Components of Your Total Investment
The cost of an inground pool isn’t simply the price of the fiberglass shell. Your total investment can include several key components:
- • The fiberglass pool & excavation/soil work
- • Pool equipment, plumbing, and electrical
- • Decking, concrete, and pool coping
- • Landscaping, yard restoration, and drainage
- • Fencing, safety features, and automatic pool covers
- • Gas/electrical connections, water features, & permitting
The Biggest Hidden Cost: Comparing Quotes Incorrectly
This is one of the most important things to understand when shopping for a pool. You might receive three pool quotes:
- • Builder A: $100,000
- • Builder B: $110,000
- • Builder C: $120,000
It might seem obvious to choose Builder A. But if Builder A’s price doesn’t include the same amount of decking, equipment, electrical work, site work, or other components, the $100,000 pool isn't really a $100,000 project. Don’t just compare the price. Compare what you get for the price.
18 Hidden Site & Project Costs To Watch For
1. Excavation & Soil Conditions
One of the biggest variables is what’s underneath your yard. Encountering rock, hard soil, buried concrete, debris, utility lines, or groundwater requires extra equipment, labor, hauling, or disposal. Ask: "What happens if you encounter rock?"
2. Backyard Access
Excavators, skid steers, dump trucks, and the pool shell itself must reach your backyard. Narrow side yards, fences, retaining walls, slopes, and neighboring homes can require specialized access planning or equipment.
3. Crane or Special Delivery
Fiberglass shells are delivered pre-built. If standard access equipment can't move the pool into the excavation area, a crane may be required to lift the shell over your home, fence, or obstacles.
4. Electrical Work
Power is needed for pumps, lights, automation, salt systems, heaters, and automatic covers. Verify what electrical work is included and whether your home’s existing panel needs an evaluation or upgrade.
5. Gas Lines & Pool Heating
The cost of a pool heater is only part of the equation. You may also need gas line installation, service upgrades, additional plumbing, or electrical connections to complete heater installation.
6. Decking & Concrete
Quotes often vary dramatically on concrete. A lower pool price isn’t a lower project price if it doesn't include sufficient patio space, decorative concrete, pavers, walkways, or coping. Always ask how much decking is included.
7. Landscaping & Restoration
Heavy equipment access means portions of your yard may need repairs. Budget for sod replacement, topsoil, sprinkler relocation/irrigation repair, fence repairs, and cleanup after construction.
8. Drainage & Grading
A new pool changes the elevation and runoff of your yard. Depending on your property, you may need additional site grading, French drains, catch basins, swales, or sump systems to route water safely.
9. Sloped Yards & Retaining Walls
Sloped lots create beautiful views but add structural complexity. Significant elevation changes may require retaining walls, custom engineering, or extensive grading.
10. Pool Fencing & Safety
Local jurisdictions mandate safety barriers. For example, Salt Lake County recommends a 4-foot fence with self-closing, self-latching gates. Existing fencing may need modifications to comply.
11. Permits & Local Utah Rules
Utah has no single statewide pool permit. Rules and fees vary by city and county. Utah Pool Guy handles the permitting process and pays applicable permit and bond fees as part of our service.
12. HOA Requirements
Even if the city approves your permit, your HOA may enforce rules on setbacks, fencing, equipment placement, drainage, or construction hours. Always submit plans early for architectural approval.
13. Water & Initial Filling
Filling a new pool requires thousands of gallons. Water pricing, availability, and conservation rules vary by local utility. Utilizing auto-covers helps control evaporation long-term.
14. Automatic Pool Covers
Auto-covers enhance safety, reduce evaporation, and retain heat, but may not be in base pricing. Selecting cover-ready fiberglass models early makes adding one seamless.
15. Pool Equipment Upgrades
Upgrades like variable-speed pumps, salt chlorination, automation, LED lighting, spillover spas, waterfalls, or bubblers affect both initial cost and long-term ownership enjoyment.
16. Surrounding Landscaping
Creating your dream backyard often involves privacy trees, shrubs, exterior lighting, fire features, shade structures, or outdoor kitchens to complement the new pool.
17. Long-Term Operating Costs
Ongoing ownership costs include electricity, gas, water, pool chemicals, routine maintenance, filter care, winterization, and spring opening. Quality equipment helps keep these predictable.
18. Future Upgrades
Adding spas, auto-covers, or extra plumbing later is far more costly than prepping for them during initial construction. Plan future additions with your builder from day one.
How Utah Pool Guy Helps Prevent Surprises
We believe building a pool should be exciting—not confusing. Our goal is to make the process straightforward from the initial conversation through your first swim. We design each pool around the homeowner, the property, the backyard, and the intended lifestyle.
We handle the permitting process and applicable permit fees as part of our process. And because we specialize in fiberglass pools, our construction process moves fast—typical installations take approximately 2.5 weeks from construction to completion, depending on the project. Most importantly, we want you to understand what you’re buying.
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