Optimum semi-inground in about a week, vinyl liner in a couple of weeks, and what each quick build asks of you
Fast swimming pool construction in Tulsa comes down to two pool types at Fiesta Pools and Spas. Most Optimum semi-inground pools install in about a week, and vinyl liner pools go in within a couple of weeks. Both post lower ranges than gunite, and each one comes with trade-offs worth knowing first.
Two builds measured in days and weeks
Concrete pools are the slow ones. Fiesta puts gunite at several weeks and sometimes a couple of months, and that’s before weather has its say. If you’ve got a short window, a tight budget or a yard that slopes away from the house, two other types deserve a hard look.
| Optimum semi-inground | Vinyl liner | |
|---|---|---|
| Fiesta’s posted range | $20,500 to $40,000, average about $30,375 | $46,060 to $98,164, average about $77,752 |
| Install time Fiesta lists | About a week, often less | A couple of weeks |
| Shapes | Freeform, oval, round | Roman-end, mountain pond, custom |
| Depth | Limited | Set in the design |
| Warranty | Optimum pool warranty, ask the store for terms | Liner: five years full, 20 years pro-rated |
| Part that wears out | Sand filter media, changed now and then | The liner, every six to 10 years |
| Strong suit | Slopes, budgets, speed | Custom outline at a mid-range price |
Those dollar figures are what Fiesta posts today. They are subject to change, so check with the store before you budget around them. Your site and options set the final quote.
What is an Optimum semi-inground pool?
Optimum is the semi-inground brand Fiesta installs. Each wall is built around an aluminum-and-foam core, and the outer face arrives already finished. No stone veneer or retaining wall is needed to make it look right, and that finished face is what makes the flexible install possible. An Optimum can sit fully above ground, go fully in the ground, or land somewhere in between.
That in-between option is the clever part. On a sloped lot, the high side of the pool can sit down in the hill while the low side stands taller, with no expensive retaining wall to build. It may also get through an HOA review more easily than an above ground pool, though no builder can promise that.
The trade-off is depth. Semi-inground pools don’t go as deep as a full inground pool, so they’re better for cooling off, floating and playing than for diving.
Optimum sizes by shape
| Shape | Sizes Fiesta lists | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Freeform | 14×23, 15×28, 17×30, 19×32 | Curved patios and a softer look |
| Oval | 16×24, 16×28, 16×32, 18×26, 18×30, 18×34 | Long, narrow yards and a bit of lap room |
| Round | 16 ft, 18 ft, 21 ft, 24 ft, 27 ft, 30 ft | Small, square or awkward corners |
Fiesta’s blog on small and sloped yards makes the point that round and oval shapes fit narrow or awkward spaces well. A round pool tucks into a corner a long freeform would never fit. If you’re torn between two sizes, mark both outlines on the grass and stand back from the patio.
Think about how many people will be in the water at once. A 16-foot round suits a couple or a small family cooling off. A larger oval or freeform gives growing kids room to spread out, and the long ovals leave a little space to swim a few strokes in a straight line.
What the Optimum package includes, and what you supply
Fiesta’s installed Optimum packages cover the build and the basic equipment. A few things are on the owner’s list, and it helps to line those up before the crew arrives.
| Included in Fiesta’s installed package | Supplied by you |
|---|---|
| A two-foot buried install | Power to the equipment pad |
| Confer entry steps | Water to fill the pool |
| Equipment pad, hard-plumbed, with a combination sand filter and pump | Clear access to the yard |
| A single color-changing LED light, remote included | |
| Equipment pad at the skimmer exit | |
| Hauling off the dirt, plus rough grading |
Power usually means hiring a licensed electrician to run a circuit to the equipment pad, so call one early. Fill water can come from a garden hose, which is slow, or a water delivery, which is quick but costs extra. Clear access means a path wide enough for the equipment, with cars, trailers and anything fragile moved out of the way.
How the week usually goes
Every yard is a little different, so ask the team for your own schedule. In broad strokes, a semi-inground install moves through a short list of jobs: the pool is laid out and dug for the partial burial, the walls go up, the equipment pad is plumbed at the skimmer exit, the light goes in, and the dirt is hauled off with the ground roughly graded. Then the water goes in. Because Fiesta lists most installs at about a week, and often less, the slow part is usually the paperwork and the electrician, not the build itself.
Expect noise, a dirt pile and some ruts for a few days. Plan to reseed or patch the lawn along the equipment path afterward, since rough grading leaves the ground level but bare.
Once it’s full, you’ll care for the water like any other pool. The sand filter needs its media changed every so often, and Fiesta handles sand changes when that time comes.
How long does a vinyl liner pool take to build?
Fiesta’s estimate for a vinyl liner install is a couple of weeks. Gunite, by the same estimate, runs a month or more. The speed comes from the method. Instead of forming and curing a concrete shell on site, the crew digs the shape, sets the wall system and floor, and fits a liner measured for that exact pool.
You still get real design choices. Shape choices include Roman-end and mountain pond outlines, or a custom one. Options on vinyl include rock waterfalls, laminar jets, and fiber optic or LED lights. That’s the appeal of vinyl. It’s a custom outline in a couple of weeks, at a posted range that starts below fiberglass and gunite.
The liner: life span, warranty and looks
The liner is the part you’ll think about most. Fiesta puts its life at six to 10 years. Over time it may fade or pick up water stains. Sharp objects and pet claws can puncture it. Budget for a replacement somewhere in that window, and keep pool toys with hard edges out of the water.
On the plus side, vinyl gives algae fewer places to grab than concrete does. UV inhibitors are built into Fiesta’s liners, and the patterns are exclusive 3D designs. Fiesta’s liner warranty gives you full coverage for five years and pro-rated coverage to 20, and it moves with the house if you sell.
A replacement liner isn’t all bad news, either. It’s a chance to switch patterns and give a tired pool a fresh look without touching the structure.
Is a faster build the right build for you?
- Pick Optimum semi-inground if your yard slopes, your budget is firm, or you want to swim in about a week.
- Pick vinyl liner if you want a custom outline and full inground depth without a gunite timeline.
- Compare the totals as well as the timelines. Fiesta’s posted averages are about $30,375 for semi-inground and about $77,752 for vinyl liner, and vinyl adds a liner replacement somewhere in the six to 10 year range.
- Think twice about vinyl if you’ve got large dogs that swim, since claws can puncture a liner.
- Look at gunite or fiberglass instead if you want a fully custom design or a surface that never needs a new liner.
Speed is a great tiebreaker but a poor first reason. Start with how you’ll use the water and what your yard allows, then let the timeline settle the close calls. For how timing fits the seasons, read about planning a pool installation in Tulsa around Oklahoma’s calendar. Fiesta’s semi-inground swimming pools page has photos and shape details.
Fast build questions
How much does a semi-inground pool cost in Tulsa?
A semi-inground pool in Tulsa costs $20,500 to $40,000 installed on Fiesta’s posted range, and the average lands near $30,375. That price covers the two-foot buried install, entry steps, plumbed equipment pad, a light, hauling away dirt and rough grading. Posted prices change, so ask for a current quote.
Does a semi-inground pool need a retaining wall?
A semi-inground pool doesn’t need a retaining wall when it’s an Optimum. Its outer walls come finished, and the pool can sit partway down in a slope or hill, so there’s no wall or stone facing to build around them. That saves money on sloped Tulsa lots.
How long does a semi-inground pool installation take?
A semi-inground pool installation takes about a week for most Optimum pools, and Fiesta says many take less. The timeline starts once permits, power and access are ready. Weather can add a few days, and the fill water takes time if it comes from a garden hose.
Can you replace a vinyl pool liner?
You can replace a vinyl pool liner, and you’ll likely need to every six to 10 years. A new liner restores the surface and lets you pick a different pattern. Fiesta’s liner warranty gives full coverage for five years and pro-rated coverage to 20, and it transfers to a buyer.
What do I need to provide for a semi-inground pool install?
For a semi-inground pool install, you need to provide power to the equipment pad, water to fill the pool and clear access to the yard. Fiesta’s installed Optimum package covers the rest of the basics, from the dig to rough grading. Line up an electrician early.
Get Optimum pricing from 93rd and Sheridan
The 93rd and Sheridan store serves south Tulsa, Glenpool and south Broken Arrow. Check the current store hours before you visit. You can also get Optimum pool pricing online.
Fiesta Pools and Spas, 93rd and Sheridan
9241 S Sheridan Rd, Tulsa, OK 74133
(918) 494-0133
Swimming pool construction and more at 93rd and Sheridan
- Custom pools in south Tulsa
- Inground pools at 93rd and Sheridan
- Pool builders at our South Sheridan location
Hours, directions and phone for this location are on the Fiesta’s 93rd and Sheridan store, 9241 S. Sheridan Rd. page.
