We have an in ground pool at our home up north with metal walls and a heavy vinyl liner. It is an 18' x 40' with walk-in stairs. We've owned the pool since '86. I suspect that your pool will be cement.
First of all, nix the diving board. We used it the first couple of years and I removed it. Too dangerous.
I would ask if you have to paint it every so often too. If so, where will you drain the water out of it? We have over a half acre up here so no problem to drain it down below the jets to close it (with a winter cover) for fall, winter and most of spring.
Find out if you have to hire out the electrical work. There are grounds and GFI switches to contend with. Do you have enough blanks left on your electrical panel?
We also have a light IN the pool. The bulb finally burned out just a few years ago. Waste of money for us now....but we used to go out at 1 or 2 in the morning an it was nice.
I would recommend a solar reel and solar cover to heat the pool if needed but you do need some space for that. Come to think of it, you could just buy a solar blanket to heat.
Where will you buy chemicals such as pool shock, PH up, water hardener if needed etc. etc. Usually, he pool company should start you out with chemicals (probably built into the price.
Who will fill your pool for you? A water hauler? Is it fresh water? How many gallons does the pool hold. I'm sure that you need a permit too.
You'll probably want stairs to enter and a ladder at the deep end (we're nearly eight feet deep)
Going back to draining the pool, we have some heavy rains down here so where will you be able to drain the overage of water? I'm sure that your neighbor would not want to see water headed his way should you need to drain it.
I'm sure that the pool will be screened in but you will have to clean it from time to time. We used to run a hose from the skimmer and vacuum it.....old hat. We've had a Dolphin pool cleaner for about ten years now. It is self contained as you only have to install the bag, plug it into an electrical outlet ad you and your wife can head out for a night on ...one of The Squares, a little dinner, a little dancing....while your pool is getting clean. It'll run for six to eight hours. They are pricey..about $1000.00 but has been oh so worth it to us.
Keep in mind that your pool is not going to be out in the weather like ours has been but it has been a fabulous toy a our family ad grandchildren were growing.
My wife still loves it and I'm just an old poop sitting on the stairs while I should be doing laps.
We were going to fill it in but were looking at $3,000 to $3500 to do so. I do not wish to be negative as we have had fun, fun, fun with ours but when you sell a house, it can become a determent as not everyone wants one. We've been in our VT home for forty six years.
Also, check and see if there is a Leslie's Pool Supply around. They also have a web-site. That is where we bought our Dolphin pool cleaner.
Forgive me for going on and on and on but we've owned an in-ground for 27 summers and replaced the filter once (we use DE -diatomaceous earth in the filter). We know about pools up north but not so much south. Those are questions that I would ask.
Also, my bet is that you're not doing an 18 x 40 pool and $50K sounds like a boat load of money for a pool. Get quotes and check out past customers that have used the same contractor. Time and patience.
So best of luck to you, do your homework, be patient and please pardon the length of my reply. Merry Christmas to you and yours and we're in TV for the coming New Year.
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