You're getting quotes on a new pool. Your neighbors pool looks similar. However, their cost is thousands of dollars different than yours.
Families often assume the cost differences come down to features or materials. Sometimes that's true. The most common reasons two bids cost differently has to do with your backyard access.
At Shasta Pools, we've built more than 100,000 pools since 1966. We have seen homeowners don't understand how equipment gets into their backyard can move the price of an identical pool by thousands of dollars.
This article explains how backyard access affects the construction cost. Also, we share what's the cost differences at each access level. Now, you will know how to trust and analyze a builder's new pool bid.
Table of Contents
- Does your backyard access change what your pool costs?
- How does excavation equipment affect pool cost in Arizona?
- How do I know if my backyard will cost more to excavate?
- Know Your Backyard Access Before You Receive a Pool Bid
Does your backyard access change what your pool costs?
It does. Most homeowners don't find that out until they're already comparing bids and wondering why the numbers don't match. Many advertised starting prices assume that a 10-ton dump truck and a full-size track hoe can get into your backyard.
That setup almost never exists in Arizona.
"Most of those prices don't include the proper equipment to excavate the pool. They will often include the ability of a 10-ton dump truck being able to back into a backyard, sit right next to the pool and have a track hoe just reach over and fill the truck right there. That almost is never an opportunity in Arizona." — Skip Ast III, Director of Sales, Shasta Pools
When your yard doesn't allow that the equipment gets smaller. Smaller equipment takes longer to move the same amount of dirt. Longer time means more labor and more cost.
How does excavation equipment affect pool cost in Arizona?
The equipment used to dig your pool is one of the biggest variables most buyers never think to ask about. Smaller equipment takes significantly longer to move the same amount of dirt. That extra time translates directly into higher labor costs on two identical pools.
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Standard access (track hoe + dump truck side by side) is what every advertised starting price assumes
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A standard Bobcat adds approximately $700–$800 to excavation cost over the baseline
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A small Bobcat, needed for tighter clearance, adds approximately $1,500–$2,000
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A micro excavator — the only machine that fits through a four-foot gate adds approximately $3,500
Access Changes Total Cost
"Just the size of access could take you from being in the 40s for your pool to being nearly mid-50s, just because of the access size." — Thomas Cross, Pool Designer, Shasta Pools
Does a narrow side gate change my pool price?
Yes, a four-foot gate forces the builder to use a micro excavator. This smaller and slower equipment costs roughly $3,500 extra. Two homes with the same pool design can cost differently because one yard has a wider gate than the other.
How do I know if my backyard will cost more to excavate?
You can measure your side yard access before your first appointment. Pricing excavation accurately depends entirely on what they can get into your yard.
Here are the yard conditions that most commonly trigger higher excavation costs in Arizona:
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Gate width under six feet and four feet or less means a micro excavator
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No side yard access at all
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Overhead obstructions including low block walls and pergolas
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Long or narrow access corridors
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Existing concrete or hardscape in the path
Pool Packages Based on Normal Excavation
"Base pools or pool packages that are advertised are all based on what's called normal excavation — meaning you could get a track hoe and a dump truck into the backyard. However, it's rare that you can actually get a dump truck and a track hoe next to each other in someone's backyard, especially in the communities they're building these days." — Thomas Cross, Pool Designer, Shasta Pools
What should I measure before my first pool appointment?
Bring three numbers to your first conversation with a pool builder. You want your gate width, the width of your side yard corridor from gate to backyard, and the distance from the access point to where the pool will sit. Gate width is the most critical.
Know Your Backyard Access Before You Receive a Pool Bid
Most homeowners walk into their first pool appointment focused on shape and size. Those things matter. Backyard access can quietly move the price of an identical pool by thousands of dollars. It's the one thing you can measure yourself before you meet with a pool designer.
Some builders assume the best-case conditions or leave access cost out of the bid entirely. That cost will show up later. Now, you realize the lower bid wasn't actually lower.
Shasta includes excavation cost in every proposal. We think you deserve to know the real number before you make a decision.
Before your first appointment, measure three things:
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Your gate width
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The width of your side yard corridor
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The distance from your access point to where the pool will sit
If you're starting to plan a new pool, Shasta's design team can walk you through what's possible in your backyard. Also, how your specific access situation may mean for your investment.
References
- HomeGuide — Excavation Cost Guide
https://homeguide.com/costs/excavation-cost - Matley Swimming Pools & Spas — Pool Installation Cost Breakdown
https://matleypools.com/cost-breakdown-understanding-pool-installation-expenses/ - Rainforest Pools USA — Fiberglass Pool Cost Guide
https://rainforestpoolsusa.com/florida-fiberglass-pool-cost-guide/
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