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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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!!