Swimming pool. Yay or nay?

[Bellabelloo]

Having spent so much time at home including during all of the glorious weather we had last spring and summer, we're thinking about putting a pool in the garden. We've got the quotes etc, just worried about all of the advice that it will devalue the house. Has anyone built a pool and regretted it? Thanks!

They are incredibly expensive to heat and require a fair amount of work to maintain, but if we keep getting lovely summers it'll be nice.

Cost alot of money to maintain and heat op.

In the UK? Whereabouts are you? Inconsistent weather, cost of installation, running costs and it can devalue your house as well. I wouldn't.

I dont think they are worth it in thr UK personally, but equally I'm a big believer in doing what gives you pleasure. It isn't hurting anyone else, so do it if you want to!

It may make your house difficult to sell in the future. I would be put off by the costs and maintenance so would buy without, rather than with. That said, I couldn’t afford those kind of houses anyway!

Go for it if your house matches up to it and it is your forever home. Heated

A friend of a friend had an extension on her house to create a pool room. Would that be an option for you? I wouldn't fancy an outdoor pool in the UK if I'm being honest.

For all those saying how hard and expensive it is to maintain and heat - do you own a pool? I put one in about 8 years ago. It is heated by a air source heat pump and it runs from April to October (it could run year round but would need a more expensive heater). It costs £100s not £1000s to heat. For maintenance I pay the guy who installed it £120 to open it up in spring and again to close it down in October, and other than that it gets a chlorine tablet or two every week and a vacuum, which takes about an hour. That's it. It is incredibly low maintenance for the amount of fun my kids have had and exercise I enjoy in it.
My house is on the market and I have had no negative comments about the pool - it seems to be a draw if anything.

We've got one (came with the house). I wasn't overly keen a first but now I love it and can't wait for summer. It's the only exercise I enjoy and it really makes a difference to your body to swim everyday.

We close it up around the end of October (I did have ideas of keeping it open throughout winter - unheated - but I soon realised I am not hardy enough for that. Sooo painful.) We open it up again around April - so around half the year it is used. It is expensive to heat though (cheaper when weather is hotter but around £100 a week when cooler.) However it is very old school - about 40 years old I think (even has a diving board - not sure they would do that now for 'elf and safety?), so am sure modern ones are more efficient?

Sensible things, like always keep the cover on when not using it helps to retain the heat. That said, it is a bit of an indulgence and I probably wouldn't build one. But it's such a lovely thing to have for a family.

I have one, here when I got the house but it’s full sized indoor log cabin with changing room and loo.

Plus sides it’s AMAZING for the kids year round especially at the moment. Downside it’s oil heated so costs £1000 a month to run. Not counting the filtration gravel, chemicals and maintaining it is a lot of work.

Depends on your time and money. Couldn’t afford to run it for years. It became a pond of green algae closed up. Lockdown I got it up and running again because it’s a godsend. Also swimming at night with the lights on is relaxing. Not sure I can afford it when back to travelling for work we will see.

If you get one then dear God get one of those proper solid covers. Our indoor pool just has a basic cover and it's always full of dead things! It's really gross (and sad for the poor critters!)

IN the uk I don,t think would get enough use to merit the cost and upkeep.

Indoor pool 100% brilliant

Outdoor pool in the uk? 0% brilliant

In the UK swimming pools are a luxury because it is potentially a money pit especially as cost per use is high given the short summer swimming season.

You need to not only consider the operational costs - even using heat pumps and on site minimal solar energy generation etc. Obviously avoid water meters! In addition the operational consumables for chemicals to test and pH balance and condition water plus chorine can be pricey too given qualities required. The structure itself will need long term maintenance repair or replacement. Concrete swimming pool construction normally last 10-20 year plus depending on any land subsidence and weathering/winterisation management etc. Liner and glass fibre swimming pools are cheaper but don’t last forever either. Plant and machinery (sand filtration, pump and heating) also have built in obsolescence and expensive to replace/repair. Super luxury for no costs spared would be stainless steel construction! Overall you will need to horizon scan longer term as to decommissioning costs in filling in and landscaping an old outdoor swimming pool etc. Long term land and property considerations depends on property type and overall property value and expectation of onsite leisure facilities. Certain luxury properties suit swimming pools others not so much and would potentially deter future buyers for the above mentioned reasons. Possibly go luxury spa jacuzzi route as a cheaper introduction alternative before taking the plunge?!

£1,000 a month to heat a pool? How the other half live!

We were worried about the pool devaluing the property price and safety issues (we foster)so we opted for an above ground one. It’s down the end of the garden in an area that was once an overgrown chicken run. It looks great and we love it. The kids from teens to tinies love it too. We opted for a more expensive heater to hopefully save money on the running costs in the future. We don’t intend to stay in this house forever so a cheaper above ground one seemed like a good compromise for us.

I would love a pool. I’ve been fantasising about a natural swimming pond for years. We’ve looked into it, a bit, but they just are so expensive to build and get up and running; even though the running costs from then on are very low.

I expect we’ll hum and haw about it for a few more years, and then the dc will be close to leaving home so it won’t be worth it, so we’ll never do it.

I don't know why I'm reading this as I live in a back-to-back terrace with no garden but I love swimming and in the event I win the lottery the first thing I'd get is a pool (and a garden to put it in I guess).

However - I would only want one that I could actually swim in so it would need to be at least 20 metres. I don't see the point of heating and maintaining an oversized paddling pool.

I love our pool, and do not regret having it built. We have an eco pool which keeps the cost of the heating down. We swim whatever the weather from April to October, as you can warm up the pool to be hot and it is fun for the kids (and us) even in the rain.

My dh dug our pool and more or less installed himself, and only got the specialists in for the tiling, equipment etc - so maybe a task to set for dh I would say this spring op!

I do know know one person who regretted putting a pool in. It can put house buyers off, depending on your house and the area you live in. The pp with house on the market now, I can see how a pool would be more of a bonus during a pandemic - perhaps a good time to sell a house with a pool!
My parents have a pool. They have a tarpaulin cover, which is dangerous for wandering toddlers and lets in bugs around the side. If you get a pool I recommend investing in a hard cover - it’s safer and cleaner.
Other ideas....

• get one of those pools which stands on the grass and has high sides. Another friend has a huge one of those. These are less permanent than digging a huge hole in the ground, but still loads of fun
• join a local private pool. Obviously this won’t work during a pandemic, but in a few months we’ll be able to go back to leisure facilities. For £25 a week my family belong to a country club with huge indoor pool, spa and gym. Downside - can’t entertain in our own pool at home. Upside - year round access to 50m indoor heated pool. Never very busy as it’s a private members club. Cost wise, it costs less than my parents pool.

So, think carefully about when/why you want a pool - there are options!

My mum has had an outside one for about 50 years, not sure how the pp manages with a chlorine tablet every other week 😳
They should be tested at least 2-3 x a week in summer and need vacuuming daily, even with skimmers and a cover.
However, yes heating costs can be slashed with ground source pumps ( still have maintenance and some costs, but much less than using oil) and they are great fun.
As kids we swam every single day, often several times a day when the pool was open, when you are allowed to have folk back round then really fun for everyone.

We used to have a massive above ground swimming pool but got rid of it when the kids were small due to safety concerns but now they are older I would have one again in a heartbeat but it was very expensive to heat so dh says no - boohoo!

How much have you been quoted? I really want one

@garlictwist

I don't know why I'm reading this as I live in a back-to-back terrace with no garden but I love swimming and in the event I win the lottery the first thing I'd get is a pool (and a garden to put it in I guess).

However - I would only want one that I could actually swim in so it would need to be at least 20 metres. I don't see the point of heating and maintaining an oversized paddling pool.

Same as me!!

Even with a lotto win I'd still plump for an indoor pool. Actually, indoor with a small "doorway" out to a heated outdoor small pool for extra hot days/night swims. Can then block the doorway whenever the outside pool is out of use.

@Sheleg

£1,000 a month to heat a pool? How the other half live!

Long long time ago I used to work for an electric company and there was a guy using those prepaid cardboard meter cards to heat his outdoor swimming pool. I did ask him how long it took him every week to put them all on his meter a tenner at a time!