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.