If you are considering adding a spa to your new pool, take my advice: get one!
Having a spa (some people may call it a hot tub) with our pool was a decision that my husband and I debated when we were figuring out how we wanted our new pool to look and what we wanted to do with our pool in our own backyard.
This can be a hard decision, especially considering the prices of new pools! They keep going up!
In the post below, I’ll explain some of the reasons that we decided to have an attached spa with our inground pool. Plus, I give you some other things that you should consider in this decision, too.
So, read on below!
When you are done reading below, come back and check out other posts about your new pool:
👉 Reasons your pool should have a tanning ledge
Table of Contents
How Much Does It Cost to Add a Spa to an In-Ground Pool?
The cost of adding a spa to an in-ground pool can vary depending on a number of factors, including the size and type of spa, the materials used, and additional equipment. Additionally, there are price differences between a spa for a gunite pool, a fiberglass pool, and a vinyl liner pool.
However, as a general rule of thumb, you can expect an average cost of anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000 for a basic spa installation for a gunite pool. This price range includes the cost of a heater and other necessary equipment. If you want a more luxurious or large spa, you can expect a higher price tag.
Here are some of the factors that can affect the cost of adding a spa to an in-ground pool:
- The size of the spa: The larger the spa, the more expensive it will be to install. A typical spa size is about 7’ x 7’ or 8’ x 8’.
- The type of spa: There are many design options to consider for a spa: square, circular, raised, flush with the pool, different waterfall types, infinity edges… the list goes on. The more intricate the design, typically the higher the cost.
- The materials used: The materials used to build the spa can also affect the cost. If you select premium tile options, then you should expect a premium cost as well.
- Equipment: Every spa (aka hot tub) will need a heater. Depending on the size of your spa and how it is set up to run with your other pool equipment, you may need a higher-priced heater.
Be sure to talk about all of these factors in your upcoming pool project with your pool builder to know what’s included in their quote to you.
Reasons Why We Think Having an Attached Spa with Our Pool is Worth It
For us, it was a pretty simple decision to add a spa to our pool, and we haven’t second-guessed that decision at all. Here’s why:
1. A spa allows you to use your pool the whole year
When you think of a pool, you might envision warm, sunny days. But what about those colder months? Enter the spa! Having an attached spa means you can enjoy your outdoor space all year long, thanks to the cozy warm water a heated spa provides when temperatures drop during the winter.
We have only had our pool for a few years, but we have used the pool countless times during the winter, thanks to the spa.
We don’t close our pool in the winter, which means we can use the pool or spa. But heating up the spa is so much easier than heating up the pool. It only takes about 30 – 45 mins to heat the water to higher temperatures that we like (usually 100 – 105 ℉) during the winter. And since it takes less time, it also requires less energy to heat up, meaning lower heating costs (i.e. a lower gas bill) than if we heated up the whole pool.
In this way, the spa is essentially a small pool that we can conveniently use during the winter since it has less water that we can easily and quickly heat to an enjoyable temperature.
While a heated spa is perfect for winter months, the spa is still a perfect addition to your pool during warmer months too…
2. A spa is a great (safer) spot for young children to swim
The deepest part of a spa is usually around 3 feet deep, with the benches in the spa providing a much shallower area too. In all, these depths and the smaller confined space of the spa can be an ideal spot for small children to swim – especially those still learning to swim.
We have two young children, and they and their friends frequently play in the spa on the hottest days of summer. The smaller, shallower area provides a safer area for the kids to play with fewer worries than swimming in the deeper parts of the pool.
3. A spa is a convenient hangout spot for everyone
From casual family gatherings to organized parties, the spa serves as a go-to hangout spot for people of all ages. The built-in benches of the spa make it a convenient in-pool hangout area for a lot of people. And most spas are designed so that it’s easy to place chairs and other seating around the outside, creating a central hangout spot outside the pool too.
This has definitely been the case with our spa and pool. From casual get-togethers to birthday parties, or whatever the case may be, there is always a group of people hanging out in and/or around the spa.
Since it can be a convenient in- and out-of-the-pool gathering area, most people also factor in other parts of their backyard design around this area, like planning where to place an outdoor TV, proximity to other seating areas, nearby shade, etc.
For our spa, we made sure to give enough open space around the outside of the spa to place patio chairs and placed the spa as close as we could to the main seating area and our backyard.
4. A spa can enhance the overall pool design
Lastly, let’s not overlook the visual appeal. A well-designed spa can significantly enhance the overall look of your pool. It can add a touch of luxury, making your backyard look like a high-end resort. You’ll be amazed how this one feature can elevate the aesthetic of your outdoor space.
Without a spa, and depending on the other features of your pool, like water features or other additional features, in-ground pools may look like one flat surface. While still appealing by itself, a simple pool can lack depth and dimension in the overall look.
However, a spa can create a great visual focal point and add variety to the design of your pool, which can make your backyard more appealing. And there are many ways to design a spa to make it really stand out, like designing it as a spillover spa, negative edge spa, etc.
For us, our spa design helps tie in the retaining wall on the backside of our pool and provides a great focal point when you first enter our backyard area.
In my opinion, having a spa with a pool and carefully incorporating additional features (even something like a fire pit or outdoor kitchen near the pool!) can better transform your yard into a backyard oasis and help enhance property value.
Two Key Things to Consider for an Attached Spa with a Pool
1. You will have to sacrifice some useable pool space to add a spa
Adding a spa to your pool design will mean sacrificing some pool space. This is a critical factor to think over, especially if your backyard has limited space. You need to strike a balance between the size of the pool and spa size to ensure that both are usable and enjoyable.
If the size of your backyard limits your useable pool space, it might not be worth it all to add a spa because there will be less space for the pool with an attached spa.
When we were planning our pool-spa combination, we had to think about the size carefully. We didn’t want the spa to dominate the space or to minimize the pool’s usability. Plus, we wanted enough space for a tanning ledge, too (we love our tanning ledge!). In the end, we found a balance that worked for our family. Our pool is spacious enough for swimming laps and playing pool games, and the spa is a perfectly comfortable size.
2. There will be some extra maintenance with a spa
Another consideration when adding a spa to your pool is the maintenance aspect. Any additional maintenance could mean additional costs and extra time taking care of your pool.
From our experience, there really isn’t all that much additional maintenance for the spa beyond what we already do for the main pool. The pool vacuum can’t get into the spa, so we just have to pay extra attention to brushing and cleaning out any debris in the spa. But, that’s really it from a day-to-day maintenance aspect.
Another thing is the heater, which at some point may need to be repaired or replaced. Again, from our experience, we haven’t had any additional headaches or issues so far. It’s just another piece of equipment to keep our eye on and know how to use and troubleshoot.
In all, the additional upkeep with the attached spa has been VERY minimal.
Conclusion: Is an Attached Spa with a Pool Worth It? Absolutely Yes!
Having an attached spa certainly elevated our backyard and pool experience, and it could do the same for you! While the spa can be a bit pricey, you should get plenty of use of it, and it will be a great focal point and gathering spot for your backyard.
These benefits will quickly outweigh the additional cost.
The main thing you will really need to plan out is if you have enough space to add a spa to your pool. If you have enough pool and backyard space to do all the activities you want to do, then I think adding the spa should be a no-brainer “yes!” decision.
