To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

We have a small oddly-shaped back garden that needs "something" doing to it - the lawn is crap and has a large, round dead patch where we had a big paddling pool last year.

So we're vaguely thinking about a proper built in pool, but can't decide if it's worth it.

Pros

Somewhere for Mini (currently 6.5) to play with his mates
Nice to cool off in the summer
Would make the back garden more attractive/usable

Cons

It'll cost about $35k, and there might be better uses of that money
Not sure how much he'd use it as he gets older
He's an only, so a bit boring on his own, and lots of his mates have pools anyway
Might be better just to pave over the lot, create some kind of gazebo like thing, and have a big paddling pool (last summer's was great) instead.
It'd only be a little pool anyway

Thoughts, from those with and without pools? How much do you use them (Perth)?

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

35k for a pool?? That's ridiculous..

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

pool

love it

use it (unheated) Nov to April

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

We don't have a pool.Have thought about getting one in many times.In the Summer I have noticed that we don't have many of the kids friends coming round as we haven't got one so they tend to go to theirs instead.Not sure if that is a good or bad thing.:sneaky:

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

It's not just the initial outlay... It's the running costs you have to take in to account....

Having said that.... Bestbthing we ever did...wouldn't change it for the world

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Pools are very expensive to run, but I need my pool so I can cool down in the summer.

Have you thought about a swim spa?? More compact, easier to erect and you can use it in the winter if you put it under shelter from cold winds. Turn on the jets and you can get exercise, or just do the spa bit and relax.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Actually take that back.... If we hadn't put in the pool we could have built a granny flat out the back and I could have had my home to myself.... Or a quilt studio.....

Anyone want to buy a pool?

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

A couple more cons, time consuming to maintain and the use of water - I wouldn't be surprised to see pools on the banned list in future years.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Our house in Darwin has a pool (now rented). Hubby and Miss 11 used it regularly. Great for them, also fab socially.

Don't forget though that if you use a 'paddling pool' you are not legally allowed to fill it more than 30cm unless it has a lockable lid or a fence for,safety issues.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

We got rid of ours after a few years, a pain to look after and just didnt get used enough. The other thing to remember is apparently a pool doesnt add any value to a house. Seems like a huge amount of money for a pool as well.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Get an above ground pool for a season, build a fence around it...easier option... see if it gets used...

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

I'm going to look spas today for my new house. Cheaper than a pool. :)

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Love ours and use it all the time in summer and the spa in winter. 35k is about,the right price for a small concrete pool.

In fact I am having a girls Sing-a-Long-a-hot tub evening soon!:thumbsup:

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Anyone got spa recommendations?

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Nope, but we'll possibly be investing too (spa and pool hopefully) so any tips would be greatly appreciated:thumbup:

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

If you have small back garden as seems the case, a pool will potentially devalue your house or make it less sale able.
While pools might be fun, if you little rec area that will be a minus.
I'd spend the money getting it landscaped, would bring far more value, use ability and fun.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

If you are going for a portable spa then it's worth checking out eBay. We got a 2 year old Jacuzzi for less than a third of what it cost new.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Ah, that's a good idea. Will check on eBay. Thanks. :)

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Great ideas. You can get large above ground pools with lockable lids, or a large spa and see what use it gets x

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Spas have to have a fence round them,here in Wa anyway.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Thanks for all the responses guys (although still can't decide!)

$35k was a rough estimate for everything, including landscaping, heating, fence etc. And the space is so awkward that we'd have to turn it all over to pool and surround to make it worthwhile.

Decisions, decisions ...

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Here in QLD too, even a $300 inflatable pool from BW over 30cm deep.



Yeah, tough choice. You probably will need decide on cost v usage and who will maintain it etc...

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

I'm tempted to say if you have the money for it,go for it.If you think you will use it and the nipper will have lots of fun,go for it.:thumbsup:

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

I have to agree with this. If you want to sell later, you're not going to have any safe outside play space for little ones or pets and it will definitely devalue your property. Having said that, if you plan to live there for a long time and think you'll get the use out it, go for it.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Would not even think about living in a house without a pool.

Also have a spa, but would not consider one of them overground tub things that look soooooo ugly.

Put in a solar heating system and it costs next to nothing to look after.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

I looked at loads of spas & spent a lot of time researching the pro's & cons of each make/model lots of cheap ones available around the 5k mark. After said careful consideration we opted for a Lanark to replace our ageing cheapo one. We scaled down as well from a 6 seater to a 3 as the kids have left home. The one we chose had plenty of jets incl. neck ones that were on the list of must have features. I think it's called a Jervis Bay Typhoon.
Crazy that you have to fence a small paddling pool 300mm deep yet can dig a huge dam with no fence required.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Not sure how many people dig a huge dam in their back garden?

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Where I live just about every house has one. Mind the house blocks are 5 acres & the odd one is 40 acres. Obviously I don't live in suburbia:blink:

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Awesome, thanks. Went to see some yesterday just to get an idea how they work, cleaning and running costs etc... I'll check out the JBT.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Running cost wise we found that keeping ours at a steady 34-35°C cost about a dollar a day. We've put a 3kw solar system on the roof & still get a nice rebate each quarter so the running costs are absorbed by the panels. We just get $90 bucks a month less than we used to from Ergon.
Chemical wise we didn't really have to do a great deal, we're on tank water out here so the spa fills with rainwater. I just take a sample to the local pool/spa place they test it & tell me the amount of chemical to add. Once that's up & running we just stick a few bromine tablets in the floaty & that keeps it going for a few months. It does have an ozone feature that cuts down on chemicals. Bromine tablets are about $30 & a bottle lasts a year.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Pain in the butt to maintain, but lovely and calming to look at and the best thing we ever did for the kids (teens and tweenies) ....and a godsend in summer :cool:

$50,000 here :0/ (15 x4 m, concrete,including lots of landscaping)

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Disagree with this - especially for salt water pools. The latest pumps are very energy efficient, solar heating (if needed) is free and when the pool is in good shape, chemical/salt costs are very low

If you keep on top of it, a pool can be cheap and easy to maintain

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Critical - any maintenance you do -keep it up - the watchword little and often.

Ours is harder work than some because we get a lot of leaves in and it's all manual. It's an aging (perhaps sized too large) above ground pool and also comes with a few characteristic annoyances but I have never known any better. However I understand the chemistry and can second guess the shops.

Overall pools are great for kids, and for cooling off in - I would probably never build one.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

I totally agree with this. I've had my pool for many, many years. In the beginning it was hard work but not for a good number of years. Salt chlorination, sand filters, there's more up to date ones now,more efficient and automatic cleaners have made maintenence much less time consuming and less expensive to run.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

:thumbup: Cheers. Looks like I'm gonna get one for sure.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

My aging saltwater pool, (that gets lots of leaves in it) has cost thousands and thousands in repairs and new equipment. In the 4 years we have been in this house we have replaced the sand filter, the chlorinator, the pump, repaired the polaris, and spent a lot on chemicals, as due to the inclement weather, every time the balance was perfect, we got a monsoon that ruined it all!! I think it costs me about $200 a swim on average!! And I'm not counting the $5000 we have just had to spend replacing the inadequate fencing and building the wall up another 10cm to pass the new strict regulations.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

People would just switch to Salt Water Pools and filtration systems and there would be a new business invented transporting sea water to homes.

Back to main topic, I personally like the idea of a swim spa. We had a spa and the better brand you get the cheaper they are to run and maintain. We had an ozone filtrated one before our reno with a very thick shell, which meant low heating and cleansing costs.... Twas an American Spa "Sundance".... Unfortunately it had to go, because it was in the spot the extension went.

We didnt really get time to use it, as our shifts are generally opposite one another. Our household is a classic case of having enough money but no time.... So bear in mind the chances you'll get to use it.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

They're not banned here in Brisbane, but if you have a pool, you have to have a rainwater tank installed.

Re: To pool or not to pool, that is the question
 

Love my pool. My three teenagers are never out it in the summer and we socialise around it. I just hang lights around my pool fence, add a few other theme items, invite our friends round and have fun! After all this time we still think we are on holiday!! :)