How to Price a Pool Builder Job | Accurate Estimates!

Estimating an accurate price of a pool construction project is important not only for the customer but also for the pool building company. Unexpected or unaccounted expenses can eat away at your profit and adversely affect your relationship with the client. Word of mouth goes far and wide, and a bad experience could impact your business.

Fortunately, this detailed guide will help you accurately assess the cost of a pool construction job, from framing to materials to labor and everything else in between! Our team can also on how to price an excavating job.

How to Price a Pool Builder Job in Five Simple Steps

Start by researching the industry and finding out what your competition is charging. Once you're done with a competitor pricing analysis, follow the steps below to help you price a pool builder job:

Step 1: Initial Planning and Design

Before you can start pricing a pool construction project, it's important to remember that not all swimming pools are the same. Some may be long, while others could be short, which means that the cost would be different.

To avoid unexpected costs, visiting the client's property to determine their needs is crucial. Understand what type of pool they want. Are they considering a ground pool or an indoor one?

Concrete pools are fantastic for customizations, as clients can request a particular size, shape, and depth. However, they take longer to install and are much more challenging to maintain.

On the other hand, a lap pool is much thinner than your average-sized swimming pool, but it's small enough to fit in most backyards. Whether it's an inground pool or a concrete one, the costs can vary a lot.

When pool companies visit prospective clients, they consider a few things before calculating the costs. These include the following:

Land Survey

Adhering to local regulations is crucial, which is why every pool building firm will conduct a site visit to determine the boundaries and topography of the client's property. During this stage, any mistakes can lead to costly delays and even legal issues.

Land survey is one of the most important aspects of planning and design. Swimming pool companies take their time during assessment and use accurate instruments for measurement, enabling them to create a rough blueprint of the property. Adherence to local regulations can help pool owners avoid costly mistakes and legal troubles.

Retaining Walls

While retaining walls are not necessary for swimming pools, they are essential if the client's property has an uneven terrain. They create a leveled field for the construction and provide additional support to the pool's structure, preventing soil erosion from taking place around the area.

If the decking is 30 inches above ground, you would definitely need to consider retaining walls. Make sure to talk about this with your client before taking a proactive initiative, as these structures can be expensive to build.

Extra Concrete

Whether it's a saltwater pool or a concrete one, you will need a lot of materials to create a strong foundation. Once that's done, it's time to focus on the features.

Most pool companies incorporate the cost of a basic patio into their quotations. Since it's a standard structure, some clients may prefer customized patios, which could increase costs. Make sure to discuss all of these with the customer before the construction work begins to avoid surprises during the project.

Landscaping

While landscaping can transform an unappealing backyard into an inviting space, it is expensive. Fortunately, as a swimming pool contractor, you don't have to change the entire look of the outdoor area, as that's the landscaper's job. All you need to focus on is the decorative elements around the pool.

Talk to the customer about their landscaping needs. Do they want grass or decorative rocks around their swimming pool? Would they like to carve a dedicated path to the pool?

Since these can be an additional expense, it's best to work closely with the client to understand their requirements and guide them on the different possibilities that fall within their budget.

Utilities

When building a swimming pool, running electrical and gas lines to the area is crucial. These are essential for powering pool equipment, including heaters, filters, and pumps. You may also need to connect a few lights nearby.

Most property owners think that a swimming pool is just a structure filled with water. They fail to account for all of the things needed to keep the water clean and safe. Before starting the project, discuss the costs of running electrical and gas lines to avoid budget overruns.

Fencing

Under the law, a pool is often considered an attractive nuisance, which means that it could be inviting and dangerous to the children in the neighborhood.

Due to their curious nature, a child may enter someone else's property to inspect the pool. If they fall in and suffer injuries, the homeowner may be liable for the damages caused.

Most local regulations require proper fencing to protect children from swimming pools. Add such costs to the proposal and talk to your client about it. If they require customized fences with decorative elements, you need to adjust the quotation accordingly.

Custom Designs

Not all swimming pools are created equal. A pool construction company must be ready to work with the client no matter how challenging their designs are. Some customers may want features like waterfalls or integrated spas, while others prefer unique shapes. All of these can add to the costs.

For example, a cascading waterfall feature may increase equipment costs, as it requires the installation of an additional pump. Similarly, constructing a swimming pool in a unique shape may necessitate further landscaping of the property, which can raise construction costs.

During the initial design stage, you have the opportunity to discuss each and every element of the swimming pool with the client. This can help both parties avoid unexpected costs and disruptions to the project.

Step 2: Estimating Material Costs

Now that you've spent some time on the client's property and discussed their requirements with them, you have all the details you need to calculate direct costs and overhead expenses. Here's what you should consider:

The Type of Swimming Pool

There are many different types of swimming pools you can build, and each of them has its own costs. Some of these include the following:

• Above-ground pool: Since swimming pools can be expensive, above-ground pools serve as a symbol of attainable pool ownership. It's much cheaper than other options, as not much landscaping or construction work is required. Installing one can cost around $3,000, but if the client requires decking and other add-ons, it could drive the price upwards of $20,000.

• In-ground swimming pool: While in-ground swimming pools have become a common feature of the luxury real estate market, they are also found in middle-class neighborhoods, especially in the sun-belt regions. They start from $55,000 and go all the way up to $100,000 or even more, depending on the materials used.

• Lap pools: These types of pools are a great option for homeowners with limited space. Since it's primarily used for fitness purposes, guiding the clients on the pros and cons before building one is essential. Due to its length and depth, lap pools are slightly cheaper, costing around $44,000.

• Infinity pools: While infinity pools are often part of the design during the construction of a home, it's possible to build one at a later stage. They create the illusion of water dropping at the end of the pool, making them a perfect option for those living in affluent neighborhoods with surrounding landscape vistas. Depending on the size and decorative elements, an infinity pool can cost up to $87,000.

• Plunge pools: Plunge pools are perfect for cold water immersions or ice baths. Due to their therapeutic benefits, athletes often use them after a heated workout to improve blood circulation and reduce muscle breakdown. You can either build it as a separate unit or attach it to a larger in-ground pool.

• Saltwater pools: This is a standard swimming pool with a unique water filtration system. Instead of pouring chlorine to disinfect the pool water, it uses a saltwater chlorine generator to kill bacteria and algae. Saltwater pools are a fantastic option for homeowners looking to avoid chemicals. They can cost anywhere between $12,000 and $38,500.

• Fiberglass pools: These are pre-fabricated units made from fiberglass that are built off-site and delivered to the client. While they cut down on construction and labor costs, you'll need to factor in transportation when providing the customer with an estimate of the project.

Pool Shell

A pool shell refers to the foundation of the swimming pool. There are only a couple of materials that can prevent water from seeping through the structure, and these include fiberglass, concrete, steel, and vinyl.

The type of material requested by the client will affect the costs, making it incredibly important to discuss all of this upfront prior to executing the project.

Decking

Depending on the client's requirements, decking costs can vary considerably. Concrete ones are affordable, while natural stone or pavers often cost a lot of money. Walk your client through the benefits and drawbacks of these materials and guide them on the pricing estimates before starting the construction work.

Patio

As we've mentioned before, most pool builders incorporate the cost of a basic patio in the proposal. However, the client may have a different design in their mind, which could drive costs. Discussing these requirements prior to construction can help you accurately estimate the pricing of the swimming pool.

Dirt Hauling

Depending on the type of pool the client requests, you may have to do a lot of excavation. With that comes hauling all the dirt away from the customer's property to a proper dump site. This can cost an additional $13,000 or more, so make sure to factor that into the proposal.

Landscaping

While swimming pool construction accounts for a significant portion of the costs, the landscaping can sometimes eat away most of the budget.

Some clients may require a couple of plants, while others may want to invest in decorative rocks, dedicated pathways, and extensive designs. Depending on their requirements, it could cost them anywhere between a few hundred dollars to $45,000 or even more.

Step 3: Figure Out Labor Costs

Now that you've understood the costs involved in a pool building project, it's time to head over to labor costs, which are often spread across different aspects of the construction. These may include excavation, framing, installation, and more. Sometimes, you may need to work with a third-party contractor or subcontractor.

Here is the complete breakdown of the labor costs you can expect:

Excavation Costs

Depending on the swimming pool's depth, excavation could make up a huge sum of the labor costs. You'll need to dig out the area and prepare the site for construction, which may take anywhere between a few hours to a couple of days. Raining or poor weather conditions can cause delays, raising the cost of excavation.

On average, clients can expect to pay between $1,000 and $5,000 for excavation, depending on the soil conditions, pool size, and accessibility. However, irregular terrain or rocky soil may affect pricing.

Framing Costs

Another important aspect of pool construction is framing. This involves adding rebar for concrete pools or constructing a frame for fiberglass pools.

Framing often costs much less than excavation, but if the project involves a complex design, it may require additional labor hours and materials, increasing the overall expense. On average, clients can expect to pay between $3,000 and $10,000.

Installation Costs

Now that you've figured out the excavation and framing costs, it's time to determine how much to charge the customer for installation. Installing a swimming pool involves a lot of tasks, some of which include the following:

• Fitting the pool shell

• Installing the plumbing and electrical

• Adding a protective pool liner

• Installing filtration and pool heating systems

• Testing the pool water and using chemicals to ensure the right balance

Installation costs can vary depending on the complexity of the project, typically ranging between $5,000 and $15,000.

Labor Costs

There are two types of labor required to design and construct a swimming pool, and these are as follows:

• Skilled labor: Designing the pool, running electrical lines, and installing plumbing requires extensive knowledge, skills, and expertise. This type of work is often carried out by experienced professionals, who charge higher than unskilled labor. For example, hiring electricians can cost up to $100 per hour. You may want to do this yourself or reach out to a third-party contractor for help.

• Unskilled labor: Many pool construction tasks do not need skilled labor. In fact, you can have inexperienced workers clean the site, load the dumping trucks with dirt, and even assist experienced laborers. What's great about unskilled professionals is that they cost between $15 and $30 per hour.

Contractor Costs

You may not have the right equipment or expertise to carry out excavation or specialized installations like decking.

Partnering with other contractors or subcontractors is an excellent way to offer these services to potential clients. Ensure that legally binding contracts are in place and establish clear lines of communication to avoid legal and financial issues down the road.

Step 4: Determine Overhead and Indirect Costs

Indirect or overhead costs are expenses that are not directly related to the installation of the pool. They may include the following:

• Rental costs if you don't have the right equipment

• Expenses related to project management and operations

• Inspection and compliance costs

• Permit or licensing fees

• Workers' compensation and other types of insurance

Think about the client's requirements before figuring out all the indirect and overhead expenses. For example, if you don't have an excavator, you may have to rent one out for $100 an hour.

Track the construction costs through a manual spreadsheet or automated software to give the client a bigger picture of what to expect.

Step 5: Calculate the Total Costs

With so many different elements involved in constructing a swimming pool, assessing the total project cost can be challenging. For more ideas, consider websites for pool builders.

Pro tip: categorize the expenses into two groups (direct and indirect cost) for a more accurate estimate.

Once you've grouped all of the costs, add them together. Here's an example to guide you:

Category	Description	Cost
Direct Costs	Materials	$30,000
	Labor	$20,000
Indirect Costs	Overheads	$10,000
	Administrative Costs	$3,000
	Equipment	$7,000
	Insurance	$1,000
	Permits and other indirect costs	$500
Total Costs	Direct + Indirect Costs	$71,500

As an entrepreneur running a pool construction company, your income comes from the profit you make. Make sure to account for that and an extra 10% as a contingency budget to cover any unexpected expenses that may arise. Check out the calculations for the adjusted total cost of the entire project:

Category	Description	Cost
Total Costs	Direct + Indirect Costs	$71,500
Profit Margin (15%)	15% of Total Costs	$10,725
Contingency (10%)	10% of Total Costs	$7,150
Grand Total	Total + Profit + Contingency	$89,375

The above calculations may be easy to understand if you've built a few pools before. However, if you've just started your own pool company, learning the ropes and generating accurate estimates could take some time.

Now that you've calculated all of the costs involved in constructing a swimming pool, you're ready to create a detailed proposal for the client. Typically, estimates or quotations include the following details:

• An overview of the project

• Breakdown of the costs

• Final price

• Payment schedule

• The terms and conditions of the quotation

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