I have a question for my friends - any opinions on swimming pools in the back yard. My wife and I are discussing the possibility and would welcome opinions. Any one have a pool and love it/hate it?
Have a great day!!
I have had a few friends with them, and they love them. Pools are like hot tubs, be prepared for a little maintenance (more on pools) and check the chemicals regularly. If you get in to a routine, then it's not so bad, unless there are lots of trees around.
Myb .03 worth.
Hoppy Toisday!
...as far as the pool goes...I considered putting one in two years ago, then after a lot of thought vetoed the idea...just too much maintenance and on-going expense for me. Have never had a pool myself, but pretty much everyone I know who has had one say they wouldn't do it again. For most, they used it all the time for the first year, then on fewer and fewer occasions until it finally just became a liability. Unless it's heated, so you can use it year round, and unless you really think that you'll use it a lot, I'd consider it a money pit. I do, howver, recommend a hot tub...initial cost and ongoing maintenance are minimal, you can use them year round, and they're very therapeutic...nothing like hopping in one after a hard day's work to relax and sooth those aching muscles. Another issue of the pool is the safety issue, especially if there are young children in your household or neighborhood. You really need to go to great lengths to make access to it virtually impossible for children...we have had several tragedies down here where young children have drowned in someone elses pool, in spite of them being enclosed in a fenced yard or screened enclosure. They are just for some reason a magnet for young children. Just a few things to think about...
Anyhow, on with the day, on with the week, and on to the weekend...
Have a GR8 1 y'all...
'b 
Only do it if it's heated...extends the season by months
Only you do it if you can afford to have a pool co. take care of it..... shock it, clean the filters, too much, too little, another thing to clean before and after guests....it all starts to add up.
Now, on the other hand, I completely agree with B0 on the hot tub!! Gotta have one, especially on cold snowy nights!
about the pool .... my in-laws had one ... and 5 kids. It got used a ton by the kids and their friends ... then sat for a number of years ... then again became a beehive of activity once the grandkids came around.
I think you display the discipline required to maintain it, and with a good cover and heat (solar, gas or electric) you should get a lot of good use out of it.
Trees are an issue, though ... if you hav a lot, you might want to look into enclosing it.
Jeff (remember him and Matt from Bragg-Smith) runs a pool maintenance business ... you can probably get some good input from him too.
Good luck
In a climate where it rarely gets hot enough to want to take a dip in a pool, you might not get your money's worth out of it. The hot tub, however, can be adjusted to cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter so it's useable year-round.
If it's your kids wanting the pool, you might consider buying them passes or memberships to a local community pool, recreation center or gym. You'll save yourself some money, time and headaches by not having the overhead, liability and maintenance of a pool...........(and they'll be out of the house for a little while so you and your sweetie can have some together time!)
Buy the hot tub for you and the wife and the passes for the kids. You'll get the best of both that way. 
quote:
Originally posted by KevinA:
I do love my Hot tub!
...do you love your blue rubber duckie too???
I was only concerned that it becomes a germ factory with that nice warm water. But I guess if it's treated and cleaned regularly it should be o.k.
BTW 'bO - I vote tails. (local dealer just got in 3 yellow Vipers - )
