Swimming Pool - what to do.

[SillyQuestion2005]

So:
We've bought a property with a swimming pool. I wasn't mad keen on the pool but the location and house are perfect so it seemed like an unexpected bonus.

Not entirely unexpectedly it's not in the best of shape. It's 20yrs old and there's a leak in it somewhere, the skimmer and the return are both leaking and need replacing. We've got a reputable firm working on it trying to "make do and mend" but it seems that if it won't hold water and the filter needs reworking then it's going to cost us £3000-£3500 eventually to re-line and sort the plumbing out. We could find the money (not immediately but prob save by end of year) but if I'm going to chuck that sort of money on home improvements it wouldn't ideally be on something that takes up a quarter of the garden and gets v limited use (it's not heated). It's got a few small trees around it that are probably playing merry havoc too.

The pool is 5mx3m and 1.5m deep (but built up slightly above ground). It has about 1m of patio all round it. We've put up a safety fence around the patio to keep the kids out for now.

Any genius ideas for how else we could spend that money to make better use of the space? We have 2 (preschool) DCs.

DH loves the pool as a feature and wants to try and save it. I don't want to spend another penny if it's not worth saving and we won't use it.

Ideas (some which will cost way more than saving it:
Fish pond
Put a greenhouse roof on it and have a sunken greenhouse
Drill the bottom, demolish, fill in and put fake grass on for a little football pitch.
Put a real roof on, stick a games table in and turn it into a pool hall (haha)

I realise this is a massive FW problem. So don't flame me. Just after some ideas from people more creative than me!

I work with someone who "accidentally" bought a house with s pool. He says don't underestimate the cost of feeding your children's friends all summer through high school if you have a pool!

Friends had a pool. He was a bit of a fixer. He painted the pipes (round the pool for water circulation) black to absorb more heat and save money. If you are re- tiling then darker tiles, solar heating etc.

FWIW we got a pool in New Zealand when I was about 7 - and yes Auckland is a similar climate to London. We used it every day in the summer season as kids and adults for 32 years. It has been filled in only recently because of neighbours tree roots destroying it. It was definitely worth the money for an entertainment pov but if I was to get another one, I would hire a pool maintenance person. My stepfather was out there almost every day keeping it clean and in order. So it's a double edged sword.

Not sure about the darker tiles, in my experience they were always the cold pools. (There are a lot of pools in Auckland).

I think MN wants me to keep the pool and invest in a heater or super natural pool refurb.... The kitchen can wait! DH will be pleased...

Weirdly love the idea of being a base for DSes and their mates bike - but that's probably because they're babies and teenagers are still lovely and hypothetical.

Think me and DH would spend some time in a heated pool as well (which we might not on a trampoline).

tinkly I LOVE that idea.

http://www.deckover.com/

We moved into our new place with a pool last Oct, very very tired looking and on last legs - we thought we would see whether it got any use in our first summer as to whether trying to repair and maintain it. Almost everyday since May the kids have been in it, absolutely amazing. It is heated but made the summer for them.

That's good to know peanuts - how old are your DCs?

I think we're going to have to re-line and heat it if we keep it (which I'm leaning towards). But we can't afford anything until after Xmas anyway, so it's patch-up job until then - we've already spent £1000 making it safe for toddlers (fence and cover). Just am sure there are more sensible ways to spend 000s on our new house (and I'm normally so v sensible!!).

My brother has a heated pool. His 3 children love it as do him and his wife. It is used loads

If your children are still little you might want to wait a few years anyway. No point in having all the work and ongoing expenses until they're old enough to use it and it will only be another thing to worry about.

OP, a friend of mine sold the above ground stuff for hardcore and filled everything below ground. The pool you have is, frankly, unlovely and IIWM I would not want to throw any money at this.

Oh! The photo has disappeared! Did I imagine it....?

SillyQuestion2005 kids 8 and 6 in June, little one when he stands on bottom water at neck level. It is expensive to heat with electricity, reckon about £7/ day when in winter use about £2.50/day....we definitely need to rethink this option too.

That is a fugly pool.

I was also going to suggest a natural pool but if you want to stick to a more traditional swimming pool then I would build up the sides to make the pool level with the surround. Then you can hide some of the heating and filtering stuff underneath and put a couple of sun loungers on top.

But I think you're definitely right to do something. It's an eyesore at the moment.

Your poor pool is being unfairly maligned! It looks fine to me- and the raised sides surely make it safer, since you can't fall in so easily?

Drain and use as a sandpit until you can be arsed to take a sledgehammer to it. Not much underground so not a massive job to fill in. Keep an eye out for local extension / basement work and ask for the soil! The skips to remove your waste will cost a bit.

With thanks to all (even those who were less than kind about the poor pool ) we have reached a decision. We can't be faffed with the expense of make-do-and-mend and maintenance whilst it's going to get limited use whilst the kids are tiny and it's not heated.

We can't really afford the total overhaul it needs right now or next year and don't fancy the maintenance costs much either.

However - we can see the benefit of it 6/7 yrs down the line (and this is our "forever" home in every other respect). DH is dead set on keeping it.

Therefore (with a nod to just). We're going to lay it up this winter (empty and cover it) and then deck over the top of it in the spring, have a raised patio/eating area until such time as we have the budget and inclination to resurrect it with a full refurb when the DCs are bigger.

I appreciate your contributions v much! You all really helped!

That sounds like an excellent idea Silly. I'd love a pool.

bike iirc there was a Simpsons episode with a pool and everyone came round. Bart broke his leg and it went all rear window .