Pool house cost

A pool house can give any home a premium feel, and you don’t strictly need a swimming pool to have one. Pool houses are similar to garden rooms and are popular places for casually hanging out, adding an extra dimension of fun to any garden.

If you do have a pool, a pool house can elevate your pool area from functional to luxurious and means you and your guests don’t need to head back to the main home in between dips – all of your facilities will be nearby in your pool house.

A pool house can be expensive though. Costs can quickly add up, depending on the desired size and the facilities within it. Before you get started, consider not just the cost of the pool house but the labour, materials and equipment needed to build the pool house.

This guide will help you budget for your pool house cost.

Indoor pool house costs

Indoor pool house costs depend on numerous factors. Within the cost of building a pool house, you will have to account for obtaining planning permission before building. A planning consultant would be able to help with applying for a permit, alongside the design of the pool house. Planning consultants can cost between £130 and £300 per hour.

For a more affordable option, you can buy a ready-made outdoor pool house that needs to be assembled upon arrival. The most affordable options begin at £2,500.

Higher-end ready-made pool houses can cost £12,000. If you’re building your pool simultaneously this will cost roughly between £25,000 and £45,000. When building your pool house, you will need to account for the cost of a builder or team of builders. Depending on the size of the pool house, it can take up to 5 days worth of labour time, at a cost of approximately £200 per day per builder.

Pool house size and features

There are really no rules when it comes to the size or design of your pool house, it can be tailored to your needs. If you would like a small shelter to change in or store pool toys, you could build a smaller pool house, similar to a cabana. If you have a bigger budget and would like a shower or a restroom, your pool house could be like a small external guest room.

Fitting a small bathroom in your pool house could cost as little as £1,500. The main appeal of having a pool house is the convenience and shelter it offers, the rest of its features are up to you.

Require electricity, water and drainage in your pool house?

If you require electricity in your pool house, you will need to consider the cost to run electricity to your pool house. To supply power to your pool house, you’ll need it to be connected to the mains via an SWA cable. This stands for “steel wire armoured” cable and is ideal for the job as it’s waterproof and not prone to rotting. It will cost between £1250 and £1500 to provide such services to the pool house from the existing system. It will cost roughly the same to fit a connection to existing water and drainage too.

Safety first, avoid slipping from pool to pool house

You may also need a non-slip path from the pool to the pool house. This will cost between £35– £75 per m2, depending on distance and material type.

FAQs

How much does it cost for a pool house?

Not factoring in labour, a prefab pool house can cost anything from £2,595.

Is it cheaper to build a pool or buy a house with a pool?

Neither are particularly cheap things to do. But all things being equal, a house with a pool installed might cost you less in terms of money and effort than getting one built.

Do swimming pools affect home value?

It depends on the area and type of pool. An outdoor pool in a country with unpredictable weather may not add value to a home and be viewed as a liability, especially for buyers with young children.

Future buyers may have to account for the cost of removing it or the cost of maintaining it, neither are cheap. However, for the right buyer, it may add value.