[nanci2539]

I'm curious! With so many neighborhood pools in TV; why are there so many pools in homes?

What are the reasons other than personal preference that people have pools in their homes? I'm trying to decide if it's something we want but consdiering the cost and maintenace, I wonder if it's worth it.

[rjrex]

After promising a pool for my bride for years...she found a resale with a nice pool on TDS.
I do NOT use the pool but she loves to float and read. She also cleans it.

[samhass]

When I spend a few hours at a public pool, I'm generally out a couple of times to hit the restroom. Some people are in the pool for hours and never get out. That's to much to think about. I'm into a pfp...pee free pool!
Florida Pool and Spa cleans the pool and spa weekly for a nominal amount. They also take care of all the chemicals.

[Villages Kahuna]

By definition, the birdcage over a residential pool is larger than almost any lanai. Plus, most residential lanai's are built "inside" the footprint of the house, providing less useable space and often lessened effect of the breezes. Houses with pools have larger lots and often more privacy--or at least more space between your lanai and that of your neighbors.

I certainly enjoy the use of my own pool, easy access to the beer in the 'frig, the potty, etc. But I also enjoy lounging at a patio table and chairs under a big umbrella, reading the paper or eating lunch, under my own birdcage enclosure. I'd estimate that we spend at least as much of the daylight hours outside near the pool as we do inside the house. For an amenity that essentially increases the size of the living space of our house by almost 50%, the initial cost of the pool and the weekly maintenance is pretty reasonable.

[chuckinca]

VK"

Interesting point of view

About how many SF is your birdcage? Approx length and width?

[Russ_Boston]

VK - I think you hit the nail on the head. I knew that there was a reason that i liked the homes with pools so much. It is a visual thing as well. Since so much time is spent outdoors the birdcage area becomes 'part' of the home living area. My wife has been adamant about getting a TV home with a pool (or room to build one) and I think you have me convinced as well.

Maybe I can enjoy one of your special burgers under your birdcage some day.

Russ

[Villages Kahuna]

We added two smaller additions to our birdcage from the design that was there when we bought the house. But when I calculate the square footage under the birdcage, it's about 1,300 square feet, about 65% of the floor space of our Lantana model.

Like I said, it makes the living area much more expansive at a very reasonable cost per square foot. Discounting the "lot premium" one might pay for for a house, I'm estimating that the cost per square foot of a block and stucco Lantana is in the range of $125 to $150 per square foot (maybe less these days). Calculated the same way, the cost of the additional space provided by the pool and the deck under the birdcage is in the range of $20-25 per square foot, including the price of the pool and the birdcage. That's a pretty cheap way of increasing the amount of living space by almost two-thirds. In addition, you get the pleasure of a pool.

Of course, you will have to pay more for a large enough lot for a house with a pool. I have not factored that into the calculation.

[chuckinca]

Still less expensive is a fenced in backyard with or without a pool.

But that's another story.

[SteveFromNY]

My home doesn't have room for a pool, and that's fine by me. I have had a fairly large plot of land and a pool for the last 25 or so years, and frankly I am looking forward to not worrying about the chemicals or the vacuuming. Granted, a screen enclosed lanai will keep out the leaves (the biggest issue with dirt in my pool up north), but it still needs an occasional vacuuming I'm sure.
I really like the idea of walking or riding in my cart to the local pool, or going to the sports pool and swimming laps or some other activity there. Or taking the grandkids to the family pool in the neighborhood. I know it's easier to just step out the door, but I personally would rather not have the headache.
Of course it is up to the individual and I wouldn't argue with anyone about their choice. The larger home sites and the larger lanais sure do look really good, but for me, less is more!

[nanci2539]

Steve, my sister has a huge in ground pool in Mass and she has this little robot thing that runs around and cleans the pool for her. She's a busy interior designer and doesn't have time to clean her pool nor does her hubby so they have this little robot machine that she calls Mike (have no idea where she got that name)! As far as the chemicals, I know her hubby does a testing and takes care of that part but I don't believe it's time consuming.

[Just Susan]

So does this mean you are changing your mind and leaning toward a pool Nance?
The decision seems incongrous to the view out my window it is snowing as I speak. Why am I surprised? It is MN.

[nanci2539]

We're tossing it around Susan. More importantly, I want a private lot with curb appeal. It's pouring here - rain, not snow.

[SteveFromNY]

Originally Posted by nanci2539

Steve, my sister has a huge in ground pool in Mass and she has this little robot thing that runs around and cleans the pool for her. She's a busy interior designer and doesn't have time to clean her pool nor does her hubby so they have this little robot machine that she calls Mike (have no idea where she got that name)! As far as the chemicals, I know her hubby does a testing and takes care of that part but I don't believe it's time consuming.

I hear you! I never spent a lot of time doing the cleaning either, or a lot of money buying chemicals. Some algaecide and some chlorine, maybe once a week an hour vacuuming. I know it is different for everyone and I'm not trying to convince anyone to do it my way, but for me it's probably more about shedding responsibilities than the actual work. I just don't want another chore that either has to be done or has to be paid to get done. I want to pack a bag and leave for weeks at a time and not worry about anything. We're keeping a house up north and will snowbird awhile, so freedom to move around trumps anything else. But even if I were not snowbirding, I'd opt for the public pools. Again, just a personal choice.

[nanci2539]

I hear you Steve - we're on the fence ourselves about it. If we find the perfect lot and home and it happens to have a pool, great but if it's just the perfect lot and home, I'll take it!

[Villages Kahuna]

I can't estimate how many people maintain their own pools. I know that the five pools on the abutting cul-de-sacs which have pools near ours all have Florida Spa & Pool vacuum, clean the tiles, check the chemistry and adjust as necessary on a weekly basis. The cost is $22.50 a week. My brother, who lives in Houston and has had a pool for over 30 years tells me that's a bargain. He said the chemicals alone can be expensive. Having said that, other than chlorine tablets each week, our pool guy hasn't added chemicals in over a year. He's explained that if the pool is constructed correctly and not abused in use, they seldom need new chemicals. The most important step, he explained, was a daily brush down of the interior of the pool every day for the first 30 days after it's filled initially. That extracts much of the concrete components which, if not brushed and flushed away, will keep leaching into the water screwing up the chemistry for the life of the pool. He said that Florida S & P are very careful to perform this step. Of course, they build almost all the pools in TV.

If you have a question regarding your pool's chemistry, you can bring a sample to the Florida S & P store where they have a high-powered computer which will give you a very precise analysis of your water. They told me that if I ever brought a sample in and found that it was "off", that I should fire them and get a new service. Our pool is always so clear and sparkly that I've never been motivated to bring in a sample.

When you buy a house with a pool from TV, the pool builder will clean and maintain the pool for the first 3 months after closing at no cost to the homeowner. During that period, you can check out their workers and price and change services at the end of the trial period, if you so choose. I don't know of anyone who has "fired" Florida Spa & Pool after they had to begin paying for the service.