in mind, you can have it in your backyard. “We can build a pool in any size, shape and elevation that you can imagine,” says Jim Armes, president of Executive Pools & Spas in Canton. “I have never run into a pool that I couldn’t install because of topography.”

Thanks to an entirely new selection of design options, homeowners can have pools that resemble Florida beaches or mountain lakes. Beach entries (which look like the sandy beach at the ocean), vanishing edges (which give the appearance of the pool dropping off into nothing), and pebble finishes (which give the appearance of a lake or creek bed) are just a few of the options available. “Natural designs are growing in popularity because of their intended integration into a wooded setting,” Casey says. “Properties with natural surroundings are often perfect environments for darker interior finishes, stone coping, aggregate deck textures and outcroppings of boulders on the shoulder of the pool. They are provingto be a beautiful addition to a home.”

Hardscape designs including rock or stonework, bridges and outdoor fireplaces also enhance the pool’s appearance. “You’re expanding your living space,” Miller says.

All the extras
High-tech design features now available for pools and spas include remote-controlled equipment, fiber-optic lighting, swim-up bars, suntan shelves, kiddie shelves, water slides, waterfalls, fountains, overflowing spas and floating boulders. “I’ve seen some amazing stuff,” Raley says. “Technology has come a long way with pools. The sky’s the limit. Your wallet is the only thing that limits you.”

One more new addition to pool amenities is the pool shower. Either wall- or post-mounted or freestanding, these stainless-steel showers allow pool or spa users to rinse off before or after entering the water. “One of the main reasons [to own one] is to keep pool water clean,” says Connie Forrester, vice president of operations for The Pool Shower Inc. in Dallas. “Another reason is to rinse off chlorine to keep your garments fresher.” The average cost of a pool shower is between $390 and $1,840, depending on such options as foot shower, drinking fountain and hose bibb.

Pamper yourself

The best complement to a pool is a spa. After all, what could be better than relaxing in warm, bubbling water? When people hear “hot tubs,” they generally think of a fiberglass or acrylic tub set in a redwood frame. These are portable spas, which may be placed and moved around from spot to spot. The tub itself comes in many colors, sizes and styles, allowing homeowners to choose the right one for them. Seating configurations vary greatly, allowing homeowners to further customize their purchase.

Gunite or concrete spas are very much like gunite or concrete pools. They come with many of the same options, such as color and finish. Think of them as smaller gunite pools with jets. “Spas are now seeing jet fittings that offer a variety of benefits,” Casey says. “Swirl jets, pulsating jets, fan jets, floor jets for your feet and other accouterments are on the market and gaining popularity.”

Caring for hot tubs or spas is simple. “Usually, a customer can maintain a hot tub without any trouble,” Raley says. Like in pools, the chemicals need to be balanced and the water should be cleaned, but since the area is small, these are quick and easy processes. If the pool is a gunite spa attached to the pool, the spa’s filtering system is usually part of the pool’s filtering system.

For most pool owners, hot tubs or spas are almost a requirement. “Hot tubs are for entertaining,” Raley says. “Six to eight people are in at once. People are looking for very high quality. They want their friends and family to look at it and say, ‘Wow!’”

Don’t get soaked
Because of the myriad styles, sizes and options available for in-ground pools, costs can vary greatly. However, on average, an economical in-ground pool may cost between $15,000 and $32,000. Medium-range pools average between $25,000 and $50,000. High-end pools can cost between $50,000 and $300,000. Price ranges vary for spas, but, in general, expect to pay between $2,500 and $3,500 for an economical four-person spa, between $3,500 and $4,500 for a medium-range, five-person spa, and between $5,000 and $8,000 for a high-end, six-person spa.

Before giving in to sticker shock, Casey cautions against buying on price alone. “The most significant part of the purchase decision should be focused on the value, not the price, and indeed that’s how most people make up their mind today,” he says. “People today would sooner spend more—just as long as they perceive their purchase to be worth more. Adding a swimming pool to a backyard is an addition to one’s lifestyle, forever changing the buyers’ lives and the lives of their families. Some buyers want a showpiece when they look out the windows into the backyard, while others just want to get wet, and those needs are what drive both the demand and the cost.”

To make sure you get the best product for your dollar, educate yourself on the dealers and/or installers who sell and install pools, spas and related products. “Do your homework diligently and investigate the companies you’re looking to do business with,” Layman says.

Layman recommends checking at least 10 references, going back five to 10 years; working with a dealer and/or installer that has been in business for at least 10 years under the same name and owner; making sure the company is a member of the Better Business Bureau and the local Chamber of Commerce; makingsure they have workers’ compensation and liability insurance; and checking to see if they’re a member of the National Spa and Pool Institute.

Preserving your investment
Regular pool maintenance includes checking proper water chemistry (pH levels, chlorine levels, etc.) and cleaning the filtration system (backwashing). Generally, these processes take minutes per day. And, unless they just don’t have the time for it, most homeowners can perform these tasks themselves without the need for a professional service. “Anybody can take care of a pool,” Armes says. “You have to take responsibility for the product. Expect to spend 10 to 15 minutes on it every day.”

During the lifetime of the pool, you may be required to update or replace various components of the pool system. Pumps, filters, heaters and vacuums are some items that may require maintenance after several years of use.

Once you’ve done all your research and envisioned the pool and spa of your dreams, there’s nothing standing between you and the backyard oasis of your dreams, so dive in!