In some regions of the country, owning a swimming pool is as much a part of owning a home as having a front door. If you fly over states like California and Texas, you'll spot row after row of tiny back yards, all containing familiar kidney-shaped swimming pools. Whether you live in a geographical region where pools are commonplace -- or you're considering a pool in a neighborhood where you're destined to become the most popular house on the street if you do indeed build one -- pools represent a huge investment. The jury's out on whether, financially speaking, home owners ever get back the returns they spent on their pools; most say they don't. In fact, according to RE/MAX Realtors Norm and Pat Fisher, swimming pools mean an added market value of between -25 percent and 15 percent, a far cry from garages (75 percent to 100 percent), or interior or exterior paint (70 percent to 300 percent). However, pools can become the deciding factor for potential home buyers, particularly relocators to warm regions of the country.

Those of us who built pools long ago often complain about how much work it takes to maintain them. Baskets need to be emptied, the pool needs to be skimmed frequently with a net to remove debris (which immediately begins to collect again after you're finished), chlorine tablets must be added, the pool must be "shocked" with various chemicals, and pool pumps have a nasty habit of breaking down at the most inopportune times. These days, however, new technology has reduced the amount of required pool maintenance by as much as 70 percent, according to Joseph Tabeling, president of Estey Pools & Spas in Hampton, Va.

If your heart is telling you yes, but your wallet is screaming no, sit down and consider a few issues before you give that bulldozer the green light to dig up what used to be your back yard. Three primary issues must be considered before you sign anything: your needs, your preference in swimming pools, and the dealer to whom you will pay large amounts of money -- and whom you will get to know very well. Consider:

• How much space can we devote to a swimming pool?
• How big is my family, and what are the family members' ages?
• Do we do a lot of entertaining at home?
• How many years do we plan to stay in this home?
• What benefits do we want to enjoy from a swimming pool?
• What is the amount of money we can afford to spend?

There are two primary varieties of swimming pools: in-ground and above-ground, and within each category, you have several options.

The average in-ground swimming pool ranges anywhere from $10,000 to $40,000. Materials used in the construction vary -- steel walls with a vinyl liner, all concrete, or all fiberglass; fiberglass is the most expensive material. Decking surrounding the pool can be concrete (which isn't used often), wood, stone, or patio block. It's important to remember that some materials stain easily. If Junior spills his Kool-Aid on the deck, for example, you might end up with a permanent relic of that spill.

If you're building an in-ground pool, you may choose from available depths ranging from 3 feet up to 10 feet; the average depth is 4 feet to 8 feet. Pools that are more shallow are often called "play pools"; they're designed primarily for keeping their owners cool. Keep in mind that pools, on occasion, have been known to end up deeper than home owners and pool builders originally planned. The most popular shapes range from the obvious kidney to rectangular, oval, and "Lazy L." However, there's little pool companies aren't willing to build these days, if you've got an innovative idea.

Necessary pool accessories, including automatic cleaners, pool sweeps, and automatic chemical feeders, may be purchased with your pool or at a later, after construction has been completed. The latest innovation in pool-cleaning technology is a computerized system that virtually operates and maintains your swimming pool with the simple push of a button.

Slides and diving boards, once considered must-haves, are now considered somewhat passé, primarily due to their inherent safety risks. If you're looking for a long-term investment and can swing the expense, in-ground pools are a good bet. They offer deeper water, as well as year-round swimming if you purchase heaters or various types of enclosures.

Above-ground swimming pools, the more popular variety of pool, range are much more budget-friendly, ranging in price from $150 to $10,000. Sizes start as small as 12 feet round to as large as 18 feet-by-39 feet oval. Round and oval are the most common shapes, although rectangles are also available. The average depth of an above-ground pool is 4 feet; some manufacturers offer depths of up to 6 feet (it's important to note that while purchasing a 6-foot-deep pool provides you with some extra depth -- particularly appealing to taller swimmers -- 6 feet isn't deep enough for diving).

Above-ground pools are constructed using a metal frame with a vinyl liner. Steel, vinyl-coated steel and aluminum most commonly comprise the frame, although resin has recently been introduced into the market, as well. Pool lining averages 20 millimeters in thickness and are generally that familiar deep-blue color. Some manufacturers offer 25 millimeter-thick lining and a tile pattern with a pebble-like bottom, designed to resemble a more expensive in-ground pool.

The outside wall of above-ground pools are visible, in contrast to in-ground pools; so for aesthetic reasons, you will need to select a color for the wall. Although you have many options, the most common is brown wood grain, and during the past few years, gray -- with exotic wall patterns -- has gained popularity. Manufacturers of above-ground pools, in order to gain a greater share of the pool-building market, have recently introduced such features as decking, lighting, and walk-in steps, to resemble an in-ground pool. Buyers are then given in-ground aesthetics at above-ground prices.

When you're deciding to whom to trust your back yard's fate, you've got plenty of choices: an authorized pool dealer, or in the case of above-ground pools, a department store, a catalog, or even a toy store. Obviously, if you're planning a long-term investment for your home, you'll want to seek the services of an authorized dealer. Ask around for recommendations, but also strive to locate a dealer located near your home. You'll be headed there often for various accessories and chemicals, as well as troubleshooting or follow-up services, so make it easy on yourself.

When selecting a dealer, ask each company the following questions:

• Do you sell (the type of pool you have chosen)? If so, how large is your selection?
• Do you offer installation?
• Should any problems arise, how handles the subsequent maintenance?
• Do you offer free water testing?
• What kind of training in this field do you have?
• Do you service the swimming pools or filters that you sell?
• How do you handle warranty claims?

Source: Estey Pools & Spas, HomeExpo.com.

Once you've narrowed down your list of choices based on the dealers' answers, visit each dealer. Find out with whom you feel the most comfortable -- that's important in the event of any problems either during or after the construction of your pool.

Published: May 19, 1998

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