Pools...

zora51

So the new husband and I are thinking about getting a pool put into our backyard. But as I've been browsing websites, I realize we know NOTHING about types of pools, what's good, what's not, etc. Too many choices! Anyone been through it already? Anyone know anything about good options and bad ones? TIA! :-D

Kniblet

Lord, I would love to have a pool.  I spent the majority of the HM in the pool. 

But as far as putting one in, the only differences that I know of are Above Ground and not.

And now I am planning to raid your pool once you get one.  ) 

zora51

haha Knibs, you're welcome at our pool (when we have one!!) anytime you want!!! :-D It'll definitely be in-ground. On the 4th, we went to a friend of ours and spend the whole day out and in the pool and C didn't realize how much he'd actually enjoy it. (*I* did, though, since I always had a pool at the apt complexes I lived at before buying the house!)  We've wavered b/c of the maintenance costs, but I think the amt of time we'd spend in it would make it worth it. Honestly, we'd be swimming every day, no doubt.

Kniblet

Well you live in a GREAT area to use it everyday!  LOL.

I want a pool when we move.  I know that we wouldn't be using it a ton since it gets so freaking nasty during the winter, but in the summer months, I would be in it every.single.day. 

BrittBritt22

If you find a reputable company the maintenance costs are not bad, we pay a company to come out to open the pool in the spring and close it in the fall.  My parents used to upkeep the cleaning and adding chemicals themselves - which is really easy if you have them teach you but if you get lazy (like we are) you can also get on a plan to have the pool guys come out once a week to take care of it for you.

Vinyl lined pools are typically cheaper than concrete/tiled pools.  If you get a rip in your vinyl though replacing the whole thing can be expensive.  I'm not positive but I think silly things like the shape of the pool can also effect the cost.

The biggest headache for my parents was zoning and getting permits, inspectors, etc.  So maybe look into that first!

 

BrittBritt22

Other costs to think about insuring, fencing, etc.  In Ohio you have to fence in your pool (although why you wouldn't do that anyways I don't know) and adding the pool will more than likely raise your homeowners insurance.

There are also added landscaping costs for cementing around the pool, moving any trees/plants in the way, and if your land is not perfectly flat you either have to plow it down or build up retaining walls.

JBs_Bride

Yeah... Listen to Britt. )

 I know nothing about pools since ours is on the top floor of our building. lol

zora51

Britt, good advice! All things we need to think through (ok, *I* will end up researching!).. We're not required to have a fence unless we're selling the place. So eventually we'll put one in (like when we have little ones running around!). No landscaping problems, since our backyard is flat dirt/sand/gravel and no plants in most of it except for a few desert weeds. I'm thinking we'll end up getting a concrete/tiled one. All the pools I've swam in here in AZ have been concrete/tile. Dunno why? Maybe the sun can rot the vinyl?? Hmm.. I'll have to check out HOI and see how it will affect it. And the permit stuff too. Thanks girl! That helps give us a direction! I guess the estimates will give us a better idea of what shape/etc is what price range. Woot!

JBs_Bride

One thing I thought of is if you have a HOA, you might need approval from them to put in the pool. I know a lot of HOAs are really strict about what you can or can't do to your property...

zora51

JB, that's why we made sure to buy in a neighborhood with no HOA. They're a PITA here!!! But good call! Also, most here allow pools as long as you have the correct permits and fencing. Pools are pretty durn common here. But no HOA for us to worry about!

JBs_Bride

zora51:

JB, that's why we made sure to buy in a neighborhood with no HOA. They're a PITA here!!! But good call! Also, most here allow pools as long as you have the correct permits and fencing. Pools are pretty durn common here. But no HOA for us to worry about!

See, that's why I love you. You're smart! )  Srsly, that's a good idea to avoid living in a neighborhood with an HOA. 

burnsbaby

You could also look into a chlorine pool vs. a fresh or salt water pool. A lot of people around here have switched to fresh or salt water pools. They are way less harmful to skin (esp kids) and to me the water feels softer. Just an idea

zora51

Burns, the friend's pool we hung out at was a salt water pool (new to us), and we loved it! In for hours and no choking on chlorine or dry itchy skin from the water. It's apparently gaining popularity in our area as well. We'll definitely be going for that. Thanks!

JenJune3

I grew up with a pool in the backyard and it was an above ground pool, but we had a deck built up around all the sides, so it looked like an inground pool, but I still always wanted an inground pool so we could have a diving board!  My mom always did all the upkeep with chemicals and vacuuming but it was us kids job to clean the leaves and bugs out before we got into it