Pool Envy

[karebear1]

WOW bettyann! That is a lot of stuff to do isn't it? I had no idea! Couldn't you just put a fence directly around the pool- not the whole yard??

 

[bettyann29]

WOW bettyann! That is a lot of stuff to do isn't it? I had no idea! Couldn't you just put a fence directly around the pool- not the whole yard??

Didnt think of that.. We'd still have to do all the same things but we wouldnt need as much fencing.. the crazy thing is that I want to put it behind the garage so it will be completely out of sight.. noone will know its there but I guess rules are rules.. My friend who lives down the street has a pool but put it in probably 7 or 8 years ago and they didnt have all these rules back then..

 

[KikiFan]

Well we got one last year. My brother is here visiting and it KEEPS RAINING....

heh I feel your pain Mystery Machine. We're in DFW too and planned on spending the day in my sister's pool. My brave and foolhardy daughter did jump in for the 1 hour it didn't rain.

 

[Katy Belle]

I want a pool too!!!! When we move back to the USA I'm planning to beg, beg, beg DH for a pool!!!!
Katy

 

[littleteapot]

We have a pool and never use it. Think of it as a big hole in your backyard that you keep throwing money into.

I know lack of use wouldn't be a problem, my kids are the right age for 12 years of constant use. The money thing, well there is that

 

[dg39]

This is our 3rd season with our pool. We love everything about it. We redid the entire yard around the pool and totaly enjoy it throughout the season.

We have everything automatic, so its not a bother for my dh to maintain it. The worst that he needs to do is skim the leaves or whatever floats in it in the morning. Takes all but 15 min. to do then its done for the day.

It did feel like it took forever to complete. We had around 3 months of disaster in the yard while it was getting built. Now that its done and the yard is complete, its like our own little private resort back there.

It's fenced in and totaly private. One of the best things we ever did in the house and for the family.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

heh I feel your pain Mystery Machine. We're in DFW too and planned on spending the day in my sister's pool. My brave and foolhardy daughter did jump in for the 1 hour it didn't rain.

Crap this totally SUCKS!!!! He goes back wednesday.

 

[KikiFan]

Crap this totally SUCKS!!!! He goes back wednesday.

It is getting old isn't it? And I think it's supposed to rain through Thursday. I just keep reminding myself that we were in drought mode not that long ago.

But my sister has a beautiful pool and I was really looking forward to a day around the pool with a good book. My first day off in 14 days

 

[littleteapot]

What do we think about above ground pools, could I be satisfied? Do they ever look pretty?

 

[PlutosFriend]

I have pool envy too! Our neighborhood doesn't allow above ground and we can't afford an inground right now. Seems like every 3rd house here has one, or is getting one put in! I keep hearing you can't touch an inground for less than 30K. Ouch. For those that have inground, do you have a fiberglass pool?

 

[karebear1]

I keep hearing you can't touch an inground for less than 30K. Ouch. For those that have inground, do you have a fiberglass pool?

Looks like I'd better up my budget then!! WOW!!!

 

[stargrazer]

I'm torn on this.

In Florida it's almost impossible to really enjoy the outdoors in the summer unless there's water nearby; those 90++ degree days are too much.

So...of course we put in a pool. The upkeep is an every day thing; by the time we get done with maintenance each day (inside and out) I'm done swimming!

The other thing is DD10; she's a good swimmer but not allowed in the pool unless I am supervising. Whenever the pool is open, she wants to be in it 3 or 4 hours a day EVERY DAY. I like to use it a few times a week for a few hours at a time so I spend more time than I'd like in the sun and listen to lots of whining too.

We have only had one girl be a little pesky about using it but I think she finally understands that unless another adult comes with her it's off limits.

 

[GatorGal]

Okay, I'll bite. Here are some cons. I had a pool for 19 years. Sold our house about two years ago and haven't missed the pool yet. I live just north of Boston and we would open the pool usually by Memorial day and didn't get much of use of it after Labor day....so about 3 months of use per year.

First, there's the costs involved, not just the initial cost, but the chemicals and other supplies. I used mostly chlorine and baking soda (to clear up the water after rain) would resort to other chemical only when we had a problem. In those 19 years we had to replace the liner twice (they last about 10 years) the filter once, and the solar cover numerous times (had the same reel though and that's what costs more) Also, we ran the filter for about 8 hours per day, during the day so your electricity bill will be higher. Then there are the hidden costs..the cost of the extra soda, freeze pops and chips you have to have around for when your guests are hungry and thirsty

Then there's the time. You spend about a day opening it in the spring and closing it in the fall, unless you do it yourself and then this would be in the paragraph above. You have to vacumm it. Every year was different from an algea standpoint. Some years were no problem, some years I couldn't stay ahead of it. I did resort to the an automatic one, but that only did about 85% of the total surface. There always seemed to be the most algae when I knew someone was coming over. Try telling your kids to wait for a half hour while you vacumm the pool.

Then there are the rules. You make them, you enforce them. No running, no rough housing, whatever..it's your pool and you're the one liable. You'd be surprised how many people don't watch out for their kids around pools and are concerned with enforcing your rules.

You do end up with quite a collection of beach towels over the years. HTH

 

[BeNJeNWaFFLe]

Wow. After reading some of this I guess we are really lucky with our pool. We've had it for about 20 years. We've replaced the liner once, about two years ago because of a tiny hole. Of course the filter has issues every couple of years, but what else is expected from something that stays outside all year long.

We open the pool around Memorial Day. The pool is always clear and clean when we open it. We shock it, put in the spring time chemical kit from Leslie's and it's set for the season. We shock it at most a handful of times during the season. It get's vacuumed maybe twice, if even that. We have the filter set on a timer so it only runs for shorts spurts of time. And when no one is in the pool we have a automatic cleaning robot thing. In the fall we just close it up. Drain it a little, put on the cover, put away the solar heater, and it's done. Actually, the pool requires more attention in the winter than the summer! Freakin' self draining winter cover. Self draining my butt!

 

[littleteapot]

Okay, I'll bite. Here are some cons. I had a pool for 19 years. Sold our house about two years ago and haven't missed the pool yet. I live just north of Boston and we would open the pool usually by Memorial day and didn't get much of use of it after Labor day....so about 3 months of use per year.

First, there's the costs involved, not just the initial cost, but the chemicals and other supplies. I used mostly chlorine and baking soda (to clear up the water after rain) would resort to other chemical only when we had a problem. In those 19 years we had to replace the liner twice (they last about 10 years) the filter once, and the solar cover numerous times (had the same reel though and that's what costs more) Also, we ran the filter for about 8 hours per day, during the day so your electricity bill will be higher. Then there are the hidden costs..the cost of the extra soda, freeze pops and chips you have to have around for when your guests are hungry and thirsty

Then there's the time. You spend about a day opening it in the spring and closing it in the fall, unless you do it yourself and then this would be in the paragraph above. You have to vacumm it. Every year was different from an algea standpoint. Some years were no problem, some years I couldn't stay ahead of it. I did resort to the an automatic one, but that only did about 85% of the total surface. There always seemed to be the most algae when I knew someone was coming over. Try telling your kids to wait for a half hour while you vacumm the pool.

Then there are the rules. You make them, you enforce them. No running, no rough housing, whatever..it's your pool and you're the one liable. You'd be surprised how many people don't watch out for their kids around pools and are concerned with enforcing your rules.

You do end up with quite a collection of beach towels over the years. HTH

Well, in Houston we can use pools many more months of the year than up North. Most years probably the end of March to the middle of October. I don't think "closing the pool" is even an issue.

Cost is the only thing on the list that has me worried

Hmmmmm........still green here in Texas

 

[brittsmum1998]

We have a 21 foot above ground pool. My DH and DD had been asking for years and I always said NO. After my DD's surgery last summer we decided to get one. I LOVE IT!! We have it attached to the deck right outside the sunroom. We have the little fence that goes around the top of the wall and a self latching gate at the end of the deck. I feel like I'm at a resort and get alot of reading done during the summer. I'm looking forward to buying a sprinkler type thing that you can now attach to your pool that makes it sound like a waterfall and spits water across the pool. How relaxing!! I told hubby no summer vacation to Disney this year, I want to spend it by the pool barbecueing. My DSis has an inground and wishes she had done what we did and get above attached to the deck, for some reason she feels thats more convenient. I don't find the work tedious although DH does all that, but he doesn't complain about it. Although for some reason I tend to drink more wine at night during the summer

 

[cryssi]

Would setting aside about $30,000 be enough for an inground pool??

um...no.



Of course, ours cost way more than we were first told and took FOREVER, so I may be a bit jaded, but if you double that you should be ok.

 

[karebear1]

um...no.



Of course, ours cost way more than we were first told and took FOREVER, so I may be a bit jaded, but if you double that you should be ok.

DOUBLE!!!

Why did it take so much longer and why did it cost more then you were told???

Note to self........ indulging expenses could be excessive!

 

[littleteapot]

um...no.



Of course, ours cost way more than we were first told and took FOREVER, so I may be a bit jaded, but if you double that you should be ok.

ouch

 

[Disney-Kim]

I had pool envy my whole life growing up in hot climates with no pool, same for my DH.

so...we got to put a pool in about 3 yrs ago and it was the BEST thing we ever did. WE LOVE IT.

We don't have a pool guy, DH keeps up the pool. its pretty self contained. Pools are hi-tech these days.

We have a navigator that drives around the pool sucking up dirt/leaves and a filter system. It has an automatic water leveler.

We have a SALT pool, which means we don't add chlorine to our pool. The system uses the salt to chlorinate the pool and is controlled by a digital readout. very easy. No chlorine means no green hair, stinging eyes or dry skin. LOVE IT.

it also has some other little things...but all said...the pool really runs itself.
My Dh has to skim leaves out and brush the steps about 1-2 times a week. We have monsoons in summer that come and he has to do it more.

The upkeep of todays pools is nothing compared to the older pools...they are easy to keep up.

We get about 6 months of swimming a year. our pool is not heated. in August its actually too warm to be enjoyable sometimes and we run the water fall all night to help cool it. its 7 ft deep but still gets up to 92...and that is not refreshing when its 115 here.