Pool---- Yes or No

[bawkbawkbawk]

We built one during a remodel several years ago. It was great for the kids and their friends and I think it enhances our property aesthetically. I'm glad we made ours rectangular rather than free-form, as it's easy to have an electronic cover that way.

Safety is a huge issue with pools - besides a cover, you may want (and in some areas it's required by law) to have the area around the pool fenced. I believe that if a child trespasses onto your property and falls into your pool, you are still liable, so be well aware of what you're getting into as far as that goes.

We pay a service to maintain the pool, and no, the pool boy is not cute, so no bonus there. It's expensive, and there are issues from time to time with imbalance of chemicals, the cover breaking or wearing out, the heater not working, etc., so you'll want deep pockets and a fair amount of patience.

Our pool is fairly large so we don't bother to heat it in the winter. Our solar heaters keep it as warm as 90 degrees during the summer months and it's warm enough to use pretty much from mid-April through the end of September.

 

[Davaroo]

I reckon they are just another (costly) hobby you have to keep up with. If you love to stay home and work around the house, then they are great. But the paradox is, you won't save money by having one, thinking you WILL stay home now that you have pool. Weird, huh?

If you have a lot of family and visitors, ingrounds resist the punishment of continuous use better than an above ground pool. However, be warned - - teenagers are especially brutal on them, as they are with anything physical. They don't pay for them so they don't respect them - and they have way too much energy to have any real self-control. Here's a tip:

DO NOT leave any movable furniture, or stackable items anywhere around the pool. Teens will have them piled high, like a rickety "Cliffs of Acapulco," and go to jumping off within two minutes - guaranteed.

You also have to erect fences and lock your gates, safety and liability being an issue. You did contact your insurance man before hand, right?

They are a water filled hole in the ground into which you pour money, too. Something is always breaking and there is always another gadget or doodad you "just gotta have." If you are not using a saline de-ionizer system (which is costly), then you buy a never ending stream of chemicals to keep your water clear. And you had better set up a maintenance plan that forces you to stay up with it, too. For example, you could tie your door locks to the water quality in the pool. That way, you can't get in the house until you get it right...

Some say ingrounds add value to your home, but I found that was a mixed blessing back when I was a Realtor. Many buyers hate them and unless there are other pools in the immediate vicinity, they can be a liability. The upside is, they narrow the buyer "pool" significantly.
You pretty much knows who wants to look at your home: other pool lovers/wanters. Makes it easier to sell, when you know what motivates your buyer....

So, are they worth it?
On those hot as Hades days when even the trees melt - yes. Also, there is NOTHING like them for socializing or to impress the membership committee down at the country club.

The rest of the time?
Well, it's about attitude. If you like full-season gardening or long term projects, then they may suit you.

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Lori was the pool manager for an apartment complex in the past. At her suggestion, we've gotten a decent above ground pool this season. I mean, we're back in the old house and we're not training for the Olympics, here. We're not in the local social register, either, so we only have to please ourselves.
We just want it for floating, listening to the breeze, sipping Bud Light - and to get all "rubby dubby" in. It's kind of like a watery hammock, for us.

We just pull the ladder when we're done and then small children can't get in... although we nor our neighbors have kiddies. And any fence jumpers in our neighborhood would have to get past our killer dogs.

As far as financials go, even on an annual replacement/maintenance schedule, we'll likely die before approaching the cost of an inground. Dave Ramsey would be pleased.

 

[FunnyFarmer]

We have one of the Intrex metal-frame above ground pools & we love it. It's one of the smaller ones--13 foot--but that's plenty big enough for the kids to play in or several adults to laze around in. We have a good well so filling it over a couple of days was no problem & the maintenance isn't bad. And I love that in September it gets drained (ours never killed the grass) and put away for the year--ZERO maintenance or worry. Best two hundred bucks we ever spent. It might be worth trying one like that for a year or two & see how much you use it and if it's worth it to you.