I'm thinking of buying a swimming pool this summer.

[StaciaRae]

Anyone else? What are you getting?

I'm a teacher so I have the summers off. This summer my dd will be 7, my ds will be 5. The last few summers we have spent a lot of time at the beach, but this summer I think I'd like to get a pool. I grew up with a pool and loved it, such fond summertime memories from childhood. However, I haven't had a pool in the 20 years since I left home. Also, I live in the north east, so we could only use a pool from Memorial Day until Labor Day.

I'm not sure what to get. I called the local pool shop and a 24x48 pool is $4000. That's not bad if we could get 10+ years out of it, but way more than I want to spend. Target has one, same size, for $1700. But, my kids are still small (but both excellent swimmers already). I'm also considering one of those gray Intex ones for about $600 for a year or two until the kids are a bit bigger (taller) and I can determine if I can handle the pool maintenance.

Can someone who's knowledgeable with pools give me some suggestions, please! Thanks!!

 

[ToTLaugher]

My husband and I did not grow up with pools and really knew nothing about them. 6 years ago we decided to get an above ground pool from a local store. With the help of some friends, we installed it ourselves even though we are not the DIY type. We have been thrilled with it ever since. We also can only use it Memorial Day til Labor Day. Worth it!

Talk to a local pool store. They can help you figure out what you need and how to do it on your budget.

 

[Darcy03231]

We bought a house with an above ground pool (very large oval, biggest one they make with an attached deck). At the time my kids were 3, 5, 8 and 12. Like you, we could only use it from Memorial Day (and it was still a bit chilly) through Labor Day. BEST THING EVER! While I worked full-time, we had babysitters who came to our house during the summer months and school vacations. My kids spent tons of time in the pool! We also used it a lot during the evenings and on the weekends. The pool was about 20 years old when we bought the house (it had a new liner). We used it until the youngest was 14/15. By then the two oldest were out of the house, we had a summer home on a lake, DD#2 was working and we found we just weren't using it that much. We also had an issue with older teens sneaking in while we were away on the weekends and it became a liability factor. We ended up giving it away to one of DH's co-workers. He and some friends dismantled it and set it up at his house (he did need to get a new liner), and as far as I know they still have it and are using it.

 

[ADisneyQueen]

I live in NE PA and we had two of the Intex? pools ( i think from walmart) when our kids were younger. The first one was about 3 feet and lasted about two summers before it was unrepairable( holes we couldn't fix). It was a nice pool for them, and the water was an OK temp. Next we bought a larger size, I think it was 4 feet and much wider. We used it for two summers. It took a lot of water to fill it and so we had the water delivered so we wouldn't dry out our well. The problem with that pool was that it was too cold. It was bigger than the old one and never really got warm for the summer. We didn't use it very often b/c the water was freezing, even out in the sun. After two summers we decided not to put it up anymore. We always took it down every September, and that's a hassle too. If I were to get a pool again, it would have to be heated unless it was a more shallow pool for smaller kids.

 

[Aliceacc]

We started with an Intex pool for a few years when our kids were small. Then, when my son was about 7 (so my youngest was 2) we moved up to a 15 foot round pool, 4 feet deep.

I LOVE it.

It doesn't get quite the workout it used to, but there's nothing in the world like having that pool. LIke you, we're both teachers, so we spend a lot of time in the summer in the yard. And it's amazing for those Indian Summer days of September!!

I'm on Long Island. We got ours from Three Brothers Pools in Bethpage http://brothers3pools.net/ There were cheaper options, but the research I did told me that the real cheap ones were built cheaply, and we wanted quality. I did not want a rusty pool in a year or two, or one that would collapse and flood my basement. We've been very happy with the pool we got.

Some suggestions:
- We have a fence around the top of our pool, and a ladder that lifts up, kind of like this one: http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/600/16/16c20e5c-800b-4bda-9591-92e7da501ebb_600.jpg Anytime we're not using the pool, the outer part is lifted up.

- We got a fan shaped deck after a year or two. It was great when the kids were young-- I could sit there with my husband or a friend and watch the kids, especially when we had a guest over. Alternately, invest in a few tall director chairs: https://www.amazon.com/Casual-Home-...90533009&sr=1-3&keywords=tall+directors+chair

- I collected life jackets in various sizes. Great for guests who weren't strong swimmers. And when my youngest was little, she wore a life jacket any time she played in the yard if the pool was open. It wasn't a substitute for watching my kids, but I figured it might buy me a minute if there were ever a crisis and my attention was diverted. Fortunately, it was never an issue.

- When a new family moved in next door with young kids, I introduced myself and showed them the gate and the lock on the ladder. And I told them that any time they couldn't locate their young kids, the very first place I wanted them to look was my pool... no concerns about our privacy or interrupting whatever was going on at my house. We've always been vigilant about closing the gate and lifting the ladder once the kids were out of the pool, but that doesn't matter. Again, fortunately not an issue.

- Any time we had a pool party (my son has a June birthday), I hired a teenager as a lifeguard-- someone whose sole reason for being there was to watch the kids in the pool. It freed my husband and me up to do the cake/ host/ hostess stuff. When she went to the bathroom or had dinner, either the pool was closed or another adult took over.

Until the kids hit about middle school, the rule was that no one was in the water unless there was an adult in the yard. And, still, no one swims alone. Someone else is either within earshot or in the yard/pool with you. (So my 18 year old can take a dip if I'm in the kitchen, but not if he's home alone.)

If you're seriously considering this, do it soon. I bet you can still get one of last year's models for quite a bit less than this year's. Or that you can find a sale before the season really gets started.

 

[Hikergirl]

Our house came with a pool and while the kids were young it was great to have. Through the years though the maintenance (close to the corner of the yard with trees on 2 sides), and the "lifeguarding" got pretty old. They kids and their friends spent alot of time in the pool so I needed to be out there. I felt like my entire summer was spent sitting on the deck watching them.
The last 2 years it was barely used (my youngest is 13) and we probably won't bother opening it this year. I wish it was just gone.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

We also started out with the Intex pools when our kids were younger. We built a tall fence around it with a lock for safety (and our yard is fenced and locked). I think we went through two or three of those over the years, until about six or seven years ago, when we bought a permanent above ground pool at Namco. We love it. DH grew up with an inground pool so he knows how to keep the water crystal clear. Yes, there are some headaches - the liner ripped a couple of years ago during that awful winter we had, and we've had some other minor issues, but it's still worth it to us. We have a deck and wedding cake stairs, and stairs leading to the deck that lock automatically. When the kids were in HS one day they had about 18 kids in there all day jumping off the deck and it held up beautifully. We had it professionally installed because we wanted to have it done right and DH didn't want the headaches; I'd say it was money well spent. We open the pool in early May and close it in late Sept. It doesn't get as much use as it did when the kids were younger, but we still enjoy it. Even though we have the beach close by, there's nothing like having all the conveniences of home right there. Plus, we always knew where our kids were in the summer. It comes at a cost of having to provide snacks and drinks, and vigilence, but again, it's worth it, and I never minded. We even kept lots of hot dogs on hand so we could just throw them on the grill when friends got hungry. Fun times. I'd say get it!

 

[Klayfish]

We had an above ground pool for 5 years when we lived in PA. First, I'd recommend using Craigslist. Be careful, but if you're shopping right, you can pick up a $700 new pool for $150 in mint condition. That's what we did. Ours was 18' diameter (maybe it was 24', I forget, but it was big), and was 4' deep. Local fire company brought their tanker and filled it for us, at a cost of about $75. Do yourself a favor and buy the Intex salt water system. It replaces traditional chlorine systems. It's cheap and super easy to maintain. If I spent 10 minutes a week on chemical maintenance, it was a lot. Beyond that, just the occasional sweep out of debris (bugs, random leaf) and it was super easy. I highly recommend one.

 

[aprilgail]

Our house came with a pool and while the kids were young it was great to have. Through the years though the maintenance (close to the corner of the yard with trees on 2 sides), and the "lifeguarding" got pretty old. They kids and their friends spent alot of time in the pool so I needed to be out there. I felt like my entire summer was spent sitting on the deck watching them.
The last 2 years it was barely used (my youngest is 13) and we probably won't bother opening it this year. I wish it was just gone.

I got my pool when my daughter was 3- we used the heck out of it for many years- by the time she was 13 though it hardly got used, none of her teenage friends wanted to go in the pool either so we got rid of it (as did most of her friends parents when the kids became teens)- I put it up on a buy and sell facebook site for free- a take it down and you can have it thing and someone came and took it apart and put it up in their yard!

 

[Hikergirl]

I got my pool when my daughter was 3- we used the heck out of it for many years- by the time she was 13 though it hardly got used, none of her teenage friends wanted to go in the pool either so we got rid of it (as did most of her friends parents when the kids became teens)- I put it up on a buy and sell facebook site for free- a take it down and you can have it thing and someone came and took it apart and put it up in their yard!

I want it gone so bad I considered doing that on Craigslist but dh wants to take it down and bring it to the scrap yard.
Its an older pool so its all aluminum including the deck so he will get something for it. He just hasn't yet.
I wonder if I take a pickaxe to the side if that will get him to do it LOL

 

[rastahomie]

My wife's aunt and uncle spent thousands on an above-ground pool, deck, all the hullabaloo that goes with it. They got about two summers' worth of fun out of it, then their kids became teenagers and were more interested in hanging out with friends and doing teenager things. Then they married off and moved away. Then the grandkids enjoyed it for a couple of summers, when it's not too cold that is. Now they have a big hole in the ground (metaphorically - it's an above-ground pool) into which they throw money. They'd get rid of it but it's the centerpiece of their back yard and they'd have to completely remodel their entire yard to make it not look like there's a huge gap in it.

 

[tvguy]

My wife grew up with a pool, which is exactly why she never ever wants one again. I got a taste of that for a few months when my MIL passed away and I had to do the upkeep, which I found nuts since we are paying a pool service too. But stuff happens between pool service visits that are a lot of work.
I swim 120 laps a week at the gym. That costs me $25 a month and there is no upkeep.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I have a small Intex pool for personal use. If I had teenagers in the house I would get a bigger Intex. You can't beat the price and the maintenance!

 

[North of Mouse]

We have several neighbors with in ground pools that were used all the time by their children/friends, etc. for about 3 years - now most of them are just occasional uses - mostly a few holiday weekends if they're home - children older with jobs, other interests.

Our realtors (in the past) have told us that properties with pools are harder to sell than without. Personally, we never looked at homes with pools - had an above ground when children were small, never wanted anymore. Sure, there are people that want them, but it is definitely a 'niche' market. Installing one does not add 'value' to your home - just sells easier to someone looking for that amenity.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

We got 6 years out of our 14-foot Intex. Upgraded to a 22-foot version last year. Bought it off season for $520. DW & DD11 are in it EVERY day in the Summer, and I've really begun to enjoy it as well. I'd like to add a nice deck. We used to take the smaller one down every year; this one we left up.

 

[tvguy]

Our realtors (in the past) have told us that properties with pools are harder to sell than without. .

That is exactly what realtors say here. People who want pools want it built to their specs, and want a new pool so they don't have to deal with any issues.

 

[Pembo]

We got a pool about 10 years ago and I LOVE it. I grew up with a pool so I knew what was involved. We got it at our local pool store, they set it up and the manager came out to give us a primer on all things pool. We also purchased a heater as we're in Ohio and I like warm water. My neighbor doesn't have a heater and there have been a few summers that she hardly used her pool and I was in it everyday.

My kids were in elementary school when we got it and now are in high school. They don't use it as much as they used to but still enjoy having a group of friends over. I use it everyday in the summer. There is nothing more relaxing than floating around all day.

Above ground pools are plentiful in our neighborhood and it doesn't seem to effect home sales one way or the other. It's easy to take down an above ground and repair a yard. My parents had theirs for 20 years and now that it is gone, you'd never know there was a pool there....or that one fit in the yard!

Check out your pool stores, great deals and free installation is worth it!!!

 

[Klayfish]

That is exactly what realtors say here. People who want pools want it built to their specs, and want a new pool so they don't have to deal with any issues.

That's the beauty of an above ground pool. It can be completely taken down in a matter of hours (including time to drain it). Besides a circle of dead grass, no sign it even existed.

 

[tvguy]

That's the beauty of an above ground pool. It can be completely taken down in a matter of hours (including time to drain it). Besides a circle of dead grass, no sign it even existed.

Yup. Removing the above ground pool was a condition the buyers included when we sold my MIL's house. Managed to get the pool company to take it down for free in exchange for them keeping the pump and all the hardware. They left the liner for me to take to the dump.
We had an above ground spa...one of the Hot Springs dog bowl spas.....for 25 years. When it was beyond repair, it cost me $200 to have some guy chain saw it into pieces and take it to the dump

 

[Lori1124]

I've had my pool for 5 years now. One of the best purchases I made. its a 34ft above ground round pool. two things I insisted on was a heater and an automatic pool cleaner. we live in Vermont and I open it early May Close it a few weeks after Labor Day. The heater extends the season. I wouldn't have a pool without one.