Speaking of swimming pools...

[930addict]

We're getting quotes for a simple rectangular pool - 20ft by 40ft no more than 5ft deep. First quote was for gunite was $60k! I'm going to be getting quotes on fiberglass as well.
What's the consensus on fiberglass vs gunite?

[Chocaholic]

Why go with either for a rectangular pool. Liner is cheaper to install, repair, maintain and easier on feet.

[ErVikingo]

Which state? I have a quote for a 25 x 45 rectangular, solar bench + large raised spa fully automated and chlorinators for $60K (in shotcrete)

[sammyg2]

My wife finally talked me into installing a pool about 6 years ago, after years of nagging and pestering.

I knew it was a bad idea, i knew it was throwing money away, I knew that after a few years it would rarely get used.
And i told her so. Many times.

But eventually I caved.

Guess what? I was right. it was a huge waste of money, after a few years it rarely gets used, and it is costing me about $100 a month on top of the $65k I threw away.

My advise is, forget the pool, send me $40k and keep the rest, it'll be cheaper for you in the long run.

[dad911]

I did a pool 15 years ago, loved it when the kids were home. Now they have all moved out, not so much. Big investment, outgrown. Reminds me, need new pumps this spring......

If I did it again, I would do a small fiberglass pool.

[Cajundaddy]

Depends on where you live but I favor gunnite pools over vinyl or fiberglass by a wide margin. They last much longer and are easier to maintain. I have owned pools most of my life and while I don't swim much anymore myself, my grandkids love it. I also appreciate the view. Get a few more bids as $60k for a cookie-cutter seems high.

[R K T]

Our 15,000 gallon pool with three water features ran 45K.

We were in it all this past weekend....can't imagine not having a pool here in the desert!

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

My wife finally talked me into installing a pool about 6 years ago, after years of nagging and pestering.

I knew it was a bad idea, i knew it was throwing money away, I knew that after a few years it would rarely get used.
And i told her so. Many times.

But eventually I caved.

Guess what? I was right. it was a huge waste of money, after a few years it rarely gets used, and it is costing me about $100 a month on top of the $65k I threw away.

My advise is, forget the pool, send me $40k and keep the rest, it'll be cheaper for you in the long run.

I went thru the same "ordeal". Finally gave in and had a large concrete inground pool built. This was about 15 years ago and cost about $30k! We used it a good bit at first, but now it is almost never used. HUGE waste of money! Something I would NEVER do again!!!

[ted]

You might like to consider an above ground fiberglass 500 gallon Jacuzzi.
Installed less than 10k and very nice in the cool weather.
Put it 10 steps away from your master bedroom.
Upkeep almost nothing compared to the hassle of full size pool.

20x40 is a good size pool...I'd consider an 8x40 foot wide modified lap pool 5 ft deep.
Since most the time you'll just be looking at it dress it up with some trick lights and a couple water fall features you can see from inside your house.
I'd like one with a walk on safe retractable cover.

If it was easy I'd turn my 28k gallon pool into a two car garage.

[ted]

Originally Posted by R K T

Our 15,000 gallon pool with three water features ran 45K.

Good looking pool!

[930addict]

My home is in Utah. This was the first quote. I was mistaken on the size. I've been looking at lots of different things and must have gotten dimensions mixed up.


Quote - which only includes the pool and coping around the pool - not all the hardscaping shown in the diagram:

[930addict]

For those that don't use their pool, why did you stop using it? Also, for those that say gunite is better can you explain why? I've done some reading but it's hard to tell between the sales people and the truth. haha. From my reading, it appears that fiberglass would be easier to maintain because it is not porous like the cement pool thereby not requiring as much maintenance. "They" say that fiberglass is ~ $40/month to maintain vs. $100 for gunite.

[ckelly78z]

In cold weather, there is nothing that feels better than slipping into 105 degree water in my Hot Springs 5 person Spa. We bought it 22 years ago and have used it 3-4 times a week ever since, mainly in weather under 60 degrees. It holds about 550 gallons, some really strong jets, and is absolutely the best brand you can get. We have only had to replace a pump and 2 insulated covers over the years, and it's fairly cheap to run and maintain.....no leaves or skimming either.

We've entertained the thought of a pool, but my daughter is now living on her own, and my son is 16, so it wouldn't be worth it. In thier younger years, we had the 24' upground pool which was a constant amount of work to keep regulated and clean.

[fintstone]

I have a similar decision. We wanted a pool for years. I was finally able to afford to buy a big, fabulous house that literally "screams" pool. I cannot imagine it costing less than $60K. All the kids are gone and live too far away to visit often. We are so far out in the country that we really have no friends who visit. It would certainly beautify my home and I think we might use it at first, but suspect we will not much so afterwards as we have never had one and have not made any effort to go to any public pools...and, of course, because we are getting freakin old. Sammy's remarks have me almost convinced. On the other hand, I have the money...and you can't take it with you.

[nota]

my concrete block pool 37x17 x9 deep
is now a koi pond
koi just started egg laying today

[porsche4life]

Consider a pebble tec finish in that concrete pool. Looks awesome, easy on the feet, and holds up very well. I love ours.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by 930addict

For those that don't use their pool, why did you stop using it?

Cost.

The home we recently purchased has an existing in ground pool (concrete/plaster). Deepest portion is 9.5 feet and is over 1/2 the pool ~35K gallons. Our kids are 18 and 16. I refuse to heat the main pool ($$) so it gets used in the warmer months only. I think the current water temp is ~ 60F. In the 4-5 months of warm weather the pool naturally heats to ~80F so the wife and I enjoy it every evening before bed. The attached spa gets used year round - probably 1x a week.

[Christien]

We put in a pool last summer. In-ground, vinyl rectangle, I think 14x30, so medium-sized. 8ft depth in the deep end. We looked at countless options for shapes, but with our backyard being rectangular and wanting to retain lots of area for grass for kids to play on, plus deck, rectangular really did make the most sense. We were $40k, taxes in, and that didn't include the electrical or gas hookups, which ran another $2000 or so. We didn't have many options for material where we live. Most places strongly recommended against concrete because of the winters, saying it's more or less guaranteed to crack within 10 years. Fibreglass was an option, but much more expensive.

Our kids are 6 and 8, so we knew the sooner we did it the more value we'd get out of it. The kids were in it the day it was filled, even before the heater had got it above 60. (filled it with the garden hose - ours and our neighbours, took less than 24 hrs)

I was against it - I didn't think it was worth the cost, even though I know the kids will use it every day, and my wife does laps in it every morning. I still don't think it was worth the cost, compared to what we could have spent the same $$ on - several trips to Europe, Disney, etc. But I can't deny it's a ton of fun and it gets used pretty much every day. And I hear absolutely ZERO complaints about what I spend on the 911 any more

Pic of the installation:

[tabs]

I had a pool when I lived in S CA. In the summer it went to 80 to 85 degrees all summer long. I was in it almost everyday. Took apart & cleaned the Filter every 3 to 4 months, never had to replace a pump in 13 years. Dumped the Chlorine in every once in awhile. Had the Creepy Crawler to keep it clean. The only thing was when the wind blew and the pool got filled with leaves...that I didn't like. That pool cost me North of 60K in 1991, and I subbed it myself.


The key here is to BUILD IT YOURSELF..get the sub contractors and away you go. You save roughly 25% to 30% on the deal.

Here is yer 12 step program:

1. Draw your plan

2. Buy the Engineering details

3. Get yer Permits

4. Hire a pool digger

5. Get a Rebar sub contractor

6. Get a Plumber, he can arrange buying the Equipment at wholesale

7. Get an Electrician

8. A Gunite sub

9. A Tile Sub

10. A Concrete Decking sub

11. A Plasterer

12. Hook everything up and leave hose in the bottom of the pool to fill.

Oh and one sub will lead to another sub as they all know each other. As a matter of fact the Pool Contractor that you are contemplating on hiring is going to be using some of those same Sub Contractors.

So the question becomes on a 60K pool is 15K to 20K worth your time and effort. AND YOU GET A LOT MORE POOL FOR YOUR DINERO...little extra features..in other words a deluxe pool vs a plain jane. Early on you need to get your Plumber, so that he can lay out where the Equipment is going to be set and where the trenches are needed for the Plumbing.


There are no mysteries and it is not as hard as you would think. Even my school teacher next door neighbors built their own.

Now the pool I built in S CA was a major project...the Pool alone needed 30 yards of Gunite (18 inches thick at the bottom) with rebar 4 inches on center, the Footing for the Retaining walls another 25 yards of Concrete. Just to dig the thing, 200 yards of dirt and rock were removed.

[sammyg2]

Originally Posted by 930addict

For those that don't use their pool, why did you stop using it? Also, for those that say gunite is better can you explain why? I've done some reading but it's hard to tell between the sales people and the truth. haha. From my reading, it appears that fiberglass would be easier to maintain because it is not porous like the cement pool thereby not requiring as much maintenance. "They" say that fiberglass is ~ $40/month to maintain vs. $100 for gunite.

We mostly put it in for the kids and they got bored with it.
My daughter is away at college, my son is usually too busy with school or sports or whatever.

I don't heat the pool so its at a comfortable temperature 4 months a year. That translates to 4 days in Utah

If i liked jumping into cold water I could extend that season to 6 months. But i don't.

During those 3 or 4 months, it might get used every other week.
I guess you cold say the shine wore off the new penny. If i lived in the desert where it got really, really hot that might be a different story.

But it's usually pleasant here, warm, but not really hot.
It only gets really hot a few weeks a year.