I drew a plan for our pool/spa combo. I have received quotes from several PB's. The quotes are all over the place $38K spread. I have some questions about costs to build. I am trying to get my head around the cost to add a spa. There is some additional shotcrete, steel, plumbing and labor. How can it add up to 50% to the cost of just a pool. I understand Heater and Larger pump but still the math does not add up. I'm I missing something?
Pool/SPA build questions.
- Thread starter AZRider
- Start date
Rider,
Are you doing an owner build, or are you looking for a pool builder???
Most spas add $20 to $30K to the overall cost of the pool. The bigger and fancier the spa, the more it costs.
Almost anyone can build a pool, it actually requires someone that knows what they are doing to build a spa that works well.
Have you ever been in a gunite spa before?? If not, you really, really need to try one, before you buy one.
Thanks,
Jim R.
Are you doing an owner build, or are you looking for a pool builder???
Most spas add $20 to $30K to the overall cost of the pool. The bigger and fancier the spa, the more it costs.
Almost anyone can build a pool, it actually requires someone that knows what they are doing to build a spa that works well.
Have you ever been in a gunite spa before?? If not, you really, really need to try one, before you buy one.
Thanks,
Jim R.
Never used a Gunite spa or a fiberglass above ground spa. Wife wants one and I can see the benefit of relaxing in the heated water. I can see the plumbing and steel fab can take more time but still do not understand to cost increase.
At the end of the day, it is a mini-pool. There is more plumbing because of both air and water piping for the spa jets. If elevated (above the pool) then there is more rebar and cement, etc.
I come from a home building background. I look at material costs and labor when factoring bids. I cannot see labor and materials adding $20K-$30K The trades are on site already. Collectively I do not see Shotcrete, steel and plumbing costing that much more. It seems to be a place to pad the bottom line over base pool price.
- Feb 6, 2015
- 7,787
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
I find gunite spas quite uncomfortable. Flat seat, straight back, not body contouring, jets not in the right place. A stand alone spa/hot tub is much more comfortable and usually provides many seating and jet options. A stand alone spa removes the complexity in plumbing and opertation. And they cost a lot less than a spa built into a pool.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 64,749
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I like my gunite spa and you can make a gunite spa to whatever size you want and whatever seating you want.
There is a lot that can be designed into a gunite spa beyond a hard bench to sit on. It depends on your creativity, budget, and your builders capabilities.
www.troublefreepool.com
There is more plumbing in the spa then in the pool and typically more tile work in the spa then the pool. A well built gunite spa requires more craftsmanship and artistry then building a pool.
There is a lot that can be designed into a gunite spa beyond a hard bench to sit on. It depends on your creativity, budget, and your builders capabilities.
Gunite Spas - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
There is more plumbing in the spa then in the pool and typically more tile work in the spa then the pool. A well built gunite spa requires more craftsmanship and artistry then building a pool.
They listed it as a base spa package. About $18K. Plus tile and coping as a additional line item.
Typically a builder will have a profit margin percentage for each trade but no more or less for the spa.
The construction of a spa is time consuming for all the trades but the plumber must know his hydraulics and most importantly put that knowledge into his work. Finding a professional in this trade is hard and the only way to keep working with them is to pay them fairly for their work, can’t say if that’s what you are experiencing in your bids, this is just my personal experience.
The construction of a spa is time consuming for all the trades but the plumber must know his hydraulics and most importantly put that knowledge into his work. Finding a professional in this trade is hard and the only way to keep working with them is to pay them fairly for their work, can’t say if that’s what you are experiencing in your bids, this is just my personal experience.
Well that is good that everyone is in alignment on the spa. It becomes a personal decision.
Ajax_fuel_linker
Gold Supporter
I can't speak to the labor/craftmanship for the spa but I hear ya AZ, I'm construction adjacent but no background and dealing with PBs is more akin to dealing with holistic healers than straight forward bidders. I got the same thing from local, regional and a national PB. What I would expect to be stated in a contract is not there and when I say I want this or that in there, they agree immediately. It's slightly baffling and disconcerting at the same time.
Don't forget prices for everything, everywhere in the US have at least doubled , if not more.
A 12k gallon rectangle pool with nothing else in Houston is $65K adding a no frills spa is an additional $10k. (recent quote a co-worker received).
Thanks for the feedback. My frustration is my wife wants a pool for the backyard and it's eating most of the budget leaving little for the rest of the yard. I can build the rest of the backyard myself but the pool needs to be in place first. Can going the Owner Builder route save enough money to risk the potential issues and being my own warranty provider? Your statement "a plumber must know his hydraulics" makes me have second thoughts about a spa but without a spa I will probably spend much less time in the pool. Are there resources available on the net for spa design and hydraulics? I will continue to read as much as I can and continue drawing my own plans and build what I can when temperatures drop to reasonable levels. Thanks again
- Jul 21, 2013
- 64,749
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Hydraulics 101 - Have you lost your head?
Edit - Before reading this article, you may want to first familiarize yourself with this Pool School article on Pump Basics Hydraulics 101 - Pump Head Curves, Plumbing Head Curves and Operating Points Hydraulic Head In fluid dynamics, head is a concept that relates the energy in an...
www.troublefreepool.com
Equipment Pad Best Practices - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
Up to 30% is what a Owner Builder is trying to save, I advise people that when it’s all over and done with the majority of the savings is typically reinvested into the project during the way. You will end up with a superior product depending on how much you’re willing to invest in time and educating yourself.
The construction process of building a pool is straightforward, you can’t make the right decisions without the right information.
Ask questions from someone who is in the process or has finished an Owner Builder to see if it’s right for you, PM me if you want to get into more details of the process, Ray.
The construction process of building a pool is straightforward, you can’t make the right decisions without the right information.
Ask questions from someone who is in the process or has finished an Owner Builder to see if it’s right for you, PM me if you want to get into more details of the process, Ray.
Thanks, That gives me hope that I can keep my wife happy and the project within budget. I was thinking of going the OB route but needed to know it would be worth the effort. I have experience in most of the trades involved with the building process except gunite, it is foreign to me. I will need to educate myself to effectively manage the project.
Schwimmbad
Gold Supporter
- Sep 4, 2022
- 341
- Pool Size
- 15400
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
I'm in the middle of an OB right now. I'd say Aqua-Holics is right on with savings. It's hard to know exactly as trying to get apples to apples comparison is difficult at best. I've thought about asking a pool builder to quote my pool but I'm sure they wouldn't spend the time.
My pool (not including fence, decking, and gas fire pots) will be about $60K (take a look at my build thread in my signature to see what I'm doing). If I'd eliminate the water scuppers, columns, and feature wall, I could save about another $6-7K. I didn't put too much of the savings back in the pool (beyond what I was originally planning). Although I guess that probably isn't entirely true. If I went with a pool builder I expect we would have had a smaller pool and ledge. I did spend about $5K more on plumbing and rebar, and many times I didn't go with the low bidder. It will be a well-built pool, better than any a pool builder has done in our neighborhood.
You can save quite a bit, and this forum can really help along the way to prevent issues. You have to ask yourself how much you want to be into the details and how much time you have. If you aren't overly concerned with design details and have some time to review bids and coordinate with contractors it can be done without consuming your life.
One of the areas I found more time consuming is to vet contractors. It starts with getting names from folks, looking them up online for reviews and BBB complaints, checking they are licensed and bonded (the AZ ROC site is great for that). I see you're in Phoenix, I have built a list of over 120 contractors for all the various scopes that I'd be happy to share if you PM me. I have spent a lot of time on mine, but I'm retired, love construction projects, and I am cursed with being an engineer.
Every contractor offers a warranty, most I've dealt with say 2 years, a few I selected said they offer 3 years. If you are curious about variability in pricing, see attached. The attachment shows every scope and contractor in a pivot so you can see the range of quotes from low to high.
I'm no expert, but I'd be happy to answer any questions I can based on my limited experience.