How to Build a Swimming Pool

I have been trying to do the numbers to help people considering building their own pool using cement block. I have fairly  exact costs of a 18′ x 36′ shotcrete pool shell that are recent as of Feb 2010. We are in the process of building this pool right now.

For simplicity sake, let’s stick with this size and assume the pool is rectangular and the depth is ranging from 3′ to 8′ .
I have already done a cost sheet on a shotcrete pool here, shotcrete pool cost, so use it as a comparison.
Our total cost in the pool shell as it stands, including steps, 2 benches, stub plumbed and light niche is at $8730.00.

So I’m going to attempt to give accurate estimates on what it would cost to duplicate this using cement block.

Realistically the only thing I have to re figure is the shotcrete and labor as all the other items will still be required to build the pool using block.

If we were to dig a footer around the perimeter 12″ x 12″ to support the walls we would need 4 yards of concrete for this.
We will need about 12 yards of concrete for the floor, for a total of 16 yards @ $100.00= $1600.00  (no labor added for pouring and finishing the floor)
We will need about 600 block to construct the pool walls. Provided we can get this done for $3 per block (which by the way is a very conservative number) (materials and labor) our cost is going to be $1800.00 . Now the block will need to be filled which for all practical purposes will require hiring a pump @ $350.00 and approximately 6 yards of pump mix @ $115.00 = $690.00   (While the pump is there it would be an excellent opportunity to build the steps and benches).
No materials or labor added for benches or steps.

Substitute this for the shotcrete and labor from the previous pool cost worksheet.

Floor                                              $1600.00
Walls (block+ labor + filling)                     $2840.00

Total                                               $4440.00

If you will note from the other estimate, shotcrete and labor was $5983.00. But something to take into account here is I added no cost on the block version for finishing the concrete floor and I added no cost for benches or steps. As it stands you have saved about $1500.00 and still have to build benches and steps. I personally feel like anyone would be wasting valuable time and money to try and construct a pool using the concrete block method unless you are dead set on doing much of the labor yourself.

Another thing to consider is if shotcrete/gunite  is being used, dirt can be left during the digging in the areas steps and benches are going to reduce the amount of material needed, this is not the case using the block wall method.

Please be aware that there is no exact formula for determining the amount of material needed when building a gunite/shotcrete pool. Many variables such as soil conditions,the preciseness of the dig and grade elevation can greatly increase the amount of shotcrete material needed to build a comparable pool.