Whenever we ask a question that starts with “Is it worth to…” it’s impossible to exclude a level of subjectivity. However, this type of answer will get us nowhere. Everyone knows exactly what we’re discussing when asking whether having a swimming pool in Minnesota is worth it.
- Is the pool-friendly season in Minnesota long enough?
- How much more difficult is the maintenance than it would be in a warmer region?
- Are people even interested in buying properties with pools in Minnesota (does it give you the resale value boost)?
Overall, here are the answers to some of these questions and more.
The price of building a pool
The cost of building a pool in Minnesota is additionally impacted by the fact that you must be very careful with the choice of material. You also want the most professional team you can find since any inefficiency in the construction process may result in a huge problem.
Fortunately, some of the best pool construction materials are amazing regardless of location. For instance, fiberglass pools in Minnesota are more than suited for the local climate. Moreover, this material is something that you would likely go for even in a region with a warmer climate. So, you don’t have to deviate too much from your original construction plan.
The last thing you want to do is compare the cost of building a pool in Minnesota to the cost of building a pool in another state. Materials, cost of labor, and regulation processes are so different from state to state that you just wouldn’t get a fair comparison. Building a pool might be cheaper than in another state, but if you compare the purchasing power parity to that state, you might find everything else cheaper.
Also, it’s only natural that, in regions with warmer climates, you have a lower cost of construction. Maintenance is easier, and you don’t have to worry as much about the insulation of the pool.
Available space
Again, this is subjective, but property sizes are some of the biggest considerations when building a pool. Pools are not small, and you need enough space for them.
Properties in Minnesota are slightly larger than average. Now, while the majority of these statistics cover houses alone, even on this end, Minnesotan homes are on the higher end of this spectrum.
In other words, when planning a pool construction, it’s less likely that space will be a massive issue in Minnesota than in other areas.
However, it’s not just about the space. When digging for a pool, you want the temperature of the soil to be at least 50F. The best thing is that even in the harshest winters, Minnesota’s soil temperature is always around 48-52F, which is ideal. When considering building a pool in Minnesota, most people fear the time window when using it will be pleasant. We’ll talk about this in the next segment.
When can you use it?
Most outdoor pools in Minnesota open in late May or early June. They close around late August or early September. While this sounds fairly reasonable for the continental climate, the truth is that you can enjoy these pools all year round or during a far longer period in other areas of the country.
Still, June through August is not that bad. Provided that you’ll empty and cover your pool during the colder part of the year, winterize your plumbing and protect the deck, it’s an element that won’t take much maintenance during the colder part of the year.
The biggest problem occurs when someone tries to count the usability. You can’t just take a ticket to a public pool and try to convert it into how long it would take to pay off. This way, even the pools in the warmest parts of the world (those that you can use 365/12) won’t be worth it. The same goes for comparing it to an above-ground pool. This is simply not a fair comparison, to begin with.
Is it worth it from the standpoint of resale value?
With such property enhancements, it’s hard to count the ROI. Sure, a pool is not as desired in Minnesota as in other parts of the country (with longer pool seasons); however, it’s also a scarcer commodity. This means there are fewer properties with pools in Minnesota than in Florida. Some would say this is for a good reason, but it’s a bonus for your property.
Remember that other investments are more worthwhile if you aim to increase resale value (like replacing your roof). The only time you’re constructing a pool is when you want a pool on your property. That’s it.
Consider the safety
The safety of a pool is always a massive concern, but in Minnesota, your pool will probably be empty 9/12 months of the year. The problem is that an empty pool is more dangerous than a full one. A full pool is transparent, and people are aware of it. Unless we talk about children, an adult falling into the pool will swim out. The problem with an empty pool is the risk of breaking a limb or even a head trauma.
So, you need pool fencing, a gate, or even an alarm. Also, during the part of the year when you do have it filled, you need a pool cover.
In an ideal world with an unlimited budget, you would build a retractable deck over it. However, in 90% of the scenarios, this won’t be the case. Instead, you need to work with what you’ve got. Make sure to consider some of these safety measures when doing the budget.
Wrap up
As we’ve already stated, getting a meaningful answer to any question will be impossible once we go into subjectivism and relativism. Objectively speaking, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t have a swimming pool in Minnesota. Sure, the pool-friendly season is a bit shorter, and this is not as popular of choice for property improvement as in Florida, but it’s still a nice addition, and it will give you a bump in property value.