Views on whether outdoor pool is a bad idea

[user704750]

We are very lucky to live in beautiful place. We won't be moving for at least 15 years (been here for 20).

I am toying with the idea of an outdoor pool. I think it would cost about £150k

I'm not a massive swimmer. DH swims regularly (at the gym). I hate travelling though and am very much a home person. We tend to stay at home during the summer and go away in the autumn and at Easter.

House is worth c£2.5m. Large 5 bed with 14 acres, separate guest cottage. High standard of decor. Based in the Midlands rather than the South coast so a bit cooler.

DC are at university but both are likely to live back at home for post grad study.

Everything I read says a pool is a bad investment but given the house is high end, I'm not sure. A reasonable number of houses in this price bracket in this area seem to have pools (although there aren't that many of them). Can't afford an indoor one which would add tens of thousands to the cost.

We have solar panels which generate excess power in the summer.

Would a pool devalue a higher end home in your opinion? Would it put you off buying the house?

I would consider a pool and jacuzzi next to it. Well designed seating area with dining table and lovely lighting, then when at home and it’s not warm enough to go in you can turn lights on and entertain around it.

You live in the midlands

”lounging “ around the pool? I really don’t see much of that going on

what does your dh think given he’s the swimmer

I’d put a swim spa in but not an outdoor pool

Funnily enough I’m currently looking at houses in that price bracket and above and in the area a lot have pools. It does totally put me off. I wouldn’t use it, neither an indoor or outdoor one. The indoor ones are the biggest turn off. I feel I’d be paying money for something I don’t want and would cost money to fill in. At least with an outdoor one I guess it’s easier to fill in and turf over. But I said only this evening I’m not viewing properties with an indoor pool.

edited to add….but if you want one then get one. Unless you’re planning on selling in the next couple of years don’t worry about potential devaluing. Your home has to be fit for you.

Go for it! Sounds amazing!

Northamptonshire isn't the frozen North you know.

In the UK, no way

Indeed
it isn’t the frozen north
so go for it… lots of long warm, sunny days lounging by the pool awaits you!!

I have had both outdoor and indoor pools. If I was to choose, it would definitely be a small indoor pool with a counter current that I could use all year round. One of these would be my choice: https://www.spaflo.co.uk/stainless-steel-swimming-pools

My family has one of the swim spa ones. Its good, but needs to be sunk into ground and have electric cover. Theirs is neither and one person can't do covers. You could have it landscaped in. You can properly swim against current. Kids love getting the whirlpool effect going

It would definitely put me off. Major faff, expense to maintain and freezing cold. Ugh.

along these lines

Yes that's lovely. Totally appropriate for a garden of your size. What's the width? If you can squeeze a little extra on the width it will make it comfier for races (there will be races) and also swimming and chatting alongside someone. You're installing an amenity - basically a patio with some water, which gives it more life than just a fitness pool or gym vibe.

That one is 11m x 4m

I was looking at 12m x 5 so a bit longer and a bit wider

As long as you can maintain it and heat it, go for it.

My in-laws (late 60s now) put a pool in their similar sized/value house when their kids were 8/10. Now, it is a huge treat for my kids in the summer - if it’s sunny, we head down for a few days and spend all day in it. It’s usually ‘open’ from May - September but obviously plenty of this time isn’t really swimming weather. Some days it’s pretty bracing despite being heated by their panels, other days it’s wonderfully refreshing. My FIL swims most warm days and my MIL swims when it’s super hot. It’s in a walled garden so secure and tucked away from the house so doesn’t affect the views of the garden. I think your kids would love it and, for me, that is a great reason to just do it - I know my husband certainly appreciated having a pool at home as a kid.

In terms of adding value, I think people who have that money to spend on a house that size would appreciate a decent pool area for their kids so I don’t think it would put the majority of people off. With the mansion tax, I would guess people want as much as possible included in the price they pay for large family homes (high spec interior, few if any improvements needed, pool, tennis court etc.).

Yes I thought that one looked a bit narrow. 12 x 5 is perfect. Will you have a proper (can't stand up) deep end? It's fun for jumping in and so much better for exercise (treading water/proper lengths etc)

I’m Cambridgeshire.

when I lived in a house that had one in the summer we’d swim most days.

cone back in from day at work and just jump in the pool. It was really nice.

most of June-August it was pretty useable most of the time and we bought loungers etc for sitting around it and had table and chairs and often ate out there.

it did create a holiday vibe to the summer. Some days when the temp hit the high 30s it was very very much appreciated.

east Anglia often gets high temps in summer and it can be pretty unpleasant without a means to cool off.

My sister has a pool in her back garden and they are a lot more hassle then I had originally thought as someone who doesn't have one. heating it costs a bomb- unless you plan on only keeping it on in July/August it will need some form of heating for 10 months of the year otherwise they are unpleasantly cold- think ice bath, chemicals, cleaning, general maintenance... so just keep in mind it's not just the initial outlay, it's ongoing and takes time and labour as well. Although at your price point I would imagine you would employ people to worry about all these aspects! My point is that it's only really worth it if you will use it a lot, otherwise it's a massive outlay for something which takes a lot of time and effort to keep up or else will end up a giant green pond.

If your husband is a serious swimmer then 12m isn’t long enough. Im a serious swimmer, swam county level. By the time I’ve pushed off from the wall, done the stroke underneath, I’m at the other side of a 10m width so 12.5m pool wouldn’t be any good for me as I’d wouldn’t get any actual swimming. Have a think about 15-20m length.

edited for spelling error

NRTFT but if your H swims at the gym, you need an endless pool, they’re fab!

That's why you need a counter-current or endless pool, then it doesn't matter how long it is as you just keep swimming with no turns.

If you can’t afford the extra for an indoor pool you can’t afford to maintain an outdoor pool.

Any pool is a money pit of maintenance in the UK. It would need to be heated far more than the surplus from the solar. It will also require a plant room which will also require power.

You say you aren't massive swimmer so what is it you want the pool for? I wonder if a hot tub or one of the combined hot tub / swim spa's would be more useful as they would be easier to heat.