Construction Cost Breakdown: Typical Natural Swimming Pool/Pond
The cost to build a Natural Swimming Pool/Pond depends on the design of the NSP itself (there are many different styles) as well as the intended site (local material costs and availability vary greatly across the US); since every Natural Swimming Pool/Pond project is unique, it is difficult to know the cost of a NSP before it has been designed and the materials have been itemized and sourced. Based on our experience, we can say that most NSP's cost between $65K - $100K to build Turn-Key (including all the materials, labor time and heavy machinery), with some larger, more custom projects in the $150K and above range.
Example NSP Cost Breakdown:
Aside from any special site conditions, a family-sized swimming pond, like the larger options detailed in our Essential Plans, typically costs $60,000 -$70,000 to build (Turn-Key), from start to finish, including a wooden pier with ladder, underwater wooden walls and starter water plants.
Of the total $60K - $70K cost, the materials alone typically cost $30,000 - $40,000 and include:
The rest of the cost to build includes the cost of the heavy machinery rental plus delivery (another $8K - $10K) and the labor time needed to put it all together, which typically takes 4-6 weeks and includes tasks like:
* Adding an optional waterfall and/or large boulders along the pool edge requires one semi-truck load of rock (in our Essential style NSP's), and adds an average of $10K - $15K to the overall project cost.
Example NSP Cost Breakdown:
Aside from any special site conditions, a family-sized swimming pond, like the larger options detailed in our Essential Plans, typically costs $60,000 -$70,000 to build (Turn-Key), from start to finish, including a wooden pier with ladder, underwater wooden walls and starter water plants.
Of the total $60K - $70K cost, the materials alone typically cost $30,000 - $40,000 and include:
- Pump(s), Skimmer(s) and other Plumbing Equipment
- Pipes, Tubes, Fittings, Glue, etc.
- Lumber and Hardware For Underwater Walls, Pier, Ladder and Pump Enclosure
- Bio-Filter Media Plus Local Delivery
- Rounded River Rock Plus Local Delivery
- Water-Tight Liner Plus Shipping
- Liner Underlayment and Padding
- Water Plants, Pots, Soil, etc.
- Beneficial Bacteria
The rest of the cost to build includes the cost of the heavy machinery rental plus delivery (another $8K - $10K) and the labor time needed to put it all together, which typically takes 4-6 weeks and includes tasks like:
- Site Leveling, Excavation and Compaction
- Site Shaping and Drainage Path Creation
- Underlayment and Liner Installation
- Biological Filter Plumbing and Construction
- Water Pump Installation and Plumbing
- Electrical Hookup and Trenching
- Underwater Wooden Wall Fabrication and Installation
- Wooden Pier and Ladder Construction and Installation
- River Rock Handling and Installation
- Naturalistic Waterfall Construction (Optional)*
- Edge Boulder Placement (Optional)*
- Water Plant Selection and Installation
- Grass Replacement and Site Clean-Up
* Adding an optional waterfall and/or large boulders along the pool edge requires one semi-truck load of rock (in our Essential style NSP's), and adds an average of $10K - $15K to the overall project cost.
Pricing Examples: Natural Swimming Pools & Ponds
The prices shown below are all Turn-Key and include approximate material costs (liner, lumber, rock, plants, pumps, plumbing, etc) as well as the cost of the heavy machinery and the labor needed to put it all together. These prices are based on our experience and vary depending on local material costs and availability.
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$60,000 - $70,000 Turn-Key
- 50,000 Approximate Total Gallons, 7-8ft Max Depth
- Zero-Entry Pebble Beach
- (1) 20 Ton Load of Boulders (Direct From the Quarry)
- Low-Profile Waterfall
- Underwater Wooden Wall Construction
- Wooden Pier & Ladder
- Water Pump, Skimmer & Built-in Biological Filter
- 50,000 Approximate Total Gallons, 7-8ft Max Depth
- (1) 20 Ton Load of Boulders (Direct From the Quarry)
- Low-Profile Waterfall
- Underwater Wooden Wall Construction
- Wooden Pier & Ladder
- Water Pump, Skimmer & Built-in Biological Filter