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What Type of In-Ground Pool Is Right for Me?
- In-ground swimming pools aren't cheap to have installed. For example, a 16 x 32-foot vinyl liner in-ground swimming pool costs about $17,000 in June 2011. A concrete 16 x 32-foot in-ground pool costs about $37,000 installed. Fiberglass in-ground swimming pools fall in between vinyl liner and concrete pools price-wise. Also, many in-ground swimming pools cost twice their initial quoted prices after adding options. The right in-ground swimming pool then partially depends on what the buyer can afford.
- In addition to cost, the right in-ground swimming pool for a potential owner's circumstances depends on its size and shape. Standard in-ground pool shapes, like rectangles, are less expensive than unusual shapes. Plus, if the backyard is smallish, the buyer will need to select an in-ground pool that fits well within it. However, if there are plans to have large numbers of users in the new swimming pool, the buyer will need a larger size pool.
- Fiberglass in-ground swimming pools are long lasting and require less maintenance than either vinyl liner or concrete types. Concrete in-ground swimming pools are very durable. But concrete swimming pool water chemistry can be a bit more difficult to consistently control. Vinyl liner pools will require liner replacement every 5 to 15 years but aren't too difficult to maintain. What a pool's made of, in other words, will affect short- and long-term maintenance requirements. Buyer should factor in the maintenance costs before buying any swimming pool.
- If money's tight and the buyer wants to control maintenance costs, a vinyl liner in-ground swimming pool is a good choice. If money's a little looser, but the buyer doesn't want a lot of maintenance, a fiberglass in-ground swimming pool is best. If money's not a concern and the buyer wants a large pool in an unusual shape, a concrete pool is the best option. Above all else, though, the buyer should go with an in-ground swimming pool that fits the space it will be built in.
Pool Costs
Size and Shape
Pool Materials
Decision
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