What would you have added or not added to your pool

[graciegirl]

if you were having it built today?

Do you have fiberglass or concrete and why?

How long need a pool be to swim laps for exercise?

Any other advice?

[Mudder]

Needs to be longer than the family and neighborhood pools, you can only do about five strokes end to end in those.
No pool here but had one up north for years.....kind of silly since there were only about 80 days to the season.
Here in Florida we have had two pools. One thing we really liked was a waterfall into the pool, nice to sit out there and listen to the sounds. Also automatic pool cleaner( or a live in pool boy!). Lights are nice in the pool. One thing we didn't have which I now think is essential is a handrail by the steps.

[tainsley]

Our pool is cement with two waterfalls. We also have a "bench" about 3 ft. long along curved area with jets. I love to sit there especially after exercising or a walk in the early morning...feels good! Our pool is 26 ft long, not quite long enough to swim laps! We have an automatic cleaner and T&D comes out weekly to check and add chemicals. Like Mudder we do not have a rail at the end as it would have taken too much room between pool and birdcage. I don't need it now but we can always have a rail installed. The only thing I would change is to have the birdcage pushed out further. I absolutely enjoy the pool and as I always said, it is my favorite room in the house!

[pbkmaine]

We have concrete, built by T&D 15 years ago. It is in great condition. Dimensions are rectangular 15x30, a good size for a pool. You can swim small laps in it. There are wide steps, a handrail and a sitting ledge built into the shallow end, which I really like. Happy to have you come look at it or test drive it, graciegirl. Just PM me.

[Chi-Town]

A couple of other things to think about. An elevated spa is also a waterfall. A good sized deck for chaise lounges and/or table and chairs. And a pool bath and storage closet.

[DougB]

We have a concrete rectangular pool 16 ft X 32 ft. Don't know if it is long enough to swim laps as neither of us swims well enough to know. Use to have a diving board on the deep end but we removed it. Even though it is more than 8 ft deep, we were scared that the kids or grandkids would hit their heads on the bottom. I guess I'm the pool boy, not much to look at, but I'm cheap.

[Bonanza]

Having had a couple of pools, the one thing I wouldn't live without is a self-cleaning system. They really work well and you don't need a Kreepy-Krauly that you have to remove every time you want to use the pool. In addition, when you remove it, it's always in the way; where to put it is a pain.

Choose a free-form design that has no corners. It's easier to maintain curves than corners that catch the dirt.

You might want a hand rail for those who may have trouble going in or coming out of the pool.

A swimout (bench) with jets is nice but be careful that the jets aren't too forceful. They can hurt and can be annoying.

If you are going to screen in your pool, make sure you have enough sidewalk completely around the pool -- at least 4 feet, but wider is better and makes the pool look better, too.

Forget a fiberglass or vinyl liner pool. A gunite (concrete) pool is the only way to go. Adding a waterfall is pretty but can be expensive. Check out the price with or without one before you decide. You can mimic the sound with a free-standing waterfall that you plug in if you want the sound.

[kittygilchrist]

Beauty all by itself. Curved sides, great colors. It is the highlight of my home.add light pkg for evenings. Fountains are lovely.

[Steve & Deanna]

if you were having it built today?

Do you have fiberglass or concrete and why?

How long need a pool be to swim laps for exercise?

Any other advice?

Hope this answers your question Gracie (from up North) but we have an 18 x 40 that includes the stairs. It holds just shy of 25,000 gallons of water. We had it installed in 1986 and are on the second liner and second pool filter. That said, we've always kept the mechanics (filter and pump) in a pump house and store that equipment downstairs in the cellar. Were we to install a pool in TV, we would go with the gunite or concrete pool. You can paint them too as there is special pool paint. We opted for a diving board but took it out after a couple of years. Too dangerous. We also opted for a light IN the pool with different colored filters but that quit about five years ago. We use the pool for pool walking in the summer and Deanna does laps. We were looking to take it apart and fill it in to the tune of $3K but that will buy you a new liner and a new pump. We use a DE (diatomaceous earth). We also have bought from Leslie's.com and I think there are walk in stores in Ocala and Clermont. Prices on chems can vary. Good luck to you in your pool searching. PS Deanna says don't do it. We have lots and lots of pools in TV

[patfla06]

Our pool in Tampa was large, concrete with a diamondbright finish.
Had a swimout seat in deep end and a light.
Had auto cleaner.
Best thing we put in when we built the house was an
automatic leveler that would keep the pool water at a
certain level.
Also had an Aqualink in pool bath so you could do all
controls automatically from inside.

You would need a pool to be anout 40' long to do laps.
Ours was 18 x 36.

Truthfully I loved our pool and hot tub.
Would NOT have one again.

A lot of responsibility, worry when you travel, maintenance, etc.

[2BNTV]

What would you have added or not added to your pool

Water. :D

[Bobcuse]

We have a small fiberglass pool so no worries about having to resurface the pool in a few short years (which is expensive). T&D will review the pros & cons of each pool. Fiberglass more expensive up front but less expensive long term. Ours is too small for laps. We have a chlorine generator which alleviates you of having to store and dispense chlorine and allows you to set the chlorine levels on a control panel. Also, a remote control for the pool filter, lights, heater etc is very convenient.