Pool Prices in Maryland

[iwannapool]

My wife and I have been considering getting a fiberglass pool for a few weeks now. I've e-mail two promanent builders in my area and they seem very high compared to other prices I've seen reported here in other parts of the country. For example, one guy told me they didn't do fiberglass but their vinyl pools started at $30,000. Another, ballparked a fiberglass pool (16' x 35' kidney shape) at $43,000.

Any ideas why these prices are so high and what arguement I can use to get the price down?

Thanks!

[Tomcat]

It's been four years since we contracted for our pool, so I imagine prices have gone up since then. We had quotes for vinyl in low 20's and concrete from the high 20's to mid 30's. This was pool only, no spa, no heater, but included a polaris booster pump and cleaner and winter safety cover. Get more quotes.

[sunofthebeach]

Southern Maryland

3 years ago I put in a 750 sq ft gunite pool with 600 ft of concrete for $34k.

My pool builder bumped up their prices to 40k for the same pool now.

When I was shopping around back then I got a quote for a smaller vinyl pool for $24k.

[iwannapool]

Thanks for the replies! I guess I'm in sticker shock. When I see prices for things on the internet, fiberglass pools and basic equipment for a certain price I wonder why the builders profit is so high.

For example, he quotes a price of $8.75 per square foot for plain concrete decking. 7 yards of concrete costs about $700 which he charges almost $5000 for. I know he's got to build the forms and finish it but it seems rather excessive.

A friend of mine got a 20' x 40' vinyl pool installed with 8' of decking all around for $28k. It's too bad the guy is a little too far to do my pool.