Swimming pool opinions

[Gaze]

Welp guys, it's time I need your valuable (non welding related) opinions again.

Anyone have strong opinions either way whether a backyard pool is worth it?

We have adequate backyard area for one, no good idea about costs of ownership, etc. Can't have kids, so just the wife and I and occasional friends over. Relatives have kids, so they'll probably come over to play.
I guess the other thing to consider is if you get your money back for the overall costs if you sell the home.

Your thoughts appreciated...for or against...the good and the bad.

[Knowledgeworker]

I have considered it for years, but I just can't bring myself to do it. The youngens and the grandyoungens love to swim and play in the water. I have discussed this with several of my friends and neighbors, as well as observed them working to keep their pools in shape. In this area, the costs of chemicals to keep the pool water clean and clear would be enough for groceries for a week. They also end up working at least an hour a day to for normal maintenence, more if it rains. It is cheaper to join a swimming club or country club than to put up with the aggrivation and expense. Did I mention about the home owners liability insurance specifications and premiem increase? and the permits, and the city/county regulations.:o

Don't want to rain on anyones parade, but this is what my research has come up with for my particular situation.

Good luck with your endevour, and I hope you the best.

Jim

[Rocky D]

Well, where I am, they tell me you will never get out of it what you put into it when you sell your home....however the health benefits, out-weigh the negatives...especially in Cali...

[Ohio Mike]

In Ohio an in ground pool pool can lower the resale. It can take a lot of work to maintain one and it's expensive to remove. It's not like a shed you can toss a match in... If you want to know about resale value call a licensed Realtor in our area and ask. They'll know exactly what sells and what doesn't for a particular neighborhood.

[n8tureboy]

Another consideration is liability- in case the neighbor kid's come over and get hurt-and also homeowner insurance premiums. They are probably much higher with a swimming pool?

[usmcpop]

I loved the above ground pool that was there when I purchased my second house. We never swam much in it, but when a kid blew it up with a pipe bomb on Halloween, I collected $$$ on insurance, sold the scrap aluminum for a good buck and finally got a reparation check when the kid got out of prison. I made about 5 grand off a pool I couldn't sell for $500.

It made a really neat BOOM when the pipe bomb went off, too. Based on the shrapnel, it was about a 1 1/2" diameter pipe and used extruded cylindrical powder. I had to point this out to the cops a couple days later when I found a small piece of an end cap. Of course any kid that grew up in my era would know that, but I had to point it out to the authorities before they got interested. Fortunately, they didn't ask me why I knew what it was ;)

[hankj]

Gaze,

It's a matter of cost vs. benefit.

A heated pool, wether a permenant, gunnited in-ground or a fold-up, is expensive to maintain. Electricity for heating and running the filter; chemicals, testing kits, cleaning tools, etc., all add up.

The plus side around here is that on that 105° summer afternoon, ya can grab up a margarita, hop in the pool, and suddenly the cost seems insignificant!

I don't have a pool, and I probably never will have one, since I can't afford a "pool boy", and I'm just too lazy to maintain one myself, but I do jump in the neighbor's pond often!:p

Hank

[txfireguy2003]

I used to be a "pool boy" then graduated to building them. We had a route where the owners didn't touch the pool other than to swim in it, and we came once a week to test and adjust chemicals. They are not that hard to maintain if they are set up correctly from the beginning. Automatic chlorinators are a godsend. As far as resale value....it's almost as bad as buying a new car. Spend 20K on a SMALL pool, and get an extra grand or two when you sell the house as I understand it. Only reason it's better than a new car, if you take care of it, you'll get the same amount back from it this year, or ten years from now, they don't really depreciate much at all. Insurance is another matter alltogether. You'll most likely be REQUIRED to have it fenced, to a certain code, and your rates will likely go up anyway, they're a big liability concern, lots of kids drown in pools every year, and believe it or not, it's usually NOT the owner's kid.

[Blacksmith]

Had an above ground pool put in when we bought the house. Learned to be very agressive about maintenenance - a pool truly defines the saying, "left alone, things will go from bad to worse." Even if you don't feel like it, $10 of shock and an hour of vacuuming tonight will save $50 of chemcals and 4 hours of work tomorrow night to restore the water. Enjoyed it when the kids were little, but after replacing two liners, one pump and 10 years of cleaning, testing, covering for the winter and uncovering I also enjoyed taking it down with my new recip saw. Even the wife wanted to play with the saw on the pool.

[Gaze]

Thanks for the feedback guys. Lots of cons :o

Think I'll call the insurance co. and check rates for pool addition.

Even if that's fairly reasonable, we need to consider if we can stick to some sort of disciplined (exercise) program to put a pool to good use. Me bones ARE getting a little stiff these days.

Also need to locate some documentation on avg. upkeep costs for residential pool.

Fairly big decision since you can't turn back once the thing is underway.

[Some Creep]

We wound up with an above ground 25-footer and a hot tub when we bought our current home. I don't think we ever would have been able to afford to buy either if it weren't for that. I wouldn't trade the fun we've had for......well, for something sorta valuable! :)

The previous owner gave up trying to fix the pool pump and said it was 'dead'. My $12 in new bearings and $15 new mechanical seal said otherwise. Those and the occasional new pressure gauge are the only hard parts I've had to install in 6 years.

Chemicals, chemicals, chemicals....yes, the downside. After research and practice you'll know what to add and watch for, but it's not too complicated and easy to understand. My kids can test and tell me what it needs, if that's any indication. I just don't want them to do the additions themselves.....

Power is another item. Circulation pumps running will add to the bill. Heaters will to, but I use a solar one that's free. Not as high temp as a heater might make it, but it's free.

My above ground pool adds NOTHING to my home value, and the insurance agent who checked out my place said it didn't affect my rates either. I don't know about anyone else's area, but that's what I have. Mine can be removed and reinstalled somewhere else when the time comes for it to go away, no backhoe and earth moving required.

Would I buy one? For the kids, yes, if I had the money to spare. It's been fun having that thing out there! Is it work keeping it running? Of course, but not difficult or too expensive (if MY broke @ss can afford it ANYONE can). If I didn't have a pump background it might be more expensive when the time for repairs comes, but that's something you can get help with on-line like anything else nowadays.

[Big_Eddy]

I put in a pool - a big inground one. It was expensive to put in and it's been there about 12 years now. Every year I need to spend some money on maintenance - pump seals 1 year, new winter cover the next - etc. Nothing about a pool is cheap - I budget $1000 for maintenance each year, some years I beat it , most I don't.

Chemicals are not that expensive - if you don't buy from the boutique pool stores. We have a cheap supplier and 3 expensive stores - all the same chemicals. Still - I probably spend $500 / summer in chemicals.

Maintenance is all about having a routine. Top up the chlorine every x days, vacuum every y days. If it stays in control - it's easy enough. Let it go - and it is hard to get back. I do all my work on Sunday evenings - it's a routine that works for me. But I ALWAYS do it - even in the rain - that way it isn't skipped.

Pump Costs - Mine runs 24hrs/ day during the summer - 3/4hp pump. Don't know what electricity costs where you are - but my bill spikes when I open the pool.

Opening is easy - fill it and power it on - check chemicals and go. Closing is a bit more work - plan on spending half a day in the fall - and do it before your hands freeze to the walls.

Fencing - I had to fence my yard due to local bylaws and insurance rules - add that to the initial cost.

I'll never recover my initial $$ invested if I sell my house, but I never expected to. Instead I think of it as an asset I am amortizing over it's useful life. I figure for roughly $1750-$2000 expenses / year plus annual amortization of ~$1000 I have my own private resort in the back yard. I have 4 kids - they live in the pool all summer. Think how much it would cost to take the whole family to a resort for a week - never mind the fact that I can relax and put my feet up in the back yard every day of the week if I choose to.

However - if you think that you will use it for exercise - be warned that swimming lengths in a 25' above ground means a LOT of turns! Even at 45' the ends come up pretty quick in mine.

I think a pool is one of those things where one person might really enjoy it, and another have no use for it. I'd do it again in my situation - but it might not be right for you.

[BBackSoon]

When my parents bought their current house I was in high school. It had a well used above ground pool. It was nice and fun for a year or two. The start of the downturn was when we pulled the winter cover off one spring and there was a bloated hairless squirrel floating in the pool and another one that had gotten his head caught between the edge of the pool and the top cap. Needless to say it smelled bad and there is no good way to part a squirrel. The water was a mess from the swimmer. We shocked vacuumed and did it again and again, that year we could never get the water to totally clear up.

We gave it away to a friend of ours for helping to take it down.

Wife wants one and I told her that I had no interest but if she wanted to maintain it that was fine. But I also told her if it gets green and stays that way for a month, I would attack it with a pickaxe and sawzall. Have not heard anything else for about a year but that doesn’t mean anything.

[Conrad_Turbo]

So in otherwords it's like owning a very expensive inanimate pet? :D

[weldckr]

Here in Wisconsin I grew up with a pool and have had one at each of my houses for 25 years (all above ground) i buy the chemicals at the big box stores and like was mentioned earlier upkeep is about a ruotine, if you keep up with regular maintance on the pump and such its no big deal, insurance for mine was minimal, dont know the $$ off hand but it was way less than my boat or 4 wheeler insurance. in wisconsin we only get about 4 months use out of it, but it was well worth it. i also looked at it as a source of emergency water in case of fire, civil distrubance etc. nothing like having 7000 gallons of extra water stored out in the yard and a pump hooked up if you really need it. LOL it boils down to a personal choice.
good luck

[Woodshed]

I would say a pool on the average cost $100 per month on year average. If you ever want to sell the house you cut down the list of buyers to one that want a pool. Just like people that turn their garage into a room and cut buyer down to one that doesn't need or want a garage.

[tspmax]

I agree with most of the above....as far as chemicals, buy a floatatron. Check it out!

Decide what you want in ground or above. Trees are a problem. Enjoy the pool, have fun.

[Gaze]

Thanks again all! I believe, based on the above, I will not be going for the pool.
I dunno...the economy appears to be fading lately and it's probably prudent to do some hunkering down at this point...not luxury spending. Other thing is I hate being victimized by municipality, inspectors and insurance cos. I don't have kids and the neighbor's kids are grown, but doubt that will mean anything to them.

Heh...I do have a whirlpool tub indoors big enough for the two of us. That'll have to do I guess.

[SavageSunJeep]

You didn't say where in Ca you live so temps in your area can be HOT...Death Valley or COLD, Russian River.

That said I have done 3 pools. 1 was pattern built from a builders spec book the other 2 were custom built to MY specs. Cost was about the same +/- less than a $1k.

Return on your $:

1) How soon you expect to sell? Generally speaking expect to get ABOUT 1/2 the cost of a typical pool (NOT what you paid) Typical pool will cost about $15k - 25k for most homes unless you live in a multi-million $$$ area.

2) Use factor: I LOVE my pool and I get about 9 months a year use of it. How much is that worth???????? We have no kids and wife rarely gets in.

3) In ground Vs above ground: Depends on where you live. In the South its in ground, head north and its above ground. What is the norm for your neighborhood? "when in Rome do as the Romans do"

4) Pools are not bought by size. In general it takes the same effort to build a 7500 gal pool vs a 15k gallon pool and the cost will vary by only a few hundred $.

5) Decide what YOU want from a pool, then have it built. I wanted a pool about 5'8" deep in the deep end and a sloping entry from about 4 in to 24 in then drop off into the deep end (known as "Beach entry"). Why? Me, Cowboy hat to keep sun off my head, cigar, cold beer, standing in the deep end or sitting on the drop off. Wife wanted a place to lay in the water and read a book. Dogs wanted a shallow end to play in. Everyone is happy.

6) My pool is the smallest I have ever owned. 6500 gallons, no heater no built in hot tub. Pool is really just a very large hot tub affair. I live in the desert and do not need a heater.

If your are interested I have pics I can post, just let me know.

Enjoy...

[BBackSoon]

Heh...I do have a whirlpool tub indoors big enough for the two of us. That'll have to do I guess.

You weren’t inviting me over were you? I mean I am flattered and all but not really interested.

[Some Creep]

You weren’t inviting me over were you? I mean I am flattered and all but not really interested.

..........how about me?

:confused:

I'll bring a nice bottle of wine.....?

[Gaze]

You weren’t inviting me over were you? I mean I am flattered and all but not really interested.Us=Me and me wife.
You know, that ole fashioned conventional m/w married stuff. Still exists in CA in some parts.

[smooth72]

I have a in ground pool that I have done allot of landscaping around. The pool is 14 X 40 with enough room in shallow side to play volleyball in and a deep in with a diving board. I have an automatic chlorination and a solar blanket I use to warm it. The main thing is to stay on top of the chemicals. For us it gives a place for family and friends to get together. It is strange even if you don't swim being around water is enjoyable. Also we have one of those robotic pool cleaners to help keep it clean. As far as value it seem to be more of sales point, in ower neighbor hood over half of the houses has pools the lots are all over an acre. I had the pool itself put in and I did the rest. O buy the way, welding project, I built the fence.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a156/smooth72/cc2.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a156/smooth72/aviewtowardshouse.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a156/smooth72/aviewtowardsclock.jpg

[Rocky D]

Totally gorgeous! The pool is great, too...;) Just curious just how much use does it get? Are you safe from twisters, there? Looks like the house is a pretty good refuge in that case. Beautiful, and then some! :)

[smooth72]

Totally gorgeous! The pool is great, too...;) Just curious just how much use does it get? Are you safe from twisters, there? Looks like the house is a pretty good refuge in that case. Beautiful, and then some! :)


Okie always get a kick out of the twister question. Unlike earth quakes we get allot of warning before the ever get to your house, with the radar warning system we have. Some time the small ones people go out in the yard and watch them. During spring we get allot of warnings but usually not much damage the news tends to sationalize things. Usually I open the pool in early May and close it in October. This is the view from the back of the pool. Three of my neighbors went in to build the area behind there house, lots of chain sawing and leveling, Fun to say we did it ourselves. It is also the view I see from my garage (my part of the house, the wife gets the rest) that enters from back of my house. Anyway did not mean to steal the thread but part of a pool is landscaping to make it a inviting place.
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a156/smooth72/aviewfrompool.jpg

[Some Creep]

Sweet digs!

Hope you enjoy your new membership to the "You Suck" Club!

:D

[Gaze]

Nice setting, Smooth. And I thought OK was flat and dusty.

Not sure if you mentioned you can swim or not, but I was wondering...at 40' length, is the pool long enough to do a decent lap before turning around?

Also, do you have any idea how much you spend on water and upkeep specifically related to your pool?

Thanks for posting.

[Gaze]

Here's mine...

Yeah right!

[smooth72]

Nice setting, Smooth. And I thought OK was flat and dusty.

Not sure if you mentioned you can swim or not, but I was wondering...at 40' length, is the pool long enough to do a decent lap before turning around?

Also, do you have any idea how much you spend on water and upkeep specifically related to your pool?

Thanks for posting.

40 foot is a standard length for a exercise lap pool. As far as how much I spend really have not figured it, the water is not much after first filling. The only time the chemicals get expensive is if the water gets out of balance. We use a few extra chemicals to keep it in check, the extra it cost is well worth it, I have spent over $100 trying to get it rebalanced special when we first built it.

[smooth72]

Here's mine...

Yeah right!

Mine is vinyl pool line pool that we landscaped around, That way it enables you to do it in phases Pool and deck first, that way you can start enjoying and then as money permits you do the landscape. Another point on the chemical use. Concrete requires the most chemical, then vinyl and the least fiberglass. Also one thing nice about the vinyl is it the cheapest and it is softer on your feet.

[Gaze]

40 foot is a standard length for a exercise lap pool.
hmm...40' is exactly the space I have for a lap pool. And they have vinyl and fiberglass units available pre-fab. I'm flip floppin' on this now.

Anyone know about "salt water pools"? Someone I was talking to said this is the best way to go, but didn't get any details.

[Rocky D]

...
Anyone know about "salt water pools"? Someone I was talking to said this is the best way to go, but didn't get any details.
I got one...it runs from my house to Hawaii. :D

[Gaze]

I got one...it runs from my house to Hawaii. :D
Yeah, but you have to share that one :D

...and it's full of critters that like to eat you