• There are multiple drawbacks to building an inground swimming pool.Swimming pool and pool house image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
  
  An in-ground swimming pool can look beautiful in your backyard on a warm summer day. Getting the actual pool in the ground, however, to make that picturesque image a reality can take a lot of time and money. If you;ew willing to handle the legalities, cost, material issues and the effects of the elements, it may be worth it to you.
  
  

Legal Issues

• Before you can begin building an in-ground swimming pool, you must apply for a building permit in your area. There are specific rules in every town that pertain to building and zoning, and these include how far away you must build from septic tanks, sewer lines, property lines, wells, and wetlands. By the time you meet all of these requirements, depending on the size of the yard, you may not be able to build a very big pool at all. Also, when you build an in-ground pool, you must build a corresponding perimeter wall or fence that is at least 4 feet tall. To meet these requirements, you may have to spend thousands of additional dollars.
  
  

Cost

• Building a pool can cost around $40,000 to $50,000 depending on its size and the materials that you use. Meeting the legal requirements of fencing, paying for additional landscaping needs and day-to-day pool maintenance may end up doubling that amount before your take that first step into the pool. If you have any rocky terrain deep in the yard where you want the pool or the fence to be built, you may have to pay extra for digging out--or even blowing up--the rocks. Cost can also vary depending on what materials you use for the finished pool.
  
  

Materials

• Each in-ground pool material comes with its own problems. Concrete is frequently used, as it is the sturdiest and lasts the longest. But building a concrete pool also takes the longest, often between three and 12 weeks, if all goes well. A flexible preformed liner made of vinyl is often the budget choice for an in-ground pool. It is also the most prone to damage, as it can be punctured by sharp objects, pool toys and pets. Fiberglass pools are the least customizable, as they are available in the fewest shapes and sizes. When these materials are shipped, trucks must often avoid certain states due to varying state-to-state regulations for transporting oversized loads.
  
  

The Elements

• In-ground pools can become damaged by the elements. A concrete pool, if not properly weatherized, can crack and shift as water enters, freezes and thaws. Weather conditions can change the pH level in the water and other chemical characteristics of the pool, which may lead to wrinkles and leaks in the vinyl liner material. If you do not have the ability to take care of your pool during the winter, more damage can occur.