I am in the process of considering building a pool. Several pool owners told me it’s not worth it. I am in Orlando FL. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Is it worth it?
- Thread starter Zamsaf
- Start date
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,282
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
From a TFP perspective, don’t let the maintenance aspect scare you away. It’s actually quite easy and cheap to maintain a pool. Building one, on the other hand, is not cheap. If you have the money and want a pool, do it!
I think your right to carefully consider putting in a pool. Most importantly, you might want to consider how much you want to spend on it and weigh this up against the amount of use you'll gain from it.
If you follow our methods here owning and maintaining a pool doesn't have to cost a fortune but it does involve spending some time every week, (assuming you keep the pool open all year round) to ensure that the water chemistry is kept in range and that the pool is kept clean.
I've gotta say that there's nothing better than jumping in the pool in summer after a day at work.
If you follow our methods here owning and maintaining a pool doesn't have to cost a fortune but it does involve spending some time every week, (assuming you keep the pool open all year round) to ensure that the water chemistry is kept in range and that the pool is kept clean.
I've gotta say that there's nothing better than jumping in the pool in summer after a day at work.
My main concern is the use. I have young children so I imagine they would use it for sometime. However I have friends who have young kids and they told me that they use it a lot in the beginning then it gets boring and it just becomes an expense.
Maybe try a small above ground pool to get your feet wet with running a pool. You can also see how it is received by the kids and it will give you a better idea of what to do.
For me, I searched out houses with a pool. It’s a must for my wife and I. Nothing like lounging around the pool on a lazy weekend, and jumping in after dark before heading to bed.
For me, I searched out houses with a pool. It’s a must for my wife and I. Nothing like lounging around the pool on a lazy weekend, and jumping in after dark before heading to bed.
I know where you are coming from with that point and there is certainly some truth to the novelty wearing off for the kids.
I always find they lose interest at the end of summer but are always as keen as mustard again after winter. Having said that we've had some great times with our pool as a family and if there is ever a good time to have a pool I reckon it's when the kids are young. As mentioned pools can be expensive especially when following the advice from pool stores but TFP methodology shows that the expense of maintaining a pool can be quite reasonable.
I always find they lose interest at the end of summer but are always as keen as mustard again after winter. Having said that we've had some great times with our pool as a family and if there is ever a good time to have a pool I reckon it's when the kids are young. As mentioned pools can be expensive especially when following the advice from pool stores but TFP methodology shows that the expense of maintaining a pool can be quite reasonable.
Keep in mind you are asking this on a forum primarily comprised of pool owners, so an objective answer is probably going to be hard to find. It's like asking whether to buy a Camaro or a Mustang on a Chevy forum.
But I for one have never regretted having a pool and can't see myself ever being without one again. Cost and effort are usually the two biggest objections, and if you adhere to the methods taught here, both of those quickly fade into the past.
I can't recall the last time I spent more than $200-300 per year on pool maintenance supplies, and with a SWG I check my levels about once per week after the initial startup each spring, seldom adding anything but muriatic acid to bring the pH down. As for whether or not we use it -- daily!
But I for one have never regretted having a pool and can't see myself ever being without one again. Cost and effort are usually the two biggest objections, and if you adhere to the methods taught here, both of those quickly fade into the past.
I can't recall the last time I spent more than $200-300 per year on pool maintenance supplies, and with a SWG I check my levels about once per week after the initial startup each spring, seldom adding anything but muriatic acid to bring the pH down. As for whether or not we use it -- daily!
I would be lost without my pool over the hot summer months. I had one for the kids and they used it a lot. Now my granddaughter uses ours every da y that she's here. If she's not in it, I am before work.
Its expensive and the chance you get that money back upon selling is slim, but I love my pool build and would do it again in a second. Makes our backyard like an extra living room. We now have a TV on the covered patio and even if friends aren't using the pool, having one is a great excuse to throw a party. In Florida you don't go outside in the summer unless you have a pool.
Thanks UCFMike. I’m new to Central FL. If you have any builder recommendations please let me know.
CJadamec
TFP Expert
I doubted have a pool for most of my life let alone a silly above ground pool. Then as people say things changed. I had a house and kids and there was a weekend spent with another family with an above ground pool. A year after that weekend I had an above ground pool and a giant deck that transformed my backyard into something awesome. I had my doubts about it getting used but that has never been a problem we are in in plenty.
If you make the pool an invinting part of your yard and make it easy to get in and out of that goes a long way in encouraging people to actually get in and use the pool.
Using the TFP way of managing the water and buying a 2-speed or variable speed pump with keep your monthly costs to a minimum. A modern energy efficient pump will use less than 10 dollars a month in electricity.
If you make the pool an invinting part of your yard and make it easy to get in and out of that goes a long way in encouraging people to actually get in and use the pool.
Using the TFP way of managing the water and buying a 2-speed or variable speed pump with keep your monthly costs to a minimum. A modern energy efficient pump will use less than 10 dollars a month in electricity.
- Jun 22, 2017
- 861
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45
If you are questioning whether or not its worth it, especially from an expense point of view, I'd recommend starting with an above ground pool. Having and maintaining a pool (no matter how easy TFP makes it) is certainly not for everyone. Building an in ground pool will cost you several tens of thousands of dollars, and I'd hate for you to spend that kind of money just to hate owning a pool and let it all go to waste. With an above ground pool, you can make sure you like the concept and only gamble with $1000 or less. Get a 18 or 20 foot metal frame pool from walmart and get a larger Intex pump/sand filter combo. The pump/filter combos that come with walmart pools are terribly undersized and honestly should never be used on a pool larger than 1000 gallons. Get a TF-100 XL test kit (link in my signature) and spend a year or 2 running and maintaining it. All this time, be putting money in a savings account anticipating building a nice in ground pool. If you like the whole process and enjoy your first above ground pool, build a great in ground pool. If you hate having a pool, well now you have a lot of money in a savings account to spend on something else you'll enjoy instead.
My hoa does not allow above ground pools. I don’t think I would mind the maintence as much as I fear not getting my money’s worth or enjoying the experience. My daughters love to swim. We used to live somewhere that had a community pool and we would use it about once a week.
A friend of mine resides in west palm, and I used to live in Tampa. He put in a pool as soon as he could, and I wouldn’t rent a place that didn’t have one. There are some things in parts of the country that are a necessity IMHO, and just like Arizona, Florida is a place to have a pool.
Worth is decided by the individual. My kids used the pool a lot when they were younger. They are grown now but the grandkids have taken over. Personally, once the weather heats up, I'm usually in it every evening. To me it's worth it.
I’m not sure of the answer yet as we are still building. Our boys love to swim and our youngest in particular is a fish. It was only last October that I found out that my hubby has desperately wanted a pool all his life. So we are building for us long term but know that our kids and their friends will get a lot of use out of it in the next 10 or so years. I guess even further down the track it might be an incentive for grandkids to visit too!
borjis
LifeTime Supporter
I can't put a dollar figure on the amount of happiness I get on a hot summer day,
with 13,000 glorious gallons of 84 degree sparkling tfp water.
I grew up with various size above ground pools and vowed when I bought
a house, it shall have an inground pool.
with 13,000 glorious gallons of 84 degree sparkling tfp water.
I grew up with various size above ground pools and vowed when I bought
a house, it shall have an inground pool.
