Planning inground pool outside of Boston MA

[PoolDoc]

You're in the NE, where prices run on the high side of the pool market. Stone is both high cost initially and high maintenance. If your pool budget is under $60,000, I'm guessing you should rule out stone, and look at stamped concrete finishes, which are both more durable and less costly.

+ If you go stone, go concrete pool, too.

+ Stone is local - unless you're budgeting over $100K, I don't think it matters what stone was in Aruba. What matters is what's available in your local market. Hopefully, something that you like is available.

+ Finishes generally are VERY dependent on installer skill. You're much more likely to be happy with mediocre stone and great installer, than with great stone and a lousy installer.

I don't really know prices across the US, but my impression is that, in the NE you probably need to think like this:

$1,000 - $5,000 => Intex Ultra pool with landscaping and better filter.
$5,000 - 20,000 => Higher end above ground pool, with deck. CarlD, here, can talk about the elaborate AG deck common in the NE.
$20,000 - 60,000 => Vinyl or FG pool with various grades of concrete deck.
$60,000+ => concrete pool plus ??

In Florida, all concrete pools are built by the 10,000's each season for under $20K. But in the NE, it seems most concrete pool builders work at a much higher price level. Of course, Florida's pool construction season is 8 - 12 months, compared to 4 - 6 months in your market.

Pick your basic pool form, first, and then come back to us for equipment advice. We can help with that, but the info you need about the basic pool form is all local, and we can only guess.

Good luck.

[PoolDoc]

PS. I'd be grateful if you can report back on the pricing you find, especially if my list turns out not to be accurate. It would help me help others in the future.

[rmclain73]

I will report back on the pricing for sure. We are ruling out gunite so its between fiberglass and vinyl for the pool. When you say if using stone for patio go with a concrete pool, is this for looks or does it have more to do with the safety of the pool?

[PoolDoc]

Stone = expensive to install + expensive to maintain ==> matches with expensive concrete pool.

Also, it's tricky to interface a stone deck with a vinyl pool. You're almost forced to pour a full concrete deck, and then lay the stone on that.

Stamped / dyed / etc concrete deck = less expensive to maintain + more durable + low maintenance.

But . . . you need to verify actual LOCAL costs.

[rmclain73]

After much research and meetings with local builders, I have come to the decision to go with a fiberglass pool. Looking at a Viking kidney shaped 24x12, or 28x14 contingent on town approval with setbacks. In the decision process I spoke with several fiberglass builders, and several vinyl builders. Anyway you look at here in the Northeast, a inground install is expensive. A vinyl install for the size pool I am looking at was only $5k-$7k cheaper than fiberglass. One liner change with water fill, and you really are not seeing much price difference over the years. Gunite is about $3k-$5k more expensive than fiberglass. Fiberglass would be cheaper if not for the shipping costs added. Now, the builder does have some pools in stock which would lower my costs, but neither designs is something I am interested in. Glad I have decided on builder, and pool form. Now onto all the equipment, extras, and landscape!

I know I want to go with a SWG, but not really sold on automation cleaning as I can spend less on a good robot. We do not have a gas line so I am interested in a heat pump. Mind you I know a heat pump will not extend the season much here, but it will at least keep the water at a nice temp during peak season. I do not like the look of the tracks for a auto cover on the kidney pools, so I child fence will be used for a few years while kids are very small. Do not need much fence, just a straight line about 20-25 feet. Pool lights, maybe. Winter safety cover, for sure. Solar cover, not sure, would have to cut it to fit.

Decking and landscape is what we need the most help with. Not sure what to do for our yard based on the odd shape of it. Almost need a landscape architect to plan, but that can get pricey.

Any way I look at it, I know the rough budget of the whole project. Its not cheap with all the yard work that needs to be done in addition it doesn't help. The pool is half the cost of the project. Time to save! This will give us time to really research and plan, plan and plan.

[PoolDoc]

Thanks for the pricing info.

I hope you'll keep posting to this thread, as your project continues. You may get some helpful advice, and I know that the account, as your pool develops, will both interest and help others.