Just popped out of lurker mode to say I love this thread. I have a relative that only builds pools now, quit his “regular” job because the pool game was too lucrative. I like the pictures you guys throw in, it makes me feel like maybe I could afford a pool…dangerous.
Let's build some pools!
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Hateyou
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Counter point you are poor and cant afford it. I paid cash and swim in it 5 days a week
Hateyou
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Initial cost and the upkeep…I can afford it but it still sucks to pay for. I just don’t value swimming as much as my wife and kid…or you!
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Sludig
Potato del Grande
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I'm in the 4-5th year of it where I'm kinda sick of it to be honest. But that's somewhat just because very high winds makes covers tough and tree's everywhere. Above ground is certainly a much much cheaper way to get a sizable 20 something foot pool and dip your toes in somewhat.
I've threatened my wife that I'm going to turn it into a tilapia/catfish farming tank.
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BrutulTM
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I don't know if he's right about that 2016 price. Some friends of mine put a very small pool in their back yard in 2008 and it was like $60k. That was in California but still. It wouldn't surprise me if it was at least double that now. If you really want a pool you should probably buy a house that already has one. They cost a shitload and often don't increase the value of the house at all.
TheBeagle
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Ya that video was ragebait nonsense lol. $162k quote means there was some pretty big extras included like a structure of some sort (patio/pergola) or an outdoor kitchen. You have to go all the way back to the 90's, maybe early 2000's to find a pool for $25k and even then it would have been a small little dinker Rodney King pool built by Blue Haven Pools with a shitty cantilevered deck that was only 3' wide.
Average contract for a pool these days in DFW is right at $100k but that's because everyone wants something with upgrades. Travertine shipped over from Turkey, expensive glass tile, LED waterfalls, huge tanning ledges, 1000 sq ft of decking, pebble finishes, etc, etc.
You can still get a basic, nice pool for $65k but it's not going to have all the extra shit that your friend's pool has that spent $125k.
Average contract for a pool these days in DFW is right at $100k but that's because everyone wants something with upgrades. Travertine shipped over from Turkey, expensive glass tile, LED waterfalls, huge tanning ledges, 1000 sq ft of decking, pebble finishes, etc, etc.
You can still get a basic, nice pool for $65k but it's not going to have all the extra shit that your friend's pool has that spent $125k.
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Hateyou
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Just anecdotal statement. Our last house had a pool installed in 98. 16x32, 8ft deep, vinyl, diving board, very large concrete deck around it. $27k. We put one in our current house in 23. 18x36, 6 ft deep, vinyl, retractable cover, heater/AC unit, 3 ft concrete around it, $93k.
Hateyou
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Yeah, Indiana. Pretty much what everyone gets here. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything else here.
I also should have added to my original post, prices went up like 50% over the 2020-2023 years due to big increase in demand from everyone staying home from Covid work at home and wanting to add a pool combined with supply shortages. Then they just never went down, like everything else.
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Correct. Florida here. 2025 summer build. 800 sq foot sand blasted marble with some herringbone mixed with running bond. 12x25 pool. Huge heat pump, water feature and full truevue screen for 112k.
That post is straight fucking lies
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Springbok
Karen
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Hey pool master - I've got an 18k gallon kidney shaped gunnite pool that has had some serious surfacing deterioration past few winters (not winterized properly, hard water, etc), and some tiles that have popped off. What could one expect to pay, ballpark to get resurfacing done (it's been around 20 years). Flagstone coping looks decent, but figured it'd be pretty expensive?
TheBeagle
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Maybe in the $15k range? That's about what it would be if my plaster subs did it with a pebble finish. Could go a little cheaper if you just wanted plain white plaster probably. Aren't you up in OK? Prices might be a tad lower up there unless you are pretty rural. That's not going to include new tile or coping though.
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