What does a luxury pool cost?

As one of the leading pool design and construction companies in the UK, one of the most frequent questions we are asked is “what is the cost of a luxury pool?” If ever there was a “how long is a piece of string question” this is it! It is an understandable query, because we are all used to getting instant quotes before deciding who to buy from, but in the case of a luxury swimming pool it requires in-depth discussion on requirements and expert input before a price can be given. Do be wary of ballpark figures!

We need to think about creating a luxury pool in a similar way we would think about building a home, rather than thinking of it like buying a car, where only a few extras may be added to an already finished product.

Like building a house, there are standard and variable components to building a luxury pool. Working with a pool designer, the concept and design needs to be developed to meet your needs and preferences (like working with an architect on a house-build); the finishes, accessories and colourways need to be chosen from a multitude of options (like working with an interior designer on a home project) and then there are a wealth of technical elements relating to the construction of the pool.

The variable elements that you choose will shape the final price of the pool, making it more or less expensive. It all depends on what you want from your pool and how much you wish to invest. For example, opting for a pool with a moving floor is one of the most technologically advanced pool installations on the market, and one of the safest, but it is also the most expensive type of pool to build anywhere in the world!

Here at London Swimming Pool Company we believe that the correct answer to how much does a luxury pool cost to build is: “It depends on what you want.” Arriving at the best quote means sitting down with you and discussing all your requirements and expectations. Now, let’s look at some of the factors that will influence the price of your pool.

Where to build the pool?
The first question for you is whether you want to locate the pool inside your home or in the garden – generally clients come to the first meeting with this decision made. There are many factors to consider, not least that an outdoor pool will be closed during the winter, unlike an indoor pool which you can use all year round. It’s worth mentioning here, that if you are having an indoor pool, your budget will need to embrace an air handling system, equipment which is not required on an outdoor pool. 

What type of pool?
Having decided on the location, the next step is to discuss your preferences and then interpret and conceptualise your brief. Do you have a particular design preference, either a skimmer, level deck or infinity pool? If your dream pool is a level deck or infinity design, the plant will need to include balance tanks which require both extra space and involve extra budget – this could increase the cost of the pool project by 10% to 20%. Likewise, the type of finishing arrangement given to a level deck or infinity pool will cost more than a skimmer pool, however, this will be covered within the aforementioned 10%-20%.

Although we are talking about costs here, planning a pool is a truly exciting venture for a client, and the designer should spend time discussing exactly what style of pool you envisage, as well as address practical questions on usage – how many people will use it over a year and how frequently. Is it to be a lap pool for swimming practice, or a family pool which is invariably larger, with a fun areas for children? Do you want access steps into the pool, massage jets or water features within the pool, special lighting? What type of heating system will be installed? What pool surround is preferred and, of course, the pièce de résistance, the choice of tiling for the pool interior? It’s even possible to have see-through glass walls for your pool!

The plant room
There are different choices for the plant filtration system. The cost will depend on the size of the plantroom (which relates directly to the type and size of pool) and whether you want to have a basic sand filter with pump and manual hand-dosing water treatment, or a state-of-art filtration system such as the DAISY+ system with activated filter media and DA-GEN low chlorine systems. There are several options in between, for example Ultraviolet systems, and what you choose will determine whether you spend more or less on the plant room. You could always start with a manual dosing system and, if required, upgrade at a later date.

Waterproofing the pool is a must
Creating a watertight shell for the pool is a ‘must’ not a variable – it is vital to protect the integrity of the pool, preventing the possibility of water leakage. The pool designer will advise you on the requirements, so it is not something you need to even think about.

Construction/logistics
When it comes to groundworks, the client and team need to consider the level of access to the location where the construction team will be building the pool, and a site survey should be conducted as part of the quoting process. The bigger the access, the faster and cheaper the excavation. Any obstruction needs to be considered so that the right equipment is costed. The ideal site will have a wide access from the rear into the property and/or garden to allow for a large grab loader lorry which is a much cheaper way of removing waste materials.

If space is restricted, skips need to be used instead of a lorry and this can make the project more costly because you can only get a certain amount of material into a skip. The worst case scenario is when there is only a small side access at the property, and the contractor is compelled to use a mini digger and a wheelbarrow for waste removal thus it will take a lot longer to do the excavation and waste removal and this will certainly affect labour costs. Whilst the contractor cannot control the nature of the access, they will do their best to find the most cost-effective solution to excavate and remove waste from the property.

Expect the unexpected
With the best will in the world and all the planning, it is still possible to encounter complications during the construction phase. For example, you might start a project and during the excavation process ‘ hit’ a water table, find a drain running through the garden or you might even unearth a buried old air raid shelter! In such situations it may be necessary to move the pool to a different part of the garden. These are significant disruptions which will impact on the build schedule as well as labour time/costs.

It is not unheard of for a client to change their mind about an aspect of the pool design during construction. This is tremendously expensive change of heart. It is imperative that you are sure about things like the size, shape and depth of the pool before the project is signed off and building starts. Sometimes it is possible to accommodate a small change (eg changing the type of steps to go into the pool) if construction has not advanced too far, but even this type of change can escalate the cost for the client. Ensuring this does not happen is part of the contractor’s job, hence the emphasis placed on the planning phase.

Completing the pool
The pool cover is the final piece of the puzzle, so to speak. The swimming pool cover is a deceptively important aspect of the overall design. There are a wide range of options from a simple hand operated roller system all the way through to automatic safety covers and automatic slatted covers that float on the water. The cheapest will be a manual cover. The slatted cover, being highly advanced in design, is a premium product. As mentioned earlier, pools can be built with a moving floor – this is a very high-spec pool bought by private clients who want to frequently close off their pool entirely (ie make it disappear) and transform the pool area back to a regular room or patio. When raised to the top of the pool, the moving floor is solid and can bear the weight of multiple individuals standing on it.

So, what is the answer to “What does a luxury pool cost?”
I hope this article helps to explain why there is no stock answer to this question. There are just too many variables – options and choices that you have to make in order to obtain the quotes you need to select a pool designer/contractor.

It is nigh on impossible to quote a price until the location, access matters, type/size of the pool and all the variables (type and quality of equipment and materials) are determined – what you choose will influence the price; upwards or downwards. When all your choices are fixed, the pool contractor can prepare a concept design, specify and price the different components for your pool. Then you will receive that magic figure!

At London Swimming Pool Company we specialise in swimming pool design, construction, refurbishment and servicing so if you need advice on a pool build, contact us for an initial discussion – there’s no substitute for expert advice.