Power to run the pump etc is the biggest expense. But it can all be put in an off peak tariff .
Loads of trees round the pool look nice but the leaves are a bugger.

But I think after about 5-7 years things start to need replacing like the pump and chlorinator cell.

....even in Brisbane, without any sort of heating, the water is too cold for 6 months of the year - admitedly I dont have a cover but during the winter its a bit of a pain.....constantly fishing leaves and other debris out of it and trying to stop it turning green!

For us having a pool is one of the big differences between life in Oz and life in the UK. With kids aged 14, 8 and 4 it gets plenty of use - we bought wetsuits so they have all been in water pretty much daily for the past month already. I have always hated the whole hassle factor of public pools, so having my own is bliss. We're renting at the moment but a pool is an absolute must when we buy.

solar heating is a must as well

Us too, spa is safer when you pissed

i once built a patio,amoungst over thing for this director of a company we worked for,,,everyone had em dowm as swingers..

after i built the patio,he got his spar in and kept driving me mad to bring the mrs over...ever since then its put me off the old spars....

p.s..id never have swaped my mrs for his,,..........he must of thought he was on a winner...

You've been watching too many porno movies Aston

There's that many bubbles in my spa, I can hardly find me own bits ....never mind anyone elses

And before you say anything, the bubbles are not created by me....I don't think

I used to think getting one was too much upkeep, maintenance, etc but after seeing how much our youngest likes swimming I think I'll give in and we'll have one eventually.

Extended patio first though

Aston Man is in the hills so a hike of 30-40 minutes to the sea... a pool was on of the things i really wanted when we came and the house we bought had one, after the initial cleaning to get the winter leaves out and having the pool shop guys in to clean and replace a filter part plus buy a creepy krawley thing we have spent about $1000, most on the kreepy krawley. Now it seems cheap to maintain (havn,t worked out the 'lecy yet) and boy.. is it great to jump into on a hot day.. and it is private so fun for letting it all hang out (unlike the beach). Must admit glad we have one. We hsve loads of trees so each time we use it especially at the moment with all the wind (of the natural variety) i spend about 10 minutes skimming bits of the surface. Now planning on building Bar and BBQ area next to it just to complete the picture
I think they add value, especially up here far from the ocean.

Cheers

We use ours all the time, kid in it as type I know the neighbours think we are mental, but hey who cares!!

We have a pool and a spa so we get in the pool and then jump into the spa to heat up on a slightly chilly day like today!!

I dont think they are hard to maintain we find it easy if you keep on top of it!! So I say YES YES and more YES!!

buy a spa, you can take it with you when you move

Damn I was hoping from about 4 years to 18 years of age

Or buy a house next to someone with a pool

I detect water leaks under ground.....hence the company name..."' LEAKS DOWNUNDER "" find most of them using sonar equipment.
I'd say 90% of the work i do at the moment is on pools....if i don't find them using sonar ,its in the pool shell its self....so end up diving the pool and using special dye.

I'm currently branching out and under cutting the pool shops ,selling auto cleaners,pumps,filters ,chlorinators etc at factory direct prices.......so if your on the goldcoast and don't want to pay retail pm me.....

Pools are very easy to maintain and are not dear to run.....providing the following......you do
nt have a leak , (if you do , your always find it hard to balance your water,and will end up continuously adding chemicals). your filters backwashed regular , and your chlorinators working correctly ( producing chlorine ) also don't forget to acid wash your cell plates on the chlorinator.....ignore if self cleaning type.....

all the best plumb.....

ps....i deliver to your door also install....even eccept tradings on your old stuff.....