Other potential extra costs that may be optional or mandatory, depending on the area and the home, start with an automatic pool cover, special alarms on the home’s doors and windows, underwater pool lights, and a heater. “Some areas have gone beyond that, requiring a fence in between your own house and pool.” “Fence rules may vary, but in general, there’s always a requirement for a fence outside the property to make sure a kid can’t come in-and it has to have self-closing gates,” says Hutchings. For example, a fence is typically not optional. Also, however, be aware that certain elements seem extra, but simply cannot be eliminated -by law. Especially for something that is not built yet, it’s easy to pad the initial estimate. When you’re dealing with a pool salesperson on a high-end item, “there are all sort of ways to bump the price up” according to Hutchings. So, figure the total cost at 20% of the home value. But there always has to be some type of landscaping or hardscaping, and that will always cost additional to the pool itself.
Bikini Pools has created a "flagstone effect" by installing a few individual flagstones in grass, instead of paving an entire patio. And creative designers can think of ways to reduce material costs. For example, installing a vinyl liner or fiberglass mold instead of gunite concrete will save 20-30%. Bikini Pools and SpasĬertainly there are ways to lower the cost. Flagstone effect, but less expensive than a stone or cement patio.