New Jersey is known for lazy summer days by the shore, but you don’t have to travel to the coast to enjoy a refreshing swim when the weather turns warm. Installing a pool at your house will transform your property into your own resort-worthy getaway, and the cost of an inground pool in NJ may raise your property value and provide years of enjoyment for the whole family.
The Benefits of Adding a Swimming Pool to Your Landscape
Having your own swimming pool can change your life for the better. Here are just some of the ways that installing an inground pool can improve the quality of the time you spend at home.
- More Exercise: Swimming is a fantastic way to get or stay in good physical shape. When you have your own pool, you’ll never be tempted to skip a workout because it’s too hot, and you can get plenty of cardiovascular exercise without putting pressure on muscles and joints by pounding the pavement.
- Stress Relief: Studies have shown that just being near a body of water provides a calming effect on the mind. Floating in a pool is an outstanding way to relax and let go of the stresses of the day without having to leave your own backyard.
- A Hub for Entertaining: A pool is a fantastic centerpiece for hosting friends and family in the summer. You’ll have something fun to do for people of all ages without worrying about party rentals or taking a group of kids to a destination birthday party. Even guests that don’t swim will enjoy the beautiful vista your pool provides.
- Family Time: Many families are so busy running around to different activities that they hardly see each other. Turn your house into the place your kids want to be, and you’ll enjoy more quality time with them. A pool can turn your home into the place for the neighborhood kids, which lets you keep an eye on your children’s friends and activities.
- Improved Property Value: A well designed inground pool can add 10 to 30 percent to your home’s overall value when you go to sell. The best returns come to those with inground pools that feature additional touches like waterfalls, seating and more.
What the Cost of Inground Pools in NJ Should Include
There are several pieces of an inground pool project that will affect your total cost. Each project is unique, and the choices you make — along with the initial “lay of the land” — will affect the overall price.
The Condition of Your Property
The cost of digging an inground pool depends a great deal on what your property looks like in the “before” pictures. If your backyard is steeply sloped, for example, you’ll have to grade the area and build appropriate retaining walls to keep your pool level. Properties that sit on a shelf of solid rock will also be much more difficult to dig, so what’s happening beneath the surface plays a big role in the final price.
If you have a level lot with easy access to the backyard and loamy or silty soil, your costs will be lower than if you have a more challenging property to work with.
The Shape and Size of Pool You Prefer
Standard rectangular pools are easier to dig and to build than free-form shapes that require the finessing of curves. A simple pool with a few lanes for swimming is less expensive, but it also may not add much to your overall landscape design. Working with a professional will allow you to design a custom pool shape that works well on your property while keeping in mind any budget limitations you may have.
In general, larger pools will also be more expensive to install and maintain than smaller ones, but small pools only save money to a certain point. In many cases, going a bit bigger won’t raise your overall cost per square foot much, but it can provide a big impact on the design as a whole.
The Pool Materials
In general, inground pools are built with either vinyl liners or are made of concrete (often called gunite by pool builders). Concrete pools are made by building a rebar structure and spraying concrete over it to form the shape of the pool. This is a sturdy solution, but it also tends to cost far more than a vinyl liner. Vinyl liners come in modular sheets of material that can be cut to fit just about any shape or style of pool. Vinyl is far less expensive and comes in many high-quality colors and finishes, but if you have your heart set on tile, you’ll need to spend more for the concrete installation.
The Design Extras
For a truly special pool design, you’ll also need to consider all the other design elements you’d like to include. Waterfalls, fountains or hot tubs are all great ways to get more out of your design, and it’s easier to build them into your original plan rather than try to retrofit them later. You’ll also need to consider the patio materials and any nearby shelters, plus the type of fencing you’ll add to keep your pool safe and satisfy local codes.
As you can see, there are many choices to make when it comes to designing a custom swimming pool, and the combination of elements you decide on will ultimately determine your price. It’s a good idea to work with a professional landscaper to figure out which elements are most important to you, so know how to establish your budget to get what you want and find savings on the rest.
