If the time has come when your pool just isn’t big enough for you and your family, you’re not alone. Many pool owners decide they need an expansion at some point. That begs the essential question: Is it possible to make an existing pool bigger? And if it is, how much is it going to set you back?
You can enlarge an inground pool, or even make it deeper. How much it will cost and how difficult it will be depends on a number of factors, like the type of pool you have as well as the size you’re looking for, but it’s usually extremely expensive, and could cost as much as a new pool.
So, now that you know you can enlarge a pool if you need to, let’s take a look at the specifics of how this is done and what it will cost.
Can You Increase the Size of a Pool?
Yes, you can increase the size of a pool. Once you have a pool installed, you aren’t stuck with that same size forever if you don’t want to be. However, it might be difficult and expensive to make changes.
Fiberglass is easy to modify but somewhat limited in its options, whereas concrete is more difficult to alter, as it requires a lot of intense labor and some very heavy equipment.
If you have a wide-open budget and contractors in the area willing to do the labor, however, you can achieve what you want. Just make sure you’re open to the quotes that you’ll get, as they’ll likely be pretty high.
This isn’t a quick, easy job — regardless of what your pool is made of.
Can You Reshape a Swimming Pool?
It’s also possible to reshape a pool, and the process is similar to an enlargement. You’ll have to add and remove sections, which is more difficult to do with concrete than say, steel and polymer.
Make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to do with the pool before you contact professionals for a quote. Some people, for example, might want to make the pool a perfect rectangle for the sake of it appearing neat and fitting well into their yard. Others might actually want to add contours to the pool to make it more unique.
Reshaping and resizing a pool can sometimes go hand in hand. You might want to make the pool bigger while changing the overall shape, which is also doable.
Is It Expensive to Enlarge a Pool?
Just like installing a pool in the first place, it’s likely going to cost you a lot of money to enlarge it. This isn’t a job you can do yourself. It requires contractors who are experts as well as some hard labor and a lot of equipment.
Whether you want to make the pool deeper or wider, you can expect the minimum you pay to be a few thousand dollars. An extreme estimate would be around $15,000, if you’re intending on changing the size and shape of the pool and it’s made of concrete. This can be a job that takes days or even weeks to complete.
A lot of contractors will offer financing options, and some may even be interest-free for a period of time. If you can’t afford to drop all that cash in one go, then it’s a good idea to ask around and pick someone who’ll offer you a financing plan.
Just make sure enlarging the pool is something that means enough to you to be on the hook for monthly payments for a while and that you understand the terms of the contract.
Frequently Asked Questions About Enlarging a Pool
Now that you know roughly how expensive the process is — and how possible it is — there are some other questions people often have about enlarging a pool. Let’s take a look.
How Much Does the Pool Type Affect the Process?
The type of pool is perhaps the biggest factor that affects the cost and potential to enlarge the pool, even beyond the size you want it to be.
Fiberglass can’t be stretched out too much, and while the possibilities of concrete are endless, it’s going to cost a lot because it takes heavy machinery to dig through material that’s solid.
If you have steel and polymer, you’re looking at an easier and more customizable process, but that still doesn’t mean it’ll be cheap. Get quotes from a few contractors and make sure they understand your pool type so that you can get an approximate idea of what you’ll be paying.
It’s the same idea with making the pool deeper. You’ll have to dig through the pool floor, and getting through that concrete can be quite the task. For the most part, regardless of what type of pool you have, deepening it will involve getting through thick concrete.
Can an Above-Ground Pool Be Enlarged?
If you have an above-ground pool and it’s not big enough for you anymore, it’s probably best to just buy a new one. The cost and difficulty of enlarging an above-ground pool means it works out to be more budget-friendly to replace it altogether, and it’s a job not many contractors will take on.
Overall, it’s just not worth it.
Are There Any Other Concerns About Enlarging a Pool?
You should mainly make sure that the pool stays within your property and doesn’t disturb the neighbors. Even during the process, the contractors should keep the equipment and the process out of the neighbors’ yards (unless you have express permission otherwise).
Overall, enlarging a pool is always a possibility, whether you’re looking to deepen the pool or widen it to give you and your family more room.
You should just be aware that it can be an expensive process. If you’re lucky enough to have a large budget, then you can go ahead with the changes without worrying too much about the logistics. Just make sure to get expert opinions, especially if you have a fiberglass pool.
