I Hate Owning a Swimming Pool...Title Now AAABatteries Approved (1 Viewer)

[James Daulton]

Thank you for the link.

We've been kicking around the idea of a pool. 

For swimming though, isn't a pool big enough to swim laps in prohibitive? 

Or maybe the better question is, for a home pool, how feasible is lap swimming and are there best practices or things that people have found good there?

Thanks.

You can certainly swim laps in an inground pool, but be prepared to turn a lot.

Still fantastic exercise. 

 

[AAABatteries]

Thank you for the link.

We've been kicking around the idea of a pool. 

For swimming though, isn't a pool big enough to swim laps in prohibitive? 

Or maybe the better question is, for a home pool, how feasible is lap swimming and are there best practices or things that people have found good there?

Thanks.

I've swam for exercise for close to 20 years now.  If you are a just looking to swim laps to get exercise then even a 20-25' pool in length can make that happen.  It's not ideal but it's easily doable.  If you are training for tri's or open water swims then it would be a PITA to do it in a smaller pool.  As I mentioned earlier in the thread, my SIL had a pool and it was approximately 25' in length.  I used to swim laps in it all the time.  Granted, you have to consider the other folks using it but while everyone else was sunbathing or grabbing their lunch I would bust out a quick 20 laps.  Probably the thing I'm looking forward to most if we move forward with our plans.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I've swam for exercise for close to 20 years now.  If you are a just looking to swim laps to get exercise then even a 20-25' pool in length can make that happen.  It's not ideal but it's easily doable.  If you are training for tri's or open water swims then it would be a PITA to do it in a smaller pool.  As I mentioned earlier in the thread, my SIL had a pool and it was approximately 25' in length.  I used to swim laps in it all the time.  Granted, you have to consider the other folks using it but while everyone else was sunbathing or grabbing their lunch I would bust out a quick 20 laps.  Probably the thing I'm looking forward to most if we move forward with our plans.

Cool. I got into swimming when I was doing the Ironman stuff and enjoyed the exercise. If we did a pool at our house, being able to have something there would be a huge bonus. I've just never done swimming for exercise in non lap pool and wondered how it would be. 

So in your opinion, anything 25' plus would be doable without frustration? (And I get it, it's a luxury. "Frustration" is a dumb word there). 

 

[AAABatteries]

Cool. I got into swimming when I was doing the Ironman stuff and enjoyed the exercise. If we did a pool at our house, being able to have something there would be a huge bonus. I've just never done swimming for exercise in non lap pool and wondered how it would be. 

So in your opinion, anything 25' plus would be doable without frustration? (And I get it, it's a luxury. "Frustration" is a dumb word there). 

Believe me, I get it.  And it won't be for everyone.  Honestly, if my main driver for putting in a pool was to swim laps then I wouldn't hesitate to scrap it and just join a gym with a pool.  I think you are like me and see it as a side benefit of having it.  As for your level of frustration - it's hard to say.  I'm cool with it but could see how someone else wouldn't even bother.  My suggestion would be to find a family member or friend with a pool of a similar size and actually try it and see.  I know that sounds odd but considering the money being invested I think it's worth it if it's a deciding factor at all.  One other thing to consider is the shape of the pool.  I'm assuming it would be more oval or kidney bean shaped.  You have options to make it maybe a little longer than wider to facilitate laps.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Cool. I got into swimming when I was doing the Ironman stuff and enjoyed the exercise. If we did a pool at our house, being able to have something there would be a huge bonus. I've just never done swimming for exercise in non lap pool and wondered how it would be. 

So in your opinion, anything 25' plus would be doable without frustration? (And I get it, it's a luxury. "Frustration" is a dumb word there). 

You did an Ironman????? I’m pretty athletic and stay in way above average shape during the summer months (incredibly vain) but IMHO, there’s no way Iron Man events are remotely healthy for your body. I can’t even fathom it.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Believe me, I get it.  And it won't be for everyone.  Honestly, if my main driver for putting in a pool was to swim laps then I wouldn't hesitate to scrap it and just join a gym with a pool.  I think you are like me and see it as a side benefit of having it.  As for your level of frustration - it's hard to say.  I'm cool with it but could see how someone else wouldn't even bother.  My suggestion would be to find a family member or friend with a pool of a similar size and actually try it and see.  I know that sounds odd but considering the money being invested I think it's worth it if it's a deciding factor at all.  One other thing to consider is the shape of the pool.  I'm assuming it would be more oval or kidney bean shaped.  You have options to make it maybe a little longer than wider to facilitate laps.

on this note – I think the oddly shaped or kidney bean shaped pools are cheaper because they don’t have to be “perfect“, Whereas a rectangular or square pool requires much more work to get right?Whereas a rectangular or square pool requires much more work to get right?

ETA- everything that I’ve read leads me to believe that vinyl premade pool/inserts are the way to go. Concrete is incredibly expensive and requires much more maintenance. Vinyl liner pools have to be replaced every 10 years. 
 

 

[culdeus]

Cool. I got into swimming when I was doing the Ironman stuff and enjoyed the exercise. If we did a pool at our house, being able to have something there would be a huge bonus. I've just never done swimming for exercise in non lap pool and wondered how it would be. 

So in your opinion, anything 25' plus would be doable without frustration? (And I get it, it's a luxury. "Frustration" is a dumb word there). 

There are these treadmill things for pools that make a lot more sense than a 25' pool.

 

[Joe Bryant]

There are these treadmill things for pools that make a lot more sense than a 25' pool.

Thanks. Do you have experience with them or know much about them? I don't. What brands are good? Do they go with a regular pool too?

 

[Joe Bryant]

You did an Ironman????? I’m pretty athletic and stay in way above average shape during the summer months (incredibly vain) but IMHO, there’s no way Iron Man events are remotely healthy for your body. I can’t even fathom it.

Yes. I did the Lake Placid IM a couple of years. I don't disagree it's probably not the best thing for your body.

 

[culdeus]

Thanks. Do you have experience with them or know much about them? I don't. What brands are good? Do they go with a regular pool too?

https://www.endlesspools.com/

This is just one brand, I don't have one but these types of things are popular with the triathlete set.  You drop them in your own pool somehow.  You can retrofit it or have it as part of the initial installation so it's not quite so janky looking.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Believe me, I get it.  And it won't be for everyone.  Honestly, if my main driver for putting in a pool was to swim laps then I wouldn't hesitate to scrap it and just join a gym with a pool.  I think you are like me and see it as a side benefit of having it.  As for your level of frustration - it's hard to say.  I'm cool with it but could see how someone else wouldn't even bother.  My suggestion would be to find a family member or friend with a pool of a similar size and actually try it and see.  I know that sounds odd but considering the money being invested I think it's worth it if it's a deciding factor at all.  One other thing to consider is the shape of the pool.  I'm assuming it would be more oval or kidney bean shaped.  You have options to make it maybe a little longer than wider to facilitate laps.

For sure. The thing to do would be try it somewhere and see. 

 

[Joe Bryant]

https://www.endlesspools.com/

This is just one brand, I don't have one but these types of things are popular with the triathlete set.  You drop them in your own pool somehow.  You can retrofit it or have it as part of the initial installation so it's not quite so janky looking.

Thanks. I've heard folks talk about that brand. I'll take a look there. Thanks. 

 

[Joe Bryant]

I do need to try one of the endless pool treadmill things. I kind of think I'd hate it as one of my favorite things about swimming is the thing about getting better in moving through the water more efficiently thing. That can only happen in a regular pool. 

 

[Random]

ETA- everything that I’ve read leads me to believe that vinyl premade pool/inserts are the way to go. Concrete is incredibly expensive and requires much more maintenance. Vinyl liner pools have to be replaced every 10 years. 
 

This is why we went with fiberglass.  Seemed to have the least maintenance (basically none?) at a marginally higher upfront cost.  The biggest downside is the size.  I don't think they make them larger than 16' wide due to transportation issues.

 

[Joe Bryant]

And for what it's worth, and sorry if honda, but this book was a game changer for me. Total Immersion.

It's all about body position and efficiency and I went from being just an ok swimmer goofing around to where the 2 mile open water swim in the race was a breeze.

 

[Da Guru]

Our kids are a little older now and have reached the age where they have outgrown the inflatable pools that can be blown up every weekend.  Mrs. Chaos and I decided that we would get one of those seasonal 12' x 30" metal frame pools this summer.  I've never owned a pool.  We never had a pool as I kid.  I've never taken care of a pool.  It sucks.

Maintaining this thing is a pain is the ###.  Skimming it, covering it, uncovering it....that's the easy stuff.  The expensive chemicals....Having to balance the pH, the chlorine, the hardness (huh?), alkalinity....What the hell is this stuff?  We had a few days of hard rain and guess what?  The pool turned green...like, Secret of the Ooze green.  Back to the store for more expensive chemicals.  Shock the pool, now the chlorine is too high.  Gotta get that between 1 and 4!  Once that settles down, its in with the algae killer.  But only if the pH is between 7.2 and 7.6!  Good thing I bought pH Up and pH Down!

This whole "owning a pool" thing is like one big, expensive chemistry experiment.  To hell with these things.  

The best purchase we never made was a built in pool.  When our kids were younger my wife was hell bent on getting one.  Had the pool contractor out, paid for the design and landscaping plans.

Right at the same time my sister who lives 5 minutes from us was building a new home with a built in pool and she calls me and says "Hey we travel quite a bit can you take care of our pool and the girls can use it whenever they want" 

I ripped up our plans and saved 60K. 

 

[NorvilleBarnes]

Or maybe the better question is, for a home pool, how feasible is lap swimming and are there best practices or things that people have found good there?

No idea, so I'm glad you got some good responses. I don't swim laps, I play. I can only give feedback on things like having a deep end for diving and a decent width for safely launching a 5 year old. I'm hoping the cognitive benefits in the article apply to those activities as well.  If so, I'm willing to experiment on the next logical step from swimming laps and playing in the pool to . . . floating on a chaise lounge and sipping a frozen margarita. 

 

[Joe Bryant]

 If so, I'm willing to experiment on the next logical step from swimming laps and playing in the pool to . . . floating on a chaise lounge and sipping a frozen margarita. 

Oh I think the rest of my family is already at that stage...  

 

[dkp993]

Thank you for the link.

We've been kicking around the idea of a pool. 

For swimming though, isn't a pool big enough to swim laps in prohibitive? 

Or maybe the better question is, for a home pool, how feasible is lap swimming and are there best practices or things that people have found good there?

Thanks.

There are swimming bands you can buy that basically hold you in place if you’re not wanting to do 500 laps in your home pool.  I haven’t purchased any yet but plan too.  My buddy with a pool swears by them.  

 

[Joe Bryant]

There are swimming bands you can buy that basically hold you in place if you’re not wanting to do 500 laps in your home pool.  I haven’t purchased any yet but plan too.  My buddy with a pool swears by them.  

Interesting. I'll check those out. 

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

This is why we went with fiberglass.  Seemed to have the least maintenance (basically none?) at a marginally higher upfront cost.  The biggest downside is the size.  I don't think they make them larger than 16' wide due to transportation issues.

Fiberglass, that’s what I meant! Softer on the feet, come in different colors and no tile or concrete to have to deal with. Also no tearing vinyl which leaks into your yard.