Before You Take the Plunge
If you’re one of the 10,000 Southern Californians who plan to add a backyard pool this year, you probably have visions of happy kids playing “Marco Polo.”
Or perhaps you see yourself lounging poolside under a gorgeous post-El Nin~o sky, sipping a cool one. You may even be planning to drop a few pounds by swimming laps--without having to drive to the gym.
Whatever you picture when it comes to adding a pool, you’ll want to make sure you’re using 20/20 vision when it comes to the nitty-gritty decisions you’ll be making as a soon-to-be pool owner.
Before you call a pool contractor, here are some things you’ll want to consider:
* First things first. “Before you do anything else, think about what you want from a pool,” suggested Jack Cergol, director of communications for the National Spa & Pool Institute in Alexandria, Va.
“Do you want to swim laps or do aqua aerobics? Do your kids want a diving board? Every other decision you’ll make--from the shape to the depth of the pool--is based on identifying your needs.”
* Measure twice, dig once. Is your backyard large enough? “The average pool in the United States is about 16 by 32 feet, and you’ll want to have at least another 10 feet on each side,” said Cergol. So a 36-by-52-foot yard--minimum-- would be best. Don’t have enough space? Consider adding just a spa.
* Backyard access. How is your pool contractor going to get into your backyard? It’s best to have a side or back entrance with a gate so the contractor can pull up a small dump truck, Cergol advised.
“But I’ve seen jobs in which the entire pool was done--including dirt removal--with a crane and a big bucket reaching right over the house,” he said.
Just remember: Inconvenience for the contractor will means larger costs for you.
* Decking and lighting. It’s smart to think ahead about decking, special perimeter lighting and other options that may affect the size and shape of your pool area (and your budget).
Computer-aided design comes in handy here. A pool contractor can come to your home with a laptop computer, enter the dimensions of your backyard and show you design options.
* Soil testing. Here in Southern California, earthquakes probably come to mind when you think of soil testing. And they should. But with El Nin~o comes another consideration: ground water.
“You’ll definitely want to have your contractor--or an independent tester--check the depth of the ground water,” Cergol said. “You want to know where the water table is when you start digging.”
In addition, sandy soils may require different preparation from clay-like soils. And if your property is on a hill, “definitely get an expert soil analysis,” Cergol advised.
* Deciding when to build. Of course, timing isn’t as crucial here as it would be in, say, Nebraska, where pool buyers must wait for the spring thaw to begin digging. Still, you’ll need 45 to 60 days of good weather to complete construction.
Spring is the most popular time for pool building, according to the pool institute--and the time of year when you’re least likely to negotiate big savings. Call contractors in November or December and you’ll get a very warm reception--and probably save a few bucks.
Of course, as you consider adding a pool, you’ll have much more to think about than just the big hole in your backyard. You also need to look at:
* Property value. If you’re hoping that adding a pool will be as safe as adding a new kitchen when it comes to the return on your investment, think again, warned Dan Bryant, owner-broker of Prudential California Realty, Preferred Properties in Pasadena.
“From a real estate perspective, a pool is an incredible luxury,” he said. “When you look at the initial $25,000 to $35,000 investment, and then add the ongoing cost of maintenance, it’s quite expensive.
“Plus, there’s no evidence that it increases property value. You probably won’t get back at resale what you put into it.”
In fact, Bryant added, the most cost-efficient way to get a house with a pool may be to “buy a house that already has one.”
Will adding a pool hurt your chances of selling your house? “It’s such a personal thing,” Bryant said. “People moving here from out of state often want a pool because they fantasize about the California lifestyle. On the other hand, parents of a toddler may not want your house.”
* Liability. Additional homeowners’ insurance is not required when you add a pool, said John Tesoriero, a State Farm Insurance agent in Encino.
“A pool is covered under a standard homeowners policy,” he explained. “But some people increase their liability coverage when they add a pool.
“I always encourage people to carry high liability coverage--at least $300,000. And if you want even more liability coverage, you can always add an umbrella policy.”
* Maintenance. Proper maintenance can make the critical difference between a refreshing dip and a bath in a microbial soup, according to the Chlorine Chemistry Council. (For a free brochure on swimming pool treatment, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Chlorine Chemistry Council, 1300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22209.)
Weekly pool service, which includes cleaning and all chemicals, costs from $65 to $80 a month in Southern California, according to John Held, owner of Sierra Pool and Spa in Redondo Beach. Held estimated that about 65% of pool owners in Southern California hire a pool service.
Want to do it yourself? “Plan on spending about $200 up front for brushes, poles, a vacuum, vacuum heads and chemicals,” Held said. After that, you’ll spend about $20 a month for pool chemicals, depending on the weather. In hot weather, you’ll use more.
Even if you do your own pool maintenance, you’ll probably want to have a pool service come out about once a year to superchlorinate and do preventive maintenance. Service calls range from $45 to $65.
* Safety. When you add a pool, you assume a big responsibility, both for your own children and for neighborhood kids and visitors. When swimming, make sure children are properly supervised by at least one CPR-trained adult. Keep lifesaving equipment and a first-aid kit handy. And lock up all pool chemicals.
Aim for layers of safety protection. Fencing, latched gates, alarms and pool covers help prevent small children from entering the pool without your knowledge. Fencing regulations vary from city to city, according to Helen Hauge, pool-industry coordinator for PoolSafe Products in Orange. Check your local laws before selecting a fence. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pools be surrounded by a fence or wall that is at least 5 feet high and equipped with a self-closing, self-latching gate. For extra safety, doors that lead to the pool area should also have a lock that only adults can reach.
Fencing prices vary depending on materials used, fence height and gate style. Plan on spending from $15 to $20 per linear foot, installed, Hauge said.
Pool covers vary even more in style and price. Mesh covers look like a trampoline and allow water to drain through while keeping leaves, debris--and curious kids--out. These covers are custom-made to fit the shape of the pool and run from $1,500 to $2,500.
Automatic pool covers, which close at the touch of a button, are not porous. “They’re more like walking on a water bed,” said Hauge. Because they’re on a straight track, they won’t work on all pools.
Make sure to time your fence and pool-cover installations so that the pool is secured from the time it’s completed, Hauge stressed, especially if you’re adding a pool at a home you’ll be moving into (or moving into a home with an existing pool).
“Moving day is particularly hazardous,” Hauge said. “There’s a lot of activity, and people aren’t always paying close attention to the children.”
One of Hauge’s employees once went to a home--on the owners’ move-in day--to give an estimate for a pool cover. “Right before he arrived, the family’s 3-year-old rode his three-wheeler into the pool. The child was blue,” Hauge recalled. “Our man got there even before the ambulance arrived. Fortunately, the child was OK.”
* Adding a spa. If you think you might want to add a spa at a later date, consider including it now--for big savings, suggested Tom Fritts, owner of Palos Verdes Pools in Torrance.
“We rarely put in a pool without a spa these days,” he said. “It just makes sense to do everything at once.”
If you decide to add one later on, you’ll pay three to five times as much, Fritts said. A spa can usually be added to a pool for about $5,000.
Kathy Sena is a freelance writer in Manhattan Beach.