Question for people who have inground pools

[golfgal]

What about putting a smaller pool and adding a hot tub? That way the upkeep wouldn't be as much and you could use the hot tub year round? I think the HUGE inground pools in the north are not worth it for the most part but I wouldn't mind a smaller one like you often see in FL and AZ.

 

[disneyofcourse]

In your climate I wouldn't do it. Pools also tend to go very, very over what its estimated to cost(What home improvement doesn't!). In my case almost 18k over due to underground pipes and other things. If you do get a pool my word of advise is make sure you have an available bathroom near the pool and tile floors to get to that bathroom. People tend to track wetness into the house and ruin other flooring. Upkeep is a pain. If you have trees, the pool will constantly be covered in leaves.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

We love our pool and wouldn't have it any other way. However, we live in Florida. I honestly don't have any trouble maintaining our pool. Takes me maybe 10 min. per week, but we have a screen. In our county, a pool adds to the property value, but where you are, I don't know if I would do it.

 

[Lanshark]

Our pool was already installed when we bought the house. I believe it was build about 25 years ago. There was a lot of landscaping that had to be done. We have retaining walls in the back that used railroad ties. We've since replaced those with landscape brick. There are also a couple of french drains. That said, we saw the potential in the back yard when we bought it. The previous owner didn't use the pool much but did like to entertain. We redid the walls (had that done) and the landscaping (did that ourselves) and have a beautiful area that is the gathering place for family gatherings. It is work but we use it constantly and love it.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Pools also tend to go very, very over what its estimated to cost(What home improvement doesn't!). In my case almost 18k over due to underground pipes and other things.

Friends of ours put one of those "tub" type fiberglass inground pools in a few years back. The pool itself was fairly "cheap" at $20K but the bill ballooned to over $50K with landscaping, fencing, electricity, concrete decking, labor, servicing, etc. I'm sure the costs are higher today. It's nice but not very big and you can't dive into it.

 

[Beezle2]

We bought an older home with an in ground pool and we love it! No more hauling everything to the beach, no more driving to the beach and feeling like I need to stay all day, no more sand in everything when you get back from the beach. And no more community pool either!

We swim almost everyday in the summer and its SO nice to just step out side swim for a bit or tan and then be done. We have so much fun having people over for parties and our DD 9 has her friends over to swim often, they will stay in there forever.

I do the pool upkeep and I don't mind it, it's sort of zen to vaccum the pool, I usually zone out looking at the flowers and watching the birds.

I don't think the expense is so bad considering all the entertainment having a pool provides and I'm glad we have one. I may need reminding of that next year when Im resurfacing it! We also buy our chemicals from In The Swim, great prices!

 

[Pembo]

We're up here in NE Ohio. We use our above ground pool from mid-may until Labor Day. Once the kids go back to school it just doesn't get used enough. We have a heater and that does extend our swim season.

OP - definitely look into other options over an inground. The pool place near us has these half-inground/above ground pools. Also our neighbors yard is pretty slanted and they have an above ground that appears to be inground from the deck off the back of the house.

We love our pool and after reading another thread about pool memberships, I'm so glad to have it.

 

[furb & dez]

It's nice but not very big and you can't dive into it.

DON'T get a diving pool. Unless you want your insurance to skyrocket, of course...

 

[Beezle2]

DON'T get a diving pool. Unless you want your insurance to skyrocket, of course...

Too funny, you made me think of when we moved into this house. We were calling around for insurance and spoke with one agent who was running through her list

Her:"Do you have dogs?" Me: "Yes, my daughter has 2 American Staffordshire Terriers, also known as pitbulls"

Her: "Do you have a pool?" Me: "Yes

Her: "Does it have a slide?" Me: "Yes"

Her: " Does it have a diving board?" Me: "Why yes it does"

Cue the crickets ::chirp: Her: " I don't think we can help you "ma'am"

We were able to find other insurance and it's not bad. My DD has since bought her own home and taken her dogs, and we took down the slide to open up that end of the deck. I wonder if I should look into our insurance to see if we can get a reduction..hmmm

 

[furb & dez]

Too funny, you made me think of when we moved into this house. We were calling around for insurance and spoke with one agent who was running through her list

Her:"Do you have dogs?" Me: "Yes, my daughter has 2 American Staffordshire Terriers, also known as pitbulls"

Her: "Do you have a pool?" Me: "Yes

Her: "Does it have a slide?" Me: "Yes"

Her: " Does it have a diving board?" Me: "Why yes it does"

Cue the crickets ::chirp: Her: " I don't think we can help you "ma'am"

We were able to find other insurance and it's not bad. My DD has since bought her own home and taken her dogs, and we took down the slide to open up that end of the deck. I wonder if I should look into our insurance to see if we can get a reduction..hmmm

YES, do so. My pool was a diving pool when built. When I moved in, I removed the diving board and sent a picture to the insurance company; they lowered the premium immediately.