Tips for Building Your Dream Swimming Pool: Look for the Right Contractor to Help Deal with Expense, Mess, Permits and Geology

Long, long ago - in the 1950s and '60s - everybody's backyard pools looked alike: kidney-shaped, with a diving board at one end, and filled with vivid blue water of a hue not found in nature.

Like so much else else, pools have changed dramatically. It's a far cry from the cookie-cutter look of yesteryear. Pools can be free-form, outlined in flagstone, or in natural rock that forms grottos and waterfalls. A formal pool can incorporate an adjacent spa. A vanishing edge pool, with its stunning visual impact, is a grace note in the landscape. And even a seemingly tiny yard can accommodate a properly designed lap pool.

These days, the pool is not just a place where the kids can splash, but is a vital focal point in the total look of a home. The aesthetics of the pool count as much as its entertainment value.

"People are trying to create a unique environment in their back yards," said Raymond Whitford, president and CEO of Lifetime Pools in Palo Alto, California. The ambiance of the yard can be enhanced by the pool as well as complementary structures, hardscape, landscape and lighting, both inside and outside the pool.

This unique environment comes at a price, however, and the cost is just one of the considerations.

Not only is building a pool an expensive project, but it involves a considerable investment in time and effort, a willingness to put up with noisy machinery and workers digging up the yard, and a variety of permits and inspections.

"It's major construction. It can be traumatic," said Whitford, who estimates that the typical pool installation will take from eight to 12 weeks, although it may take longer if the permit process goes slowly. "Sometimes it can take from weeks to months to secure permits."

How much does a pool cost? Depends on how elaborate your plan turns out to be. Your total expenditure depends on the design, depth and length, but plan on spending at least $18,000 for a basic in-ground pool, according to www.costhelper.com. Custom designs will run more.