Ceeeement Pond...

Uncle Buck · Post by **Uncle Buck** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 5:33 pm

Never had one, so don't have any horror stories.

But since you issued an invitation to talk you out of it, here is what I would consider the top issues:

- Safety, especially with a new baby. I went to church with a family that had two children drown in their backyard swimming pool.

- Ongoing cost. No matter how tired of the pool you may get in the future, you never will be able to escape the ongoing maintenance and repair costs.

- Resale of the home. It is not easy to predict what might cause you to decide/need to move in the future. A pool usually increases the resale value, but it often takes longer to sell a home with a pool, since there is a smaller pool of potential buyers looking for a house with a pool.

iiipopes · Post by **iiipopes** » Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:36 pm

For the price of the pool, please consider instead a couple of shade trees, patio or deck, rock garden, 10' kidney-shaped plastic "pond" with water lilies, your favorite garden gnome dispersing water into the "pond," and maybe enough left over for a real shingle roof octagon gazebo with benches and hanging garden baskets, as you and your family see fit, instead. A lot cheaper, a lot safer, and a lot more year-round real enjoyment.

My brother-in-law has a pool. He's married as much to it as his wife. Except for the immediate area around the pool right next to the property line fence, the lot has a severe slope in the back yard, which can only be terraced and landscaped, so there is effectively no back yard for their daughter, my niece, to play in. We effectively only visit in warm enough weather for my son to swim, or when it's cold and we watch a movie on their big screen in their basement, because you can't do anything else outdoors, as in any of the "classic" "family" (OK, even say "old-fashioned" if you want to) games like we can at my father-in-law's house that does have a back yard, my house with a large back yard and double swing set for everyone to be able to come over whoever/whenever, (we can and do even host cub scout den meetings and such in our back yard), or my sister-in-law's house with a couple of acres.

Nah, pass on the pool.

Ricko · Post by **Ricko** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 9:18 am

If you find a house you like with one - go for it. We had one growing up - Mom and Dad wanted to provide a place for us and our friends to be so we wouldn't be out getting into trouble.

Things to consider:
1. Privacy - Are you the lowest lot or highest lot in the neighborhood? will others be constantly looking into your pool?
2. Neighborhood make-up - Do you have a bunch of good kids in your 'hood or a bunch that just roam around looking for trouble?
3. Are you home-bodies or do you like to go out all the time?
4. Trees - if you have a lot of very mature trees above your pool you will have a problem with trees and a few squirrels that couldn't make the jump over the pool.

Check your local code requirements and get a good idea of how the design might work after you factor in all the fencing and secrurity issues - some areas require the yard be fenced and there also be a fence around the pool decking. If you have little kids you need to also consider one of those automatic pool covers that come on and off as you use the pool - they are expensive but so are funerals.

We are still considering putting one in - we've got the space, the neighborhood is OK (except for our neighbor with the 1/8 acre 'natural meadow') but we've got two uphill neighbors that no matter how high the fence is will be able to see our entire yard (no skinny dipping or swimming in a tubenet thong) so I'm not sure it will be worth it. Our YMCA is new and only 3 miles away.

Oh - from the maintenance side - spring for the automatic chlorinator, the automatic cleaner and the powered cover. My Dad always said we had an automatic cleaner "You get off the bus and automatically go out and clean the pool". It was rarely more than 20 minutes per day.

Good luck

Rick

EuphDad · Post by **EuphDad** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:17 am

We built a diving pool and spa when we moved into our house in Tejas and the kids were very young. We consulted with folks who had pools and those who didn't. Those who didn't, wished they had one, and those that had one, were glad that they did.

Many homes in the new neighborhood had a pool. The season here is from April to September with a heated spa used all-year round.

Our main consideration was that we wanted to make sure that the kids were comfortable and knew how to handle themselves in a pool, under our supervision.

The pool was great when the kids were small. Lots of quality
family time at the end of the day. They exhausted themselves and their parents nearly every night and went right to bed without needing a bath. As they got older the pool became a magnet for friends coming over (always supervised of-course). Plus lots of fun holiday and weekend get-togethers with neighbors and friends.

We put a locked gate and wrought-iron fence around the pool to prevent dogs and kids from accidentally getting into the pool without our supervision. This improved our peace of mind, but with a pool you always have to be vigilant.

Now the kids are away at university and we're empty nesters with a pool. On the rare occasion when the kids are home, they're often in the pool/spa with friends - and we're in bed.

Yes there is a cost - chemicals, maintenance, etc. Is it a pain?
Sometimes, especially cleaning after wind storms. Do you get your investment back? Probably not. Is it a liabilitiy? Possibly, depends on where you live etc.

Would we do it again? You bet! The family time spent in the pool while the kids were young and still willing to hang at home was priceless. However, my downsized retirement home will only have a spa/hot tub. But that's a different chapter.

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:28 am

Depends on the neighborhood. If you live in an area where pools are a common fixture, then it might make sense. But if you live in Duluth, it might not be such a good idea.

If you live out in the country, budget for a high fence or else you'll be fishing animal carcasses out of the pond every morning.

The Big Ben · Post by **The Big Ben** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 11:40 am

Chuck(G) wrote: If you live out in the country, budget for a high fence or else you'll be fishing animal carcasses out of the pond every morning.

Cool! Sign me up! *Love* fishing for dead animals!

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Tue Jun 05, 2007 3:45 pm

I've had a pool for well over 30 years and added a hot tub about 10 years ago. I like 'em! ... even though southern Indiana only allows use of the pool from mid-May through September. Both the pool and hot tub are expensive to operate and maintain... maybe $80 a month for the electricity and chemicals, but it's still a bargain knowing folks spend THOUSANDS to bask in these luxuries when they go on vacations once a year. There's nothing like working all day and cooling off in the pool in the late afternoon/evening.

tofu · Post by **tofu** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 5:07 pm