Pros and Cons of Backyard Pools
Backyard pools represent an enormous investment – not just of money, but time as well. Because backyard pools are permanent additions to your home, it is critical to understand all the advantages and disadvantages of backyard pools. Here is a list of some pros and cons to consider.
Pros of Backyard Pools
- Home investment. Unlike some expensive home purchases, backyard pools can actually add to the value of your home. They are permanent features, much like the number of bedrooms and baths in your home.
- Great for exercise. Swimming laps in pool and other pool-based exercises are not only beneficial but low-impact forms of exercise because of the water. Many professional athletes include pool exercises as part of rehabilitation because it’s a way of exercise injured joints and limbs without putting full pressure on them.
- Perfect for parties. Pool parties are lots of fun, particularly if you have children and they are inviting friends to enjoy the pool. Backyard pools are great for large groups of friends to gather and have fun.
- Be the cool house. This applies only to pool owners with kids, particularly teenagers. As kids get older, they have a way of gravitating with friends and not spending as much time at home. A pool can turn your house into the place where your teenager and their friends enjoy hanging out. Sure, it’s more work feeding and keeping an eye on kids who seem to constantly be swimming in the pool. But it’s better than wondering what you child is doing.
Cons of Backyard Pools
- Installation cost. Whether you choose a fiberglass, concrete or vinyl-lined pool, you can count on paying many thousands of dollars to have your backyard dug up. If you decide on a concrete pool, you could be without a functioning backyard for 2 to 3 months during installation.
- There’s more than the pool. If you think the total cost is just the pool, think again. Let’s say the swimming pool pump and filter were included in the price of the pool. But what about a pool deck or patio? Will you decide to construct a pool house as well? How about the money for the floaties, balls, games and toys for the pool. Or the cost for the floating rafts and the lounging chairs and other furniture that go with the pool. And, of course, you must have a pool fence, pool cover and a pool alarm is a great idea.
- Daily maintenance. Once your pool is ready for swimming, it’s also time to start thinking about daily, weekly and monthly pool maintenance. You must check the pool’s pH balance daily to check on the acid and alkaline levels. Additional maintenance is required for concrete pools, which are more prone to issues like cloudy water and algae growth. Depending on the filter you may need to backwash every few weeks or clean the filter a few times each pool season. You can hire a pool service to maintain your pool, if the price is right.
- Pool accidents. Of course, you want to be as careful as possible and always have an adult on hand when kids are in the pool. But the statistics show that drowning is the leading cause of death for kids between the ages of 1 and 4. So you worry about who is invited to your pool and neighbors who may have kids wander into your pool. Make sure you have safety features in place, such as a strong pool cover, a pool alarm and a child-proof gate that surrounds the pool and is locked when no one is swimming. It’s also a good idea to adjust your homeowner’s insurance to be prepared if the worst does happen.