Inground pools are a symbol of luxury. For many people, the phrase inground pool conjures up images of beautiful people sunbathing, or couples taking a romantic nighttime swim. But beyond these glamorous images, there’s the reality of what it means to own an inground swimming pool. Here are five things every prospective pool owner should know when considering an inground pool.
1. They’re not just for rich people
No doubt, inground pools are expensive – a fact that we cover thoroughly in our flagship article How Much Does an Inground Pool Cost? However, the typical swimming pool – while not cheap by any means – is affordable for most middle class Americans. The cost may seem prohibitively high when compared to other luxuries – including above ground pools – but the price isn’t so out of line when you think of them as home improvements or renovations (which is what they actually are).
2. They require a lot of maintenance
Most people who install inground pools don’t quite realize what they’re in for when it comes to maintenance. An inground swimming pool has to be cleaned, filtered, supplied with chemicals, and possibly heated. This all costs money and/or time, depending on whether you do it yourself or get a service to do it for you. On top of all that, you also need to consider safety – which means keeping a pool cover on, fence gates locked, and doing whatever else it might take to prevent accidents.
3. You might be able to install one yourself
Wanting to avoid a lengthy and expensive installation process is why many people opt for above ground pools. However, installing an inground pool doesn’t have to be complicated. Some companies actually offer inground pool kits that supply you with everything you need to do it yourself. Fiberglass pool shells, which are shipped intact from the warehouse, can also greatly simplify things. Now, we don’t recommend self-installation for everyone, but for people who are handy, it’s an option.
4. You can get them in a lot of different sizes and shapes
You don’t have to have a giant backyard or a lot of money to install a pool. If either space or budget is limited, smaller inground pools are a perfectly viable option. And while your choice of pool shape is somewhat limited for fiberglass pools, other pool types can be molded to fit your yard perfectly.
5. They’re not for everyone
Most people like to swim and hang out by the pool, but not everyone is cut out to own one. A lot of people rationalize the cost of an inground pool with the idea that they will swim daily during the summer, and possibly even forego vacations. Similarly, some homeowners convince themselves that adding an inground pool will pay for itself by increasing the home’s value. Unfortunately, the truth is that even an inground swimming pool can lose its luster over time. Even people who like to swim can grow bored using the same pool every day. And when it comes to selling the house, having an inground pool can actually deter some prospective buyers who would rather have the yard space for something else.
