To build a pool or not to build pool!?

[Guest]

We are in Melbourne, Victoria and we always saw ourselves with an outdoor entertainment and pool, but we will only be left with 7m x 5m of back lawn once complete.

We really need to decide before commencing our back extension, as access will become tighter once our extension is finished, making it near impossible to add down the track.

Would love your insight on previous experience. We have young primary school aged kids who love the water, and I grew up with a pool so it’s nostalgic to me!! But there’s a huge amount of the year it wouldn’t be in use and seeing how little grass is left behind has us second guessing.

Thanks everyone!!

[Paula]

We are in Melbourne and have a pool.

We love it even in winter to look out or take your coffee out and sit.

Not hard to maintain at all.

Solar keeps it as warm as you like it it.

Just get a great pool builder this is where most people’s issues are more than if they use it.

Cool pools of Melbourne absolute best in the business.

I have recommended them to over 10 people and no one has been disappointed.

[Julieann]

Most people think that you need a pool to fill your space, but in most cases a small or even a plunge pool is all that is needed.

[Tina]

I wouldn't. Cost, maintenance time, space, against actual use? Not worth it IMO

[Pete]

We installed a plunge pool on our property and it’s beautiful. We previously had a resort style pool on another property.

The money saved on chemicals alone allowed us to use the heat pump heater to 34° perfect for evening G&Ts.

---

Don't miss: Looking for some pool area inspo (budget friendly)

[Katherine]

We are in Melbourne and put in a pool after lockdown and never regretted it! We knew we’d made the right decision the first time we had a pool full of happy people on a hot day.

However, we did have enough backyard space for other things so it may depend in your situation.

[Chloe]

I grew up with out and my partner with. He always wanted a pool so we built our own concrete one with an entertaining area. We love the ambiance of it. Even when we don't use it. If it is styled correctly, and becomes apart of your indoor/outdoor living experience, than go all in. My 9 and 4 yr old use it all the time and so do their friends.

Landscape correctly and you won't wonder about what could have been.

[Jo Mak]

We have a pool that our kids and grandkids used alot in Melb. It is worth it for your kids. They will have the best memories and then your grandkids too. Kids don't tend to feel the cold water, whereas I won't get in if cold.

But even when it's not used for swimming, it's used for its aesthetic value, blue and serene view, calming and relaxing through the windows in winter.

I love opening the blinds in the morning and looking at the blue shimmering water in the morning sun -- our house is a little elevated, so it maximises the yard views too.

Ours is salt water and solar heated. Keep in mind, solar heating just warms the water a little if there is sun on consecutive days....but never thru winter for us.

Explore these too: New kitchen vs The pool

[Beck Ana]

We live in the highlands and haven’t put one in yet. Justifying the electricity and maintenance for maybe 8-12 weeks of use is really hard.

Our block is 16,000m2 so space is not an issue for us, but if it was going to limit the kids to a small yard, that would take it off the table completely for us.

Kids need space that they can use all year around.

[Linda]

I have a large pool, it is a lot of maintenance , so if I had the choice I'd go small pool with a solar blanket - it really helps to heat it and reduce evaporation -- agree with a lot of comments that it's a great treat to have kids enjoying it!

[Amy]

I had a pool at my last property.

Pros: kids loved it, looked lovely all year round.

Cons: electricity cost (and mine wasn’t heated), freezing water 10 months of the year. Maintenance is costly and/or time consuming.

Forgot to say I am in Melbourne too.

Don't forget to take a look at: Can I please see pics of small or plunge pools & size!

[Sarah]

Depends of this is your forever home or if you plan to sell in the next ten years. If you’re planning to sell I’d look at real estate listings around you and see if pools are common/an expectation or even chat to a real estate agent about if they think it’ll add value or lessen value.

If it’s your forever house, it just depends if you think your family will prefer grass to run around on or a pool. There are plenty of families with no grass or backyard that go to parks etc so it’s not really a must have but maybe for you it is. I never had a pool growing up but I desperately wanted one and I spent a lot of summer weekends at my friends up the road who did have a pool! So worth considering if you want to be hosting pool parties too.

[Kristen]

We just put one in and don’t have a lot of yard left. Enough for cartwheels but not enough for kicking a ball. We moved our trampoline to the front yard. I love looking at the pool every day, we have heating but not using during winter as can’t justify the cost of heating it. No regrets though and kids love it!

We have a park down the road for kicking a ball around.

[Lisa]

I think it depends. I was approx 1&1/2 hours north east of Melbourne. In the hills so snows maybe once every year or two and it’s damn cold in winter.

But we would use the pool from around October - march. Clearly not every day but by November/December a couple of days over 24/25 and it was fine.

I had solar heating for my pool but rarely used it as it would feel like getting in a bath instead of refreshingly cool.

It’s really a personal thing.

I loved my pool and have convinced my partner to put one in eventually at our house now.