August 6, 2005
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HOW
It’s been hot here in
Last weekend we were invited to two pool parties. We rubbed on the
Our next door neighbor has a very nice above ground pool which he has accented with a beautiful deck and attractive landscaping. We’re thinking “in-ground” because we aren’t just about keeping up with the Joneses; we are all about crushing them like the vermin they are.
So…we’ve been researching pools. I had no friggin idea that there was so much to choose from. Concrete, Concrete with a vinyl liner, Steel with a vinyl liner, Gunite, Fiberglass; it’s completely mystifying.
Later this afternoon we are going to go to two or three pool places here in
I’ve also done enough research now to know that this will plunge us into a level of debt that we will never escape from. We’ve been trying to justify the expenditure by talking about what great exercise we can get and how we will be able to endlessly entertain. We also talked about the fact, that at some point, when they actually exist; our grandchildren will be able to come and swim in it. I did point out to my wife that the two pool parties we went too represent the only actual friends we have and they already have pools, and that our children both live over 10 hours away, but we haven’t let this dissuade us.
At this point we are leaning toward fiberglass. From my research, it appears to be the least expensive in-ground possibility, and it appears to need the least amount of maintenance over the long haul. Since I’m incredibly lazy, that’s a big selling point for me.
I’m going to hear all of the sales hype on different types later today, but that will all be bullshit, so I’d really like to hear from those of you who have pools. I’d like to know what kind you have, what you would recommend, and why I’m completely insane for even considering this.
Your help would be most appreciated.
Comments (22)
Does this mean you’ll be getting a pool boy? Pls advise.
I don’t really know all that much about inground pools except that…I wish I had one too.
It IS hot, even here is PA, and I’m tired of looking at all my “hay” for a lawn…
Good luck with your research, and dealing with the saleshounds.
I know nothing about pools, after all I have maintenance men here at my apartments to take care of one for me, but I wanted to let you know I stumbled across your site and your sense of humor makes me chuckle.
I really suggest one of those three ring blow up pools that you get from the dollar store! They don’t take up alot of space and when the season is over you can just flip them over and let the water out! They are inexpensive and if people start inviting themselves over to swim, you can simply say….”sorry…it has a hole in it.” I WISH I had a pool but I see how much time and energy it takes to keep them up. I definitely agree on the inground pool thing though…that is wonderful! My aunts inground pool is actually in a screen house….it is very neat! CONGRATS!
Jordan, I ask Kathy if we were getting a pool boy. She looked at me and went “duh!”
I currently have an in-ground pool with a vinyl liner. I also have many years of experience with concrete pools. Vinyl pools are easy to maintain and tend to be less expensive to install. If you get a pool with a vinyl liner, you really don’t need concrete or steel under the liner. You dig a hole and install the liner directly against the packed earth. The pressure of some twenty thousand gallons of water is more than sufficient to maintain the integrity of the pool. The key is that you never drain the pool, even in winter. And every ten years or so, you replace the vinyl liner. Gunite pools tend to be more expensive to build and to maintain, but they last forever if you take care of them and they offer a wide variety of design and upgrade choices. There really is no good reason to have a pool, other than that you want one. And if you decide to build a pool, all I can really recommend is that you don’t decide to move in a few years.
I know nothing about pools, nor have ever had a real one, but that doesn’t stop me from lounging around “my pool” (aka, the neighbors kiddie blow-up pool) with a cool beverage and fantasizing when I can do that in something made for big-kids.
Next time I’m in Oklahoma I’d be more than glad to help you test out that pool. Ya know, to make sure it’s safe for those future grandkids and all. Also, we can swim around and talk about the good old days. Many of the ones you’d be talking about, I wasn’t around for, but that’s a minor point.
We looked into in ground pools but, frankly, they are too damn expensive. We ended up buying an oval 33 feet long and 18 feet across…. a “Quest” – very nice…..it was too damn expensive too but nowhere near the cheapest in ground we found, for which we were quoted 17 thousand dollars, I think. Plus, our zoning laws state that in ground pools have to be completely fenced in with a locking gate….even more cost. The above ground simply has a retractable ladder. We think fiberglass is the best option for in ground pool, too. And the exercise and relaxation I get in my pool makes it all worth it to me!
I had a child in my class get a fiber glass splinter in her hand from a fiberglass pool. . Or so she claims. But then again. She is a liar.
I know nothing about the in-grounds, but if you’re looking at anything with a vinyl liner, ask around about the labor cost to replace (not to mention the cost of filling the thing again). I need a new liner (for my above ground), which is fairly reasonably priced at $300. It’s the $1300 labor fee that has put a new liner on hold for now.
As soon as they draw my powerball numbers, I’m having an in-ground installed. With one of those automated retractable covers which only operates with a key. I don’t want to swim in it. I just want to watch the cover slide open and closed.
Crush away.
Sounds like silvernicks has the right idea about the blow-up pool first….baby steps, Mark. Most of us don’t start our driving career with a brand new Lexus, we start out with a beater car because we know there are going to be fender-benders. I think you should start out with a beater pool …..
sure you’re ready for a pool? they can be a lot of work; course now days you buy a ‘pool sweep’, a gadget that sits on the bottom of the pool and does its thing…kinda pricey tho. then you gotta regularly check the pH content of the water and make other numerous checks daily to make sure the water is safe to be in…and also you’ll need to have a fence, with a lock…it’s the law…better check your state’s regulations…don’t mean to rain on your parade, but I been there, done that…and having a pool is much more than swimming in it…there’s lots of things that grow in pools and that cling to the sides (what you can’t see) that are dangerous to your health…and by all means, make sure you get a reputable contractor to do the job…do you want ’kool-decking’? (a special coating that is put on the deck so you can walk on it without burning your feet to hell) (it’s quite costly) and then their is a heater, does it get cold there? do you want to swim in the winter? research, research before you just jump in blind; you’ll be better in the long run…and make sure when you hire someone to do this, that they stand by their work and guarantee what they do…I know people who have been left with a hefty, deep, hole in the ground due to inept workmanship…not to mention the thousands of dollars it costs for installation…good luck!
paulygrl
Prepare to open your bank accounts and all future earnings to the “aqua money pit”, as we unlovingly call our pool. Once installation is complete (and you’ve taken that second or third mortgage) you’ll need several spare $100 bills to throw in it daily. You can do this on a weekly basis, but we have opted for the “budget program”, (the daily dose) so we can still afford to buy food to sustain ourselves with enough energy to go to work and feed the monster. We did it the easy way, we bought a house with the pool already installed. Except when we bought the house, the pool was a sludge pit; it hadn’t been opened in 3 years and we had to replace the worn out vinyl liner. The “new” liner has been in 11 years now, and every spring when we open it, we hope to get “one more year” out of it. Its living on borrowed time. We’ll be selling our house soon.
xoxoxo
I think you are only getting a pool to go with that pool boy that you mentioned in your last post!
I won’t be much help, because a pool is the one luxury I’d love and Hubby won’t even consider (too much work, natch). Good luck to you, lucky guy!
What I really noticed about the xanga featured main page is not so much the age. I can justify the quality with age. Its the quality of the work. Most people on xanga featured just wants the fame of being on it. So they post pictures and plaster chain comments all over the xanga main frame. It’s pretty pathetic. I’m actually in a small part of a war to eliminate the so called emo and non-quality featured sites.
Are you considering an above or below ground pool?
Never had an inground pool, but from a real estate investors POV I’d highly suggest you reconsider an above ground pool. A big misconception is that inground pools increase property values. When in reality they actually can decrease property value and hender selling the property if you ever do. Now, if you are looking for a pool you can dive in and actually be able to swim laps in then you will pretty much have to go with inground. It is a lot of hard work to keep up, but if you have them money than there are tools to make the job much easier. Including devices that keep tabs on water quality. Just remember there’s a reason that a lot of upper end communities being built have community pools!
Have you seen the new slip-n-slide? It’s an actual slide with a pool at the bottom…ton-o-fun! Reconsider the pool. My best memories of grandma’s house: playing in the sprinkler!
I’ve never had a pool, and it would be silly to install one in my part of the world, BUT, can I just get a pool boy anyway??
RYC: You had a crush on Mme Beckwith? That is so funny.
Good luck with the pool thing! In Minnesota, home pools are unusual. It just doesn’t seem worth the expense for the 2 hours a year that you can use them. My husband used to be the manager of the pool at the school, though. I can tell you that public pools are a money pit. I have to say that I used to want a pool, though!
My response is a little late …but I couldn’t help put my two cents in. Pool…in ground, landscaped like a waterfall, using limestone. This may require one pool guy and one tall dark handsome TOWEL boy. Lord only knows if you are keeping up with the Jones you might as well splurge.