DougB
Posted : 6/4/2010 5:14:28 PM
You have to check with your local govt agency about building codes. Different localities have different requirements for fences, setbacks, insurance. Also, water quality effects operating costs. Get the ph screwed up and you can destroy a water heater in a month or two.. Check with neighbors who operate a pool about this.
If you have kids and/or dogs, look into a safety cover . An autocover (in ground only) can cost a lot, but it keeps kids, dogs, and neighbors out until you say yes. It saves on water, heat, and chemicals, and good ones can be walked on. A solar cover (looks like bubblewrap) adds heat to the water, but no protection. Be sure your dog can swim and knows where the steps are and how to use them. I pulled a Irish Setter out of a pool before he went under. Not all dogs know how to swim. Be sure to have a functioning gate. One of our customers pulled a dead terrier out of her above ground because the gate was ajar, and there was no way for the dog to get out.
Beware of neighbors. You may build it, but they will think "Great, now we have a pool". And many will assume that you really want to be responsible for their kids all day. One of our customers had her neighbors in before her pool was filled and handed out her rules before the neighbors could act. Little things, like-when the gate is locked, the pool is off limits. -If you are not watching, your child will not be in the pool., and -if you are not invited, don't come. Your child will be sent home. Granted, she is bi-polar, but she got her point across really well. The rose bushes she had planted next to the pool did concerned me.
Do your research before you decide to build. There is work involved. You can do most of it, but know about it before you start. Salt water is a great system, but if you don't know what is going on and how to work with it, you can get the pool salty enough to make pickles.
The price for a pool depends on size and features you want. We put in one for $400,000. Nice pool . His water got out of balance and he had to have us replace the heat exchanger after 2 years. $1200 part, 2 hours of labor.
From a personal perspective, above ground pools are a PITA. Hard to keep clean, fall apart in storms, and every body thinks they know how to run and repair them.
Pay attention to building codes. We have a customer with a pool we just finished. He said he had the permits and everything was okay. Then we find out the county requires a 100 ft setback from a creek, and he is only at 60 ft.(Some of his house is too close also). We may have to move the pool. It is an inground unit. I don't think our Bobcat can push it far enough.
Find a reputable builder who has been around a while and provides service, not just cleaning services, but repair. Pumps wear out, heaters fail, liners leak, plumbing leaks or breaks with frost heaves, every thing has a life span. One of our customers had a Minneapolis based builder pit her pool in-didn't even talk to my boss. The crew drove past our shop to get to her. She couldn't get them to provide service. The 100 miles was to much for them. We provide her service, but she is not really one of our high priority customers.
Pools are neat, I've just seen too many in the last month and every one was an emergency-had to be ready for the holiday. The party is planned and the pump wasn't really too loud last week. And the call at 6pm Friday, just as I was pouring the beer, got to me a little bit .