If you are thinking about installing an outdoor swimming pool on your property, it is important to be aware of the various components required and the cost implications that each one can have on your budget.
1. Pool construction
Firstly, you have the excavation of the pool area and the construction of the actual pool itself. Options available include an in situ construction (usually of reinforced concrete), or the sinking into the excavation of a preformed metal (or other) pool structure.
Different options will offer different economies and benefits depending upon the location and site conditions in question. It may even prove financially advantageous to have an above ground (or semi above ground) swimming pool. This reduces both construction costs and construction time. It may also remove the need for planning permissions.
Within the construction, special provision should also be made for the lining material. This may be conventional tiles or a more modern vinyl liner. The choice as to which option is selected will again have a significant impact on the project's budget.
2. Heating system
Very few swimming pools can offer year round utilization without some form of heating system. Warm climates may require nothing more than top-up heat in the early morning or evening, but in cooler climates a more expensive heater will be required.
In all cases there will be a budgetary implication, both in terms of the initial purchase and fitting costs and in terms of running costs. Options include "low running cost" solar heating, low output electric heaters, heat exchangers, gas or propane heaters, boilers, condenser boilers and heat pumps.
A heater can become a significant cost in the overall budget of a swimming pool, so it is important to select the right type and power output.
3. Pump and Filtration
Any swimming pool will quickly become unhygienic if the water is not circulated and any impurities removed. Dirty water leads to the production of bacteria and this in turn can result in an unhealthy pool.
For this reason every swimming pool project needs to budget for a pump and filtration system in order to keep the water clean and free from debris and bacteria. The pump is also critical in distributing and circulating important cleaning chemicals.
The costs of pumps and filters are largely determined by pool size, but the heater also has a bearing on the pump which will be required to circulate the pre-heated water.
The different filtration systems available offer differing budgetary implications on the overall project, so considerable though needs to go into which system is best suited to the size and usage of the pool. Filtration system options are based around sand, Diatomaceous earth (DE) and cartridge cleaning methods, sand being the most economic.
4. Covers and enclosures
At the very least, a pool will require a cover to protect it from dirt and debris and to retain the water's heat. However, it may be an option to have an enclosure that not only covers the pool, but which also allows it to be used whilst under cover. This kind of structure can significantly increase the usable swimming season and save on heating costs.
