Are Swimming Pools worth the hassle?

[malcolminthemiddle]

There has been a lot of talk on the forum recently about swimming pools.

Just wondering whether people thought they worth the hassle of maintenance and cost?

If you have one do you use it?

[STEVE G]

At one time I was going to build one with the house I'm planning and I've since decided that it's too much bother.
I would want one long enough to swim lengths for exercise and the cost of upkeep on a pool that big is quite a bit more than it would take to get a membership of a decent sports club with a pool.
I think I would only have a pool if I had young children who would use it all the time.

[Spitfire]

Probably wouldn't bother with a pool for the same reasons as Steve G mentioned but have often played around with the idea of one of those large jacuzzi bubble bath things to sit in, under some sort of cover or not as the preference might be, to lounge around in on warm evenings.

Yeah, I know, it's a bit Hugh Heffner style , hands up, but would be cool for you and the Mrs and more affordable probably. However, I've no idea at all how much what I have suggested would cost though or even if it's possible to have here.

[carol]

well its not that bad to look after yourself, google it, to maintain ect its easy and the pool shop will advise you and has everthing you need... must say we were let down with the maintenance with 4 different companys...... we only have a jacuzzi and it is under cover, but love it !! it brings your temp down its great... we empty when we leave.... wouldnt be without it...

[Randy Cornhole]

Woudnt bother myself. Too much trouble. Just as soon go to the beach.

[moja]

Would not be without our pool - I use it virtually every day. It is long enough to swim lengths so is used even in the rain; after all you are wet anyway.

We have a very reliable company who look after the pool for us and yes I suppose it can be expensive but I would hate to be without it.

[poosmate]

I too thought the jacuzzi was good. I bought one a couple of years ago and have used it twice.
Drawbacks: takes around 2000 litres of water so ages to fill. If you do not want to bathe in chemicals to preserve the water it needs filling each time it is used. It takes a age to heat up ( 2hour+).
I bought it from GDL for 180000 Baht. If I was having another I would buy one that could filter the water fully like a swimming pool.

[johnnyk]

I use mine every day. Its great to have a swim au naturel just before bed.

[Francois]

I have one coupled to a jacuzzi. I use it every day too. And it's really great when my children and grandchildren are visiting us.

[PeteC]

There's people at both ends of this spectrum. I know those who love it, and those who have filled them in with dirt, grass and planted trees and bushes. They didn't even tear out the pool, just filled it in after removing the perimeter sand wash walkways.

If you're in an area with supply shops and labour to help clean it and other things, it's an easy thing to have and maintain. If you're in the boonies and have to clean it yourself plus drive a long way for supplies, it becomes tiresome. Cleaning is really the biggest chore for me. I hate it and if you let it go too long, it takes three times as long to clean it...Catch 22.

I have not yet thrown my money at a 40,000 Baht cleaning robot which costs $550.00 in the US and Australia. Maybe soon. They are great though on a hot day, and even greater in the winter when the water cools off, if you have kids, need the exercise due to overweight, injury, heart problems etc., and to just sit next to under cover and read a book and listen to the water gurgle. Pete

[migrant]

I agree Pete!

I used to have a pool/jacuzzi combo. I cleaned it myself for a year, hating every minute! Then I hired a service, and then really enjoyed it.

Always like swimming in the evening, some fruit, some wine......

[Johan]

Some people never use it, some people people use it everyday. Is up to you.

If i have one i will use it 3 times a week normally, maybe more.

[JOHNSON]

There has been a lot of talk on the forum recently about swimming pools.

Just wondering whether people thought they worth the hassle of maintenance and cost?

If you have one do you use it?

Hi MITM,
I would say definately YES in my case,I swim in my pool every other day and couldn't live in this heat without it also if i ever get round to selling my place the swimming pool can only be a plus !!!!

[brianks]

Would not have a house without a pool long enough to swim in. My new house has a 12m long pool and used every day after morning run. Maintenance is taken care of by complex maintenance contract so no hassles for me so far. Trick for me is to have one on same level as house so you can use it and long enough to get a good swim in. Some of those 3 X 6 & 7m pools builders put in are just for getting wet in.

[hhfarang]

I chose not to put in a pool when I built my house even though I (nearly) had enough room for an Olympic sized one. I just didn't think I would use it much and that it would be expensive and a hassle to maintain. We did put in two water features and it turns out that the Koi pond with 2 meter waterfall is probably just as expensive and more of a hassle.

Anyway, we built this house to live in for life but with the exchange rate drop over the years we are now trying to sell it and downsize. We have lost several sales because we don't have a pool. I've pointed out that there is plenty of room to build one and even offered a 1m baht discount on the sales price to allow for the buyer to put in a pool, but most have said they didn't want the bother and wanted a house with a pool already built.

So... it's a good thing for resale value (especially on a higher value property) even if you don't use it much.