While doing your research about Radiant Pools, one of the things that you will surely come across is the cost of these pools. When you contact pool retailers, what you will often get is a quotation of the prices of the pool itself, both in-ground and above ground, but you will not get the price of the installation of the pool.
We are here to help you with just that! While installing a Radiant Pool there are plenty of different options that you can choose to add such as different filter types, heating solutions, entry options, coping options, and fencing. Other than this you can choose between an in-ground pool, an above ground pool or even a semi-in-ground pool. Below is a list of the most common types of shapes and sizes of different pools. Let’s look at the average cost of installing a Radiant Pool:
In-Ground Radiant Pools Installation Cost:
- 18’ Round pool – costs between $12,000 – $22,500
- 24’ Round pool – costs between $13,000 – $23,500
- 16’X24’ Oval pool – costs between $16,000 – $26,500
- 16’X32’ Oval pool – costs between $19,000 – $29,500
- 16’X28’ Freeform Oval pool – costs between $18,500 – $28,900
- 16’X28’ Rectangle pool – costs between $20,250 – $30,500
Above Ground Radiant Pools Installation Cost:
- 18’ Round pool – costs between $8,260 – $12,000
- 24’ Round pool – costs between $9,125 – $13,000
- 16’X24’ Oval pool – costs between $13,450 – $19,000
- 16’X28’ Freeform Oval pool – costs between $12,710 – $18,500
How A Radiant Pool Works
Technically, Radiant Pools use the same mechanism that is required in the manufacture of spacecrafts and aircrafts. These swimming pools have an R-value of R-10. This is nothing but the resistance to the flow of heat through the thickness of the material that is used for the manufacture of the pool. The walls of the panels are about 2 inches thick, and the core consists of EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) foam insulation which is bonded between aluminum sheets that have been coated with acrylic. This bonded structure is very durable and sustainable, apart from being lightweight and easy to handle during installation.
The great feature about Radiant Pools is that it’s resistant to rust since it is made of acrylic-coated aluminum and will not get oxidized or corroded. It is also stronger than any man-made polymer and is not susceptible to warping or cracking. Since the walls are well insulated, the water remains warmer for a longer time and the temperature of the water is 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit warmer compared to traditional pools.
Advantages of Radiant Pools
- Various Installation Options – Unlike traditional pools, Radiant Pools can be installed either in-ground or above ground or you can even opt for something fancy like semi-in-ground which means that you can have part of the pool in-ground and the rest of the pool above-ground!
- Heat Retention Power – Because of its R-10 value, Radiant Pools have great power of heat retention. This is great as it keeps your water warm and will reduce your energy costs on pool heaters or heat pumps.
- Durable and Long-lasting – These pools come with a lifetime warranty and you need not worry about wear and tear as the material that it is built out of is very strong and durable. Radiant Pools also come with winter damage coverage which other traditional pools do not have.
- Great Structural Integrity – The 2” EPS core bonded between the acrylic coated aluminum sheets are even stronger than steel or polymer and better than 12” of concrete.
Radiant Pool Accessories:
Some of the add-ons and options that you may want to add to your Radiant Pool are:
- Solar Blanket – You may want to consider getting a solar blanket for your pool as these are very efficient, work well and are lightweight. Simply covering your pool at night will increase the temperature by 10 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pool Fence and Gate Kit– You can easily install a fence with gate to your pool for extra safety. The kit comes with fence sections, the gate and mounting clips.
- Winter Cover – Investing in a winter cover is a great idea to protect your Radiant Pool to the maximum.
- Pool Chlorinator – This device just needs to be attached to the filtration system in your pool and chlorine and other cleaners will be automatically released into your pool water. Chlorinators work well with Radiant Pools because they do not corrode the pool.
- Stairs – Stairs make getting in and out of your pool much easier and simpler as compared to an A-frame ladder.
- LED lights – LED lights are a great accessory for your Radiant Pool. These are low voltage lights and do not need grounding. They can be placed either in the deep end or the shallow end of the pool and come in many different colors to match the liner of your pool.
Save on Money with Radiant Pools
Radiant Pools have insulated walls that are heat resistant, they prevent the loss of heat from the water in your pool relatively much better than any other type of pool wall. The heat that is gained from the sun is retained by the pool water for very long periods of time, very often even overnight. Other pools are usually about 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than Radiant Pools.
The insulated wall panels are great because not only do they prevent the loss of heat, but they also help the water to heat up much faster. This feature allows you to save hundreds of dollars that you would have otherwise had to spend on pool heaters and heating pumps. This also extends your swimming season by about 2 months.
Most people like their pool water to be about 80 degrees Fahrenheit. With a Radiant Pool, you can save at least 25% of your yearly heating costs which is an average of about $650 per year!
Where You Should Place Your Pool
There are some factors that you should take into consideration before investing in a Radiant Pool.
- Always place your pool in a place that has a good and effective drainage system.
- If you have a pool deck, the pool can be installed in such a way that it matches the height of your deck.
- Most often, Radiant Pools are installed on a gravel surface that is about 12 inches thick. This requires a vermiculite base as the liner. This is a mixture of clay or mineral vermiculite and Portland cement. Vermiculite bases offer several advantages and are one of the best bases for your pool. This requires a cement truck, dump truck and excavator.
- You also might want to consider getting a safety fence, especially if you have kids. Usually, if your pool water is at least 18 inches in height, you are required to have a fence.
Radiant pools are available in different shapes and sizes such as round, oval, freeform, rectangular and a Grecian shaped pool that is used for semi-in-ground installation. This is a unique option and at least 26” of the pool wall needs to be installed below ground level. To this type of pool, you can add a complete deck, thus establishing a clean finish to your pool and create a smooth and easy transition from the deck to your pool.
In case you want to opt for the round pool, there are two sizes that are the most popular for Radiant Pools. These are the 27’ and 24’ round pools. If you are looking for something smaller, the next best option would be the 16’ round pool. A good way to decide is the measure your backyard and visualize where the pool will be. Radiant Pools that are round are much easier to install they are also cheaper than oval pools. Oval Radiant Pools will surely allow you more room for swimming, but they are also more expensive because it is complex to install, and a cement truck is needed during the process.
If you want a salt water pool, certain models of the Radiant Pool such as “Inspiration”, “Metric”, “Legend”, “Oceania” and “Elixir” are compatible with salt water systems and they also come with a warranty.
To sum it up, we can all agree that Radiant Pools are great because they help cut down on energy costs, making it very environmentally friendly. Radiant Pools add value to your life as well as to the world that we live in. EPS is 100% recyclable and does not contain CFS’s and HCFC’s. The aluminum that is used in the sheets to sandwich the EPS, helps to conserve energy and is the most commonly recycled metal. Using Radiant Pools therefore reduces your carbon footprint in the environment.
Today, Radiant Pools are becoming more popular as many people can see the value of owning such a pool. It has several advantages over a traditional pool and one of the main factors is the durability and sustainability. If you invest in a Radiant Pool you need not worry about repairs in your pool for years to come and it also saves you the trouble of buying a new pool.