Maine · Inground Pool Builders & Contractors · Updated 2026
12 inground pool builders serving Portland — fiberglass, gunite and vinyl liner — ordered by customer rating and review count, with 2026 installed prices for each type so you can compare before the first site visit. 9 are listed as specialists for this work; the rest are pool builders that routinely handle it.
Ordered by customer rating and review count across the Portland area. Listings include the available rating, contact details and location; confirm current credentials and scope directly.
Companies in the second group are listed as pool builders; most build inground pools in at least one material — ask which types they install and how many they completed last year.
Planning a new pool as well? The Portland pool builders directory ranks all 14 builders in the area.
Installed prices in Portland run from $51,500–$80,500 for a mid-size vinyl liner pool to $86,500–$138,000 for a comparable gunite pool, with fiberglass in between at $66,500–$97,500. Decking, fencing and permits stack on top:
| Job | Typical Portland price |
|---|---|
| Vinyl liner pool, installed (about 16×32) | $51,500–$80,500 |
| Fiberglass pool, installed (about 14×30) | $66,500–$97,500 |
| Gunite / concrete pool, installed (about 16×32) | $86,500–$138,000 |
| Attached spa or spillover | $14,000–$40,500 |
| Decking and coping around the pool | $7,000–$23,000 |
| Safety fence and gates | $2,300–$6,900 |
| Permits, engineering, utility locates | $600–$4,000 |
| Typical all-in project with deck and fence | $80,500–$172,500+ |
| Ongoing upkeep (chemicals, power, service) | $1,300–$3,200 / year |
Maine pricing is above the national baseline used for these estimates, mainly on labor and permitting. Soil, access for excavation equipment, slope, utility relocation and the finish and feature package move a quote more than the pool's footprint does — compare itemized bids for the same size and type.
Fiberglass, gunite and vinyl bids are not comparable to each other — settle the type (or ask each builder to bid two), then compare like for like.
Portland market
4.3 average customer rating · 459 reviews · 12 companies · 9 specialists
See All on the Map →12 inground pool builders serving Portland. 9 are listed as specialists for this work; the rest are pool builders that routinely handle it. The ranked companies average 4.3 stars across 459 customer reviews. PoolPad orders the list with a weighted score that combines customer rating and review count, so a long track record counts for more than a handful of scores.
Rocky soils and ledge are routine — put excavation language in writing — and rural lots add access logistics. Frost-depth plumbing, freeze-tolerant decks, and covers rated for snow load are simply how pools are built this far north. Vinyl liner leads, fiberglass grows every year for install speed, and heat pumps are near-universal on new builds. Simple, durable designs with automatic covers fit the climate and the character.
For statewide rankings, city counts and Maine prices, see the Maine inground pool builders directory, or check the nearby cities below.
Get at least three itemized bids for the same type and size, visit finished pools that are a few years old, and read the warranty for the shell, the finish and the equipment separately. Ask how the company handles rock, groundwater and access problems once digging starts. Maine has no general statewide contractor license, so due diligence is yours: insurance certificates, references, and recent local builds. Pool permits and residential-code barrier requirements (fencing, self-latching gates) run through your town's code enforcement office; shoreland zoning can add review near water.
Installed in Portland, ME, a mid-size vinyl liner pool typically runs $51,500–$80,500, a fiberglass pool $66,500–$97,500 and a gunite pool $86,500–$138,000. With decking, a fence and permits most complete projects land at $80,500–$172,500+. Maine pricing is above the national baseline used for these estimates, mainly on labor and permitting; the size, finish, features and site conditions move the number most.
There is no single best type. Fiberglass installs fastest and is the easiest to maintain but comes in fixed shapes; gunite can be any shape with any feature but costs more to build and to resurface later; vinyl liner has the lowest upfront price but needs a new liner every eight to twelve years. Match the type to your budget, your yard, how long you plan to stay and how much maintenance you want.
A fiberglass pool is often swimmable two to six weeks after excavation; a vinyl liner pool four to eight weeks; a gunite pool eight to sixteen weeks because the shell has to cure before tile, coping and the finish go on. Permitting adds two to eight weeks up front, and decking and landscaping follow the pool. Most crews dig in the off-season so the pool is ready when the season opens.
Most residential pools are 3 to 6 feet with a deep end of 6 to 8 feet; diving depths of 8 feet or more need a longer pool and a larger excavation. Fiberglass shells are limited to the manufacturer's molds (commonly 6 to 8 feet), while gunite and vinyl liner pools can be built to almost any profile, including sport pools that are shallow at both ends.
The outdoor season in Portland runs mid-June through early September — about 3 months unheated. A full professional winterization each fall protects plumbing and equipment through the freeze, and spring openings cluster into the same few weeks. The unheated season runs from mid-June to early September, and a heat pump can extend it. Winters are long and freezing statewide, so inground pools need a full close.
Mowry Brothers Pools has the highest customer rating on this Portland list at 5 stars across 11 reviews. The Pool Shed has the largest review count (151 reviews at 4.8 stars). PoolPad orders the list with a weighted score that combines customer rating and review count, so a long track record counts for more than a handful of scores.
Maine has no general statewide contractor license, so due diligence is yours: insurance certificates, references, and recent local builds. Pool permits and residential-code barrier requirements (fencing, self-latching gates) run through your town's code enforcement office; shoreland zoning can add review near water.
Budget $1,300–$3,200 / year for chemicals, electricity and routine service, more for a heated pool or a weekly cleaning route. Fiberglass and vinyl surfaces use fewer chemicals than plaster; a variable-speed pump and an automatic cover cut running costs the most.
Check inground pool builders in cities near Portland, or open the Maine directory for every listed market in the state.
Claim your free PoolPad listing, check the pool types you build, and show Portland homeowners planning a new pool what you install.
