Washington, DC · Inground Pool Builders & Contractors · Updated 2026
45 inground pool builders in the Washington area — 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. 26 are listed as specialists for this work; the rest are pool builders that routinely handle it. This page shows the top 20.
Ordered by customer rating and review count across the Washington area. Listings include the available rating, contact details and location; confirm current credentials and scope directly.
Planning a new pool as well? The Washington pool builders directory ranks all 184 builders in the area.
Installed prices in Washington run from $56,500–$87,500 for a mid-size vinyl liner pool to $94,000–$150,000 for a comparable gunite pool, with fiberglass in between at $72,500–$106,500. Decking, fencing and permits stack on top:
| Job | Typical Washington price |
|---|---|
| Vinyl liner pool, installed (about 16×32) | $56,500–$87,500 |
| Fiberglass pool, installed (about 14×30) | $72,500–$106,500 |
| Gunite / concrete pool, installed (about 16×32) | $94,000–$150,000 |
| Attached spa or spillover | $15,000–$44,000 |
| Decking and coping around the pool | $7,500–$25,000 |
| Safety fence and gates | $2,500–$7,500 |
| Permits, engineering, utility locates | $600–$4,400 |
| Typical all-in project with deck and fence | $87,500–$187,500+ |
| Ongoing upkeep (chemicals, power, service) | $1,400–$3,400 / year |
Washington, DC 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.
Washington market
4.5 average customer rating · 1233 reviews · 45 companies · 26 specialists
See All on the Map →45 inground pool builders in the Washington area. 26 are listed as specialists for this work; the rest are pool builders that routinely handle it. The ranked companies average 4.5 stars across 1,233 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.
Tight rowhouse lots drive everything: crane sets over the house, hand digs, compact equipment pads, and drainage engineered to protect neighbors. Expect smaller vessels — plunge pools, spools, cocktail pools — designed to make 400 square feet feel like a resort. Plunge pools with spa jets, automatic covers, and serious lighting — the DC build is compact, heated, and used at night. Materials skew high-end; the pool is usually one piece of a full outdoor-room renovation.
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. DC projects run through the Department of Buildings with licensed contractors, electrical and plumbing permits, and residential barrier requirements. Ask your builder for recent District-specific approval timelines. Historic-district review can add time in Georgetown and Capitol Hill.
Installed in Washington, DC, a mid-size vinyl liner pool typically runs $56,500–$87,500, a fiberglass pool $72,500–$106,500 and a gunite pool $94,000–$150,000. With decking, a fence and permits most complete projects land at $87,500–$187,500+. Washington, DC 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 Washington runs mid-May through September — about 4 months unheated. A full professional winterization each fall protects plumbing and equipment through the freeze, and spring openings cluster into the same few weeks. Mid-May through September, humid at the peak. Winters freeze enough for a full close, and heaters are common because owners want every week the short urban season can give.
NOVA Landscape Construction has the highest customer rating on this Washington list at 5 stars across 79 reviews. Browning Pools & Spas has the largest review count (172 reviews at 4.6 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.
DC projects run through the Department of Buildings with licensed contractors, electrical and plumbing permits, and residential barrier requirements. Ask your builder for recent District-specific approval timelines. Historic-district review can add time in Georgetown and Capitol Hill.
Budget $1,400–$3,400 / 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.
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