How much does a pool cost?
Getting a quotation: Getting a budget cost from companies without architect drawings will be like drawing blood from a stone. Without exact specifications and designs companies are very wary about offering budget quotations.
Swimming pools are like anything else. Their price depends on a massive range of factors including size, location, pool construction type, design features and many more.
So, if you can’t get estimates without drawings. And you don’t want to spend money on architects and drawings if the cost of a swimming pool will not be feasible for you.
So how are you supposed to find out how much a pool costs? Make sure you get a list of exclusions to be sure on what is and isn’t included within the swimming pool quotation.

Most pool installers do not include design and drawings or building and civil works. So this will need to be accounted for when planning the cost.

In this article we look at how much a swimming pool is likely to cost you to install in Scotland (or the rest of the UK). Plus, what can push those prices up and down.
This should help you figure out if the installation costs feasible for you. And more importantly are the costs worth it for you?

Construction cost: Swimming pools are expensive to build. And they are expensive to run. There isn’t  much point pretending otherwise.
Sure, you can get some types of pools that are cheaper than others. And some pool builders are cheaper than others. But whatever way you look at it, it’s not going to be a cheap exercise to build a swimming pool in Thailand on the average expat budget

As well as the installation costs you’ll need to be able to afford the ongoing costs of maintenance (cleaning, servicing, chemicals), running costs and any repairs that will need done. Plus, alongside the cost of swimming pool installation, you’ll need to budget in the cost of the building and decor surrounding the pool.

A quick google will lead you to believe that you can install a swimming pool for around £40,000.
But realistically if you are looking for an in-ground pool, it will cost you on average between £60,000 – £150,000. This of course, can vary massively with size, construction type, filtration type and design features. Even things like style of tiles can massively vary the cost of the project.

With almost every pool installation company this is for the pool construction and related components alone (ie. shell, pool plant, cover, pool heating unit). It usually does not include civil works such as excavation. And if it’s an indoor pool it does not include the building works, any surrounds, lighting, electrical work etc. All these costs need to be calculated and factored into the overall project.

What determines the price of a pool? The cost of swimming pools can vary massively. The design and choice of finish are a large factor. An honest professional will include the correctly rated technical equipment and lighting measured against your planned budget, but these are the elements which you will be asked to choose:

1. Size & depth
2. Shape
3. Depth
4. Lighting features
5. Tiled concrete, vinyl liner, fibreglass pool shells
6. Skimmer or overflow/infinity edge type
7. In-ground or above-ground

Above ground pools are what they sound like. They sit above the ground ie. not built in. You climb up and into them.

In contrast, in-ground pools are level with the ground. You usually go down into them. In-ground pools can be build multiple ways. However, this is the kind of pool you will see within homes, gyms and hotels etc.

Above ground pools can be any price and depending on where or what you buy, they might not include filtration and pump systems which you will need to buy separately. Here in Thailand Intex pools are popular but according to the question we are asked , many buyers were not satisfied with them. They are essentially glorified paddling pools. And you would usually get them from LAZADA or Shoppee  rather than from a swimming pool installation company who can also provide sound advice and have a real person you can call and talk to.

For somewhere between £50 – £1000 you will likely get a fibreglass or liner pool with no external structure. These generally won’t have proper filters or pumps and are equipped with compact monobloc filtration sytem and socks in the skimmers which cannot and do not provide the same level of filtration and dispersion of water as convention and less expensive systems. They are usually simply laid on a levelled sand bed without any structural support and rely on backfilled dirt to maintain their strength and integrity.

We don’t install 'quick build' above ground swimming pools.

From now on when we talk about what alters the price of a swimming pool, we will only be talking about traditional, fully tiled (or Pebblecrete) concrete  in-ground swimming pools.

Overflow vs Skimmer: One of the decisions you need to make quite early on in your pool planning is whether you want an overflow (deck level) or skimmer (freeboard) swimming pool.

The decision between an overflow and skimmer pool is fundamentally a filtration decision. However, it will make a difference to how your swimming pool looks. And it will be important to know in the early stages so you can be provided with accurate drawings for planning. And it will affect the price, so it’s best to know before you get installation quotes.

We look at the differences between overflow and skimmer pool constructions. This will help you decide which style is best for you and your pool project.What is an overflow (deck level) pool?

An overflow pool is also known as a deck level pool.

The entire perimeter of the pool is surrounded by an overflow channel or gutter. The water line is level with the edge of the pool and overflows into this channel. The channel is typically covered with plastic grating. However, in high-end domestic pools, it is becoming more common to cover the drainage channel with tiles or stone for a luxury finish. A popular and far more economical method is to fill the channel with loose decorative granite pebbles about the sice of an egg or a new potato.
This channel then leads into a balance tank, soetijes called a surge tank. This is is an additional holding tank that sits underground, below the pool level. Water from the overflow channel drains into the balance tank. This water is then drawn up by the pump into the filtration system, before being pumped back into the swimming pool. The balance tank is typically made of concrete or plastic. It usually holds the euivalent of 1O% of the total pool water volume.
Because of this, pools using an overflow or deck level system require a lot more room. And this needs to be considered in the planning and drawing stages. Once construction has begun, it is very difficult to change the pool design to incorporate an overflow design. 

What is a skimmer (freeboard) pool? A skimmer pool is also known as a freeboard pool. In this type of pool the water sits approx. 4 inches or 11 cm below the edge of the pool. So there is a gap between the top of the pool and the water. A device called a skimmer is placed into the pool shell, below the pool edge at one end of the pool, usually the deep end. The pump draws  the surface water into the skimmer, along with any dirt and debris and into the filtration system, before it is pumped back into the swimming pool.
How many skimmers are in the pool depend on the volume of the water to ensure correct turnover rate. Domestic pools usually have 1to 2 skimmers.
The pool water will  be drawn into the filtration system at the skimmer and from the main drain in the floor at the deep end, rather than across the entire surface as they will be in overflow pools.

Advantages of an overflow swimming pool: There are two main advantages to an overflow pool vs skimmer pool:
1. Filtration efficiency
2. Aesthetic

The primary advantage of overflow is in terms of filtration efficiency. It is generally accepted that the overflow/deck level offer superior filtration. This is because water is taken from the entire perimeter of the pool, not just in selected sections where the skimmers are situated.

While skimmer pools are still designed to turnover the water at the adequate rate for health and safety purposes. Overflow pools will generally have:

    Clearer water
    No scum line within the pool shell

In addition, many people prefer the aesthetic of the overflow pool in comparison to the skimmer pool as it is a clean line from the water to the edge of the pool, with no gap. However, this is an entirely personal choice, and an overflow pool/deck level is the more expensive of the two options.

This is due to the inclusion of the drain channel, the channel cover and the construction and installation of the balance tank.

Overflow pools tend to be anywhere between 15-20% more expensive than skimmer pools.

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