OT swimming pools

Miketice

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Sep 2, 2013
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Anyone have one (in ground)? Worth it? I have 2 boys 6 and 10. Seems like a good time. Got the fever pretty bad. Liner, or fiberglass? Fresh or saltwater?
 
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PineGroveBully

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Nov 13, 2007
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My parents dug one about 23 years ago when I was 14ish, with a 10 and 8yo brother and 4yo sister. My parents never regretted it as the community get together became our house and thus they knew where we were most of the time. Just glad they don’t know everything that happened in said pool. Ours was freshwater, I’ve talked to few ppl that were happy with saltwater ones. Said it corrodes anything you put near it. Now parents have the grandkids in it all the time so it’s still a blessing to them. But they are a headache. But they’ve never regretted it. Theirs has a liner, I think they’ve gone thru 3 on the 23 years and maybe 2 pumps.
 
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Allday.sixpack

Sophomore
Aug 24, 2012
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Definitely worth knowing where your kids are. The pool is a magical friend magnet.
I’d make a few professional suggestions.
Consult a licensed Landcape architect to design the pool, concrete decking and Drainage!
Gunnite is the most stable in central Ms with our expansive clay soils. A French drain under the pool to a sump pump or a gravity flow pipe discharge is a Must!
I would put a 12” bed of gravel under to promote good subsurface drainage also.
CPS and Phillip Vincent are my favorite pool contractors but none are perfect. Our soil sucks.

I’ve had salt and chlorine (actually both are chlorine, just different processes) chlorine looks much cleaner and less calcium deposits

All pools should come with lots of beach towels, a good toilet, a big refrigerator and good washer and dryer.
 
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ronpolk

All-Conference
May 6, 2009
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I don’t have one at my current house but I grew up having one and also had one at the last house I owned.

We have plans to build one at our current house soon. I personally love having one. As a kid, we used it all the time. And I think as an adult I used it just as much. A lot of people (people that probably don’t have a pool) will tell you it’s more trouble than it’s worth and it costs too much to maintain but I never thought that was the case. I would spend less than 2 hours a week cleaning the pool and putting chemicals in. It was a non factor in terms of chemical costs. I can only weigh in on a liner pool, which I thought was pretty easy to deal with. You’ll probably only get about 10 years out of a liner. Only one I ever replaced cost about $2,500. I think a fiberglass pool is supposed to be very easy to maintain and keep clean but you’re limited on size and shape of the pool.

I think if you want one, you should go for it. I’m betting you’ll use it a lot.
 

Imadick

Redshirt
Jan 18, 2009
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We built a fiberglass one two years ago. Added heat pump and vfd pump. Love it. Kids all grown but grandkids also enjoy when they visit. I’d do it again. Oh yeah the Dolphin keeps it clean. Fresh water and check chemistry a couple times a week during season.
 

Miketice

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Sep 2, 2013
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We built a fiberglass one two years ago. Added heat pump and vfd pump. Love it. Kids all grown but grandkids also enjoy when they visit. I’d do it again. Oh yeah the Dolphin keeps it clean. Fresh water and check chemistry a couple times a week during season.

How does the vfd improve it? Less wear on the start up?
 

Dawgbite

All-American
Nov 1, 2011
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Fiberglass is more expensive up front but less expensive and lots less work to keep sparkling clear water. We have had one for 20+ years and the wife loves it. It will definitely keep your kids home more.
 

TNT.sixpack

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Nov 4, 2014
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Anyone have one (in ground)? Worth it? I have 2 boys 6 and 10. Seems like a good time. Got the fever pretty bad. Liner, or fiberglass? Fresh or saltwater?
I built one for my 2 boys. Here’s the problem - build it for yourself or don’t build it. Because your boys will 100% be where ever the girls are.
One of their friend-girls will have a pool. That’s Where the girls will be and it’s where the boys will be. They won’t be at your house. Having said that, I enjoy my pool but only recently can I finally say that. . I was 50yrs old before I truly slowed down enough to enjoy it.
 

o_swimdog

Redshirt
Aug 23, 2012
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This is one subject that I could answer any questions you may have and give you straight advice on what to look for and what to look out for.
 

diggidydog

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Mar 3, 2008
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Have had a gunite, saltwater pool for two summers. I love it. Kids and their friends are always hanging out here which is main reason we did it. As hot as it gets here in MS, it’s a must have for anyone else in my family to ever step foot outside during the summer. I like to entertain, so it helps with that too. Would do again.
 

Miketice

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Sep 2, 2013
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I built one for my 2 boys. Here’s the problem - build it for yourself or don’t build it. Because your boys will 100% be where ever the girls are.
One of their friend-girls will have a pool. That’s Where the girls will be and it’s where the boys will be. They won’t be at your house. Having said that, I enjoy my pool but only recently can I finally say that. . I was 50yrs old before I truly slowed down enough to enjoy it.

Well I’m 50 so there’s that lol.
 

Dawg1979

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Jun 23, 2015
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Big time voter of Saltwater. less maintenance, and your eyes don't burn after. the salt also makes your skin feel great.
 

Dawgbite

All-American
Nov 1, 2011
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I love the salt water but the salt corrosion destroys anything metal near the pool. Aluminum furniture, copper electrical plugs and connections, metal grills and anything else metallic will all have a shortened lifespan.
 

Imadick

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Jan 18, 2009
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More energy efficient in that I run pump at reduced speeds especially during winter. It is programmable and tied to house automation network.
 

Uncle Ruckus

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Apr 1, 2011
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typical saltwater pool. how much upfront cost are we talking for these things? we're building a house soon and wife wants one, but I have put no research into it.
 

Dawgbite

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Nov 1, 2011
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The best fiberglass pool for the money is Catalina Pools out of Memphis. A family run business that manufactures and installs their own pools. They only have 3 models and only install the pool, all concrete work has to be done by someone else. I've had mine for over 20 years and there are 5 more in my immediate area that were installed about the same time.
 

o_swimdog

Redshirt
Aug 23, 2012
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Yes, pm me if you have any questions. Will be glad to help. Also I will be glad to get some recommendations on builders in Huntsville or Madison area for you if needed. It’s a big investment that needs to be researched and done correctly.
 

Miketice

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Sep 2, 2013
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typical saltwater pool. how much upfront cost are we talking for these things? we're building a house soon and wife wants one, but I have put no research into it.

I just got quoted about 50g on a saltwater fiberglass ( that's including the extras). The liner was 5/7g cheaper. I have a couple more coming out to give estimates today
 

Miketice

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Sep 2, 2013
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Yes, pm me if you have any questions. Will be glad to help. Also I will be glad to get some recommendations on builders in Huntsville or Madison area for you if needed. It’s a big investment that needs to be researched and done correctly.


I sent a PM. Just saw the post below on salt. So I'm going to send another
 

Dawgbite

All-American
Nov 1, 2011
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I just got quoted about 50g on a saltwater fiberglass ( that's including the extras). The liner was 5/7g cheaper. I have a couple more coming out to give estimates today
I checked Catalina's website just out of curiosity and while they do not list specific prices they do give a range. Low to mid 20s on the small one and low to mid 30s on the largest. I have the small pool but we liked it best because the depth goes from 3-5 feet making the entire pool usable. If you ever notice where everybody in a pool ends up, the shallow end. They drove up in my yard at 8 am one morning and I went swimming that night before I went to bed, no concrete around it yet but the pool was fully functional and they were finished with the installation. Having enough water pressure to fill the pool is the limiting factor on how fast they can finish.