Swimming Pool Services & Contractors in Portland, OR

Portland Pools

Portland swimming pools generally refer to hotels or the local gym. You don't need to pay membership dues or travel to create some type of seasonally viable residential pool. Whether you love to swim or have moved to Portland from warmer climes and miss your old pool, don't let the cool temperatures of the Pacific Northwest talk you out of a pool before you've even considered your options. You may be surprised by the number of alternatives to a traditional pool installation and just how little you need to spend to make a pool feasible for the Portland area.

Pool Heaters
Spending $15,000-$40,000 for an inground pool that you can use for a few months at most is hardly a wise investment no matter how much money you have to spend on your home. Especially since your pool water will remain chilly even on the hottest day of the year in Portland. Though you may every intention of using your pool on a regular basis, feeling like you're going to freeze solid for the first few minutes after you enter the pool will damper your anyone's enjoyment of their pool.

On the other hand, the average pool heater costs only $2,000, and if you're modest with your pool design, you may not even need a higher-capacity heater. Pool heaters can be used to varying degrees and uses. For example, just because you install a pool heater doesn't mean you should feel pressure to keep your pool open and use it year-round. By running your pool heater for only the sunny, beautiful summer months, you can keep the annual energy consumption of your heater to a minimum. If you do plan on or want to use your pool year-round, your best bet is probably to spend a little more on the initial installation for a solar-powered pool heater.

Indoor and Lap Pools
One way to enjoy a residential swimming pool in Portland is to take the installation indoors. Of course, to provide a heated shelter around your pool may double or even triple the already expensive cost of installing a pool. If you have the financial resources for this type of project, by all means there's no reason you won't find year-round enjoyment from an indoor pool. On the other hand, you don't need to be particularly wealthy to take your pool activities indoors. Small, lap pools that use pumps to create a current that allows you to swim in place are a great alternative for homeowners who want an exercise pool for their home. Great for any person who loves to swim, these pools are particularly coveted by people who through age or other sources of limited mobility need the gentle resistance of water that minimizes the stress on joints and cartilage.

Hot Tubs, Whirlpool Tubs, and Saunas
Other homeowners want a pool for a relaxing soak. Although you may dream of a full-sized pool, hot tubs are a more realistic home improvement project. A more common project for the moderate temperatures of Portland, a hot tub installation will provide a number of different size and design options that will influence the degree of luxury and the cost of project. Other relaxing options include whirlpool tubs for your master bath or a home sauna that has been proven to a number of health benefits.

Contractors
As you might imagine, there aren't nearly as many swimming pool contractors in Portland as, say, Austin, Phoenix, or Los Angeles. While this may make selecting a contractor easier from a numbers point of view, the lack of competition also increases the importance and the difficulty in finding a reliable and knowledgeable pool professional. HomeAdvisor puts each and every contractor through a rigorous ten-step screening project that standardizes a company's professional credentials. You'll also be able to take a look at our online customer ratings and reviews section to see what other Portland homeowners have said about individual contractors. These reviews provide a powerful incentive for contractors to meet and exceed your expectations, despite this relative lack of competition in Portland.