Anyone here built a pool?

tater · 06-02-11, 08:16 PM

Thinking about it for the kids. Lot is odd, interested in personal experiences as to desirable features, etc.

Growler · 06-02-11, 10:50 PM

Wish I could help; I do know you're in for a project, in-ground or above-ground. Best of luck to you, mate.

NeonSamurai · 06-03-11, 10:12 AM

A lot of people I have known have in the end regretted having/getting the pool.

First off they are expensive to build, and a below ground pool is not exactly DIY (most above ground ones are though). They also require constant maintenance and work (particularly if you do not want to end up with a pool full of slime). They also take up a lot of space. They are also a problem in the winter time if water freezes where you are. In most ways indoor pools are better, but even more expensive. You also may find you do not get quite as much use out of it as you would have figured.

That isn't to say there are not advantages, but I thought you may want to be aware of the numerous disadvantages.

AVGWarhawk · 06-03-11, 10:54 AM

I would like to add to Neon's take concerning pools. Constant headache. Filter constantly running driving up the electric bill. The chemicals needed are expensive. Next thing you know you are spending the day cleaning the darn thing. My brother in law has a above ground pool. Swims in it maybe 2 times in the summer. His wife does not use it. His two year old almost drowned in the damn thing 3 weeks ago. Go figure, he was putting up a gate to keep the kids off the deck that services the pool because his kids have started to walk. He turned to look after her sister (he has twins) who was crying just inside the house. He returned to the gate work in about a minute. Emily was not there. He looked over the edge of the pool and she completely submerged in the water contained on the pool cover installed for the winter months. She was under for an estimated 1 minute. He had to clear her lungs and start chest compressions. She finally coughed up the dirty water and began to cry. She spend the remainder of the day at John Hopkins in Baltimore. So, needless to say, he wants the pool gone! The damn things are a lot of responsiblity and also a liability sometimes. Join a local community pool if you have one.

Armistead · 06-03-11, 12:19 PM

My house had a in ground pool that I later filled in. It was fun for awhile, then it was work, not to mention every kid in the neighborhood wanted to come over and swim with our kids, so you're constantly having to watch watch watch. One kid busted his head on the diving board during a party, parents didn't blame, but with laws you can be held responsible. Most states also require a high fence with new pools.

I was glad to fill it in, it was a money pit and headache. Much cheaper and funner to go to one of the public pools or large water park near us and you can leave it.

Betonov · 06-03-11, 12:30 PM

If you really want a large pool to do some recreational swimming, then you'll have to build one and you inherit the headaches listed above.
If you want somewhere to soak or relax and the kids to play in then buy an inflatable one. They're cheap, easy to maintain and you can put them away for the winter

some of the big ones can cost to about €1000, but peanuts compared to a built one

AVGWarhawk · 06-03-11, 12:31 PM

Armistead reminded me...my brother purchased a house with an inground pool. He filled it in after the first summer. It was nothing but work.

Tchocky · 06-03-11, 12:36 PM

Never built one. Swam in a few. PM for any more information.

Platapus · 06-06-11, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeonSamurai

A lot of people I have known have in the end regretted having/getting the pool.
...

You also may find you do not get quite as much use out of it as you would have figured.

That was exactly our experience with our pool in CA. We were so excited the first year, but as the years past, our interest waned. However the maint expenses don't wane. I lived in that house for 7 years and I think we only used it for the first year. The last four years I lived there we had a cover on it 365.

The problem with having a pool is that since it is always there, it stops being something special.

And pool maint is not cheap nor effortless.

tater · 06-06-11, 11:23 PM

Yeah, I'm considering a salt water chlorine generator (for those thinking it's salty like the ocean I'm being clear---8212;it is minimally salty, and uses the NaCl to make Cl constantly).

Where my house is, we have no beaches without an airline flight required. So swimming is in a pool. Public pools are a zoo. Since we have little shade, playing outside in June-August is pretty hard most of the day. It's simply too hot. A pool would give the kids something to do. We visit the grandparents a few days a week in the summer already, and the kids spend hours in the pool. Downside is that we don't feel like we should invite other kids, though having friends is exactly what the kids want.

I suppose it might be worth looking into a country club as a reality check.

How big is your pool, flatsixes? We don't have room for a huge one given the slop, huge boulders, etc.

em2nought · 06-05-11, 09:06 PM

Build a koi pond, use it as a pool. Swim with the fishes.

I sort of do that when I clean the filter of the koi pond that I built. If I had made the pond about a foot deeper it would almost be a pool, would have protected from the darned herons more too. Great thing about the koi pond are the mosquito fish, never get bite by mosquitoes in my yard. No chemicals to mess with either. Probably would be cheap to DIY out west if rocks are plentiful. Looking forward to eating the first tilapia soon!

tater · 06-06-11, 06:10 PM

Moving the septic, and rebuilding a smaller driveway will be less than I thought (even though given where we are we need the most fancy type of septic).

Now to find out how cheap I can build an adobe garage... maybe I can do it myself (or myself helping with bricks and mud...).

flatsixes · 06-06-11, 07:24 PM

We built a big in ground pool about 7 or 8 years ago when we built the new house. We had one at the old house, and only lasted a year in the new place before we decided to build another. Perhaps my circumstances are different from most: I have roughly 8 dozen children (give or take 7 1/2 dozen), each of whom has a least 56 thousand friends, and all of whom appear to live at our house. Only one summer without it convinced us that a gigantic hole in the back yard filled with water is preferable to having them all in the house.

I can attest to the fact that pools are expensive to build and maintain, and they are definitely a PITA to keep clean (particularly with hairy 3 black labs in the mix), but I still wouldn't be without one. At least when the kids and their friends are lounging about the pool my house, I know where they are and what they're doing with whom. That ain't the worst thing in the world when four of the kids are of the feminine persuasion. Plus, it's great for parties (although I never seem to get invited).

If I was to do it again, though, I would definitely go with salt water rather than chlorine or Baquacil. Far less expensive to maintain, and much more pleasant to swim in too. We'll be switching over to salt water at the end of the season, and this time I mean it!

Good luck!

06-02-11, 08:16 PM	#1
tater Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 9,023 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 2	Anyone here built a pool? Thinking about it for the kids. Lot is odd, interested in personal experiences as to desirable features, etc. __________________ "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." — Thomas Paine

06-02-11, 10:50 PM	#2
Growler A long way from the sea Join Date: May 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,913 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Wish I could help; I do know you're in for a project, in-ground or above-ground. Best of luck to you, mate. __________________ At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true When here they’ve done their duty The bowl of grog shall still renew And pledge to love and beauty.

06-03-11, 10:12 AM	#3
NeonSamurai Ocean Warrior Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Socialist Republic of Kanadia Posts: 3,044 Downloads: 25 Uploads: 0	A lot of people I have known have in the end regretted having/getting the pool. First off they are expensive to build, and a below ground pool is not exactly DIY (most above ground ones are though). They also require constant maintenance and work (particularly if you do not want to end up with a pool full of slime). They also take up a lot of space. They are also a problem in the winter time if water freezes where you are. In most ways indoor pools are better, but even more expensive. You also may find you do not get quite as much use out of it as you would have figured. That isn't to say there are not advantages, but I thought you may want to be aware of the numerous disadvantages. __________________ SH3 Newbie Guide Links and other helpfull stuff

06-03-11, 10:54 AM	#4
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,261 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	I would like to add to Neon's take concerning pools. Constant headache. Filter constantly running driving up the electric bill. The chemicals needed are expensive. Next thing you know you are spending the day cleaning the darn thing. My brother in law has a above ground pool. Swims in it maybe 2 times in the summer. His wife does not use it. His two year old almost drowned in the damn thing 3 weeks ago. Go figure, he was putting up a gate to keep the kids off the deck that services the pool because his kids have started to walk. He turned to look after her sister (he has twins) who was crying just inside the house. He returned to the gate work in about a minute. Emily was not there. He looked over the edge of the pool and she completely submerged in the water contained on the pool cover installed for the winter months. She was under for an estimated 1 minute. He had to clear her lungs and start chest compressions. She finally coughed up the dirty water and began to cry. She spend the remainder of the day at John Hopkins in Baltimore. So, needless to say, he wants the pool gone! The damn things are a lot of responsiblity and also a liability sometimes. Join a local community pool if you have one. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

06-03-11, 12:31 PM	#7
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,261 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	Armistead reminded me...my brother purchased a house with an inground pool. He filled it in after the first summer. It was nothing but work. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

06-03-11, 12:19 PM	#5
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	My house had a in ground pool that I later filled in. It was fun for awhile, then it was work, not to mention every kid in the neighborhood wanted to come over and swim with our kids, so you're constantly having to watch watch watch. One kid busted his head on the diving board during a party, parents didn't blame, but with laws you can be held responsible. Most states also require a high fence with new pools. I was glad to fill it in, it was a money pit and headache. Much cheaper and funner to go to one of the public pools or large water park near us and you can leave it.

06-03-11, 12:30 PM	#6
Betonov Navy Seal Join Date: May 2009 Location: Slovenia Posts: 8,647 Downloads: 26 Uploads: 0	If you really want a large pool to do some recreational swimming, then you'll have to build one and you inherit the headaches listed above. If you want somewhere to soak or relax and the kids to play in then buy an inflatable one. They're cheap, easy to maintain and you can put them away for the winter some of the big ones can cost to about €1000, but peanuts compared to a built one

06-03-11, 12:36 PM	#8
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Never built one. Swam in a few. PM for any more information. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

06-06-11, 11:23 PM	#10
tater Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 9,023 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 2	Yeah, I'm considering a salt water chlorine generator (for those thinking it's salty like the ocean I'm being clear---8212;it is minimally salty, and uses the NaCl to make Cl constantly). Where my house is, we have no beaches without an airline flight required. So swimming is in a pool. Public pools are a zoo. Since we have little shade, playing outside in June-August is pretty hard most of the day. It's simply too hot. A pool would give the kids something to do. We visit the grandparents a few days a week in the summer already, and the kids spend hours in the pool. Downside is that we don't feel like we should invite other kids, though having friends is exactly what the kids want. I suppose it might be worth looking into a country club as a reality check. How big is your pool, flatsixes? We don't have room for a huge one given the slop, huge boulders, etc. __________________ "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." — Thomas Paine

06-05-11, 09:06 PM	#11
em2nought Ocean Warrior Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 3,485 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Build a koi pond, use it as a pool. Swim with the fishes. I sort of do that when I clean the filter of the koi pond that I built. If I had made the pond about a foot deeper it would almost be a pool, would have protected from the darned herons more too. Great thing about the koi pond are the mosquito fish, never get bite by mosquitoes in my yard. No chemicals to mess with either. Probably would be cheap to DIY out west if rocks are plentiful. Looking forward to eating the first tilapia soon! __________________ em2nought is ecstatic garbage!

06-06-11, 06:10 PM	#12
tater Navy Seal Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: New Mexico, USA Posts: 9,023 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 2	Moving the septic, and rebuilding a smaller driveway will be less than I thought (even though given where we are we need the most fancy type of septic). Now to find out how cheap I can build an adobe garage... maybe I can do it myself (or myself helping with bricks and mud...). __________________ "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." — Thomas Paine

06-06-11, 07:24 PM	#13
flatsixes Weps Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Virginia Posts: 362 Downloads: 8 Uploads: 0	We built a big in ground pool about 7 or 8 years ago when we built the new house. We had one at the old house, and only lasted a year in the new place before we decided to build another. Perhaps my circumstances are different from most: I have roughly 8 dozen children (give or take 7 1/2 dozen), each of whom has a least 56 thousand friends, and all of whom appear to live at our house. Only one summer without it convinced us that a gigantic hole in the back yard filled with water is preferable to having them all in the house. I can attest to the fact that pools are expensive to build and maintain, and they are definitely a PITA to keep clean (particularly with hairy 3 black labs in the mix), but I still wouldn't be without one. At least when the kids and their friends are lounging about the pool my house, I know where they are and what they're doing with whom. That ain't the worst thing in the world when four of the kids are of the feminine persuasion. Plus, it's great for parties (although I never seem to get invited). If I was to do it again, though, I would definitely go with salt water rather than chlorine or Baquacil. Far less expensive to maintain, and much more pleasant to swim in too. We'll be switching over to salt water at the end of the season, and this time I mean it! Good luck!