How much should a faux rock waterfall/slide combo like this run?

[MUPPPP]

We're in the process of planning our pool and we got a quote that seemed far more than it should have been. What should something like this RicoRock (or other faux rock) waterslide/waterfall/grotto run? Just the structure plus a dedicated pump, not a price for the whole pool. I know its hard to give exact numbers, just looking for a range. Any advice would be much appreciated.

What about something a little more modest like this?

 

[ajw22]

Slide/Grotto Options for Different Budgets

Why Caves and Grottos are Easy, Profitable Pool Add-Ons - AQUA Magazine

 

[kimkats]

The best thing you can do is to get at least 5 quotes in your area. We have found that prices differ even from one side of town to another in the bigger towns!

That would be a such a fun addition to a pool! Talk about something fun AND pretty!

 

[galowbraw]

I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say you'll get quotes ranging from 7k-20k+ depending on what type/size rocks actually get used. If they use moss rock which are much smaller pieces and easier to handle/form, it would probably be cheaper. For the bigger rocks, they will need a crane or piece of equipment that won't tip when lifting those up. The rock alone, on the cheap side is roughly $100 each in the second picture. The first photo has much larger rocks/boulders. Just getting them to your house is the hardest part.

They both look beautiful though...

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

We have a 12' gunite slide/waterfall combo with a separate Pentair 2hp pump. The combo added about $15-$17,000 to the price of our pool. The grotto/cave would have added thousands more. Other quotes we received were similar. Our slide chute is polished and sealed cement/gunite. The chute has been resurfaced twice in 4 years due to cracks. Although the kids love the slide and jump rocks, I'm not sure I would pay the premium next time.

 

[galowbraw]

We have a 12' gunite slide/waterfall combo with a separate Pentair 2hp pump. The combo added about $15-$17,000 to the price of our pool. The grotto/cave would have added thousands more. Other quotes we received were similar. Our slide chute is polished and sealed cement/gunite. The chute has been resurfaced twice in 4 years due to cracks. Although the kids love the slide and jump rocks, I'm not sure I would pay the premium next time.
View attachment 93497

"Cost-o-Lot Falls" LOL!

Looks GREAT though...but I didn't pay for it. Sweet pool and good info Rancho...

 

[MUPPPP]

Great feedback, Rancho. Exactly the info I’m needing. Our quote was literally like 7x that amount. But it was with a swim-in grotto, a walk out path, A 6 foot cascading waterfall, and a 15 foot inter- fab slide. But I was thinking it would be on the order of “only” 40-50k. Would love to hear feedback from others if anyone else is willing to share.

 

[Tx-C]

When we built ours last year, to do this was an extra 15k. We opted not to as we wanted to stay within a decent budget. We did get a plumbed slide and our Builder said we could add this at a later date since he was running the plumbing for this type of set up.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Great feedback, Rancho. Exactly the info I’m needing. Our quote was literally like 7x that amount. But it was with a swim-in grotto, a walk out path, A 6 foot cascading waterfall, and a 15 foot inter- fab slide. But I was thinking it would be on the order of “only” 40-50k. Would love to hear feedback from others if anyone else is willing to share.

That's a crazy price! I thought mine was too pricey.

Best of luck MUPPPP.

 

[PoolGate]

My rock water fall is "usually" a $5k option but the builder was running a special where they installed 2 water falls for "free". So you can see there is a LOT of profit in waterfalls.

 

[DogtownTX]

The two primary pool builders I got quotes from quoted $1,000 per ton of rocks. That was for strictly a waterfall type feature, no slides or grotto or anything. We decided to go in a different aesthetic direction and didn't do a rock waterfall so no idea what kind of rock that would have been. Assuming that was the cheapest possible rock.

 

[bmoreswim]

Before I read any of the replies I was thinking $20-50K for those two options.

 

[Gorilla83]

In my area (SE Pennsylvania) the slide alone w/ some of the surrounding things like steps, etc would be 15-20K by itself. Add in a grotto/waterfall and I'd be at 40-50+K easily. Labor is very regionally priced as you will find though. The amount of hardscaping/landscaping/lighting included in the package can vary the price quite a bit as well.