That's an easy one for me. If you are building it for the kids, then use the community pool. Once they are a certain age, it will just be a money pit. If you are building the pool for you and your husband, build it in your backyard. You'll make it worthwhile by continuing to make good use of the pool even after the kids are gone.

It's a matter of personal preference. For me, I love having my own little "resort" in my backyard. We currently have an above-ground pool, which is scheduled to be demolished on 5-10-10 so that we can put an in-ground pool in. If I'm upgrading, obviously I love my yard and pool. My two oldest kids were 11 and 7 when we installed our current pool. They're now 26 and 22. Since then we've had a third (pleasant surprise) child, who is now almost 11, and she has enjoyed our above ground pool, and I know she'll absolutely love the in-ground. I personally sit out by my pool every evening with lit candles, surrounded by beautiful flowers, and enjoy a glass of red wine. The whole "atmosphere" is awesome. I can't wait to begin our build. If we had a community pool I can guarantee you that it wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable as having my own.

I wouldn't get closer then 100 yards to a community pool...lol...

Yep, it's a personal preference. We built ours for us. Nothing like looking out the window at a beautiful yard and pool. We spend a lot more time at home now.

We have three community pools- the closest just steps from our home. My kids are 12 & 6. We still put in our own pool for the following reasons:

-I want to float in my pool in peace without a bunch of neighborhood kids screaming and doing cannonballs.
-I don't want to drag a bunch of stuff to the pool (drinks, snacks, pool toys, chairs, etc.)
-I can get stuff done around the house while my kids swim and play (I am in full view of the pool from family room & kitchen and am always in either room if they are in the pool)
-My husband and I can enjoy our jacuzzi late at night

I could go on and on, but the number one reason is---

I know no one has peed in my pool!

I still don't get it when people say pools are a lot of work.

I spend maybe 10 minutes a day and 30 minutes on Saturdays maintaining the pool.

Keep your water balanced and it's a cake walk.

Yes to the pool, I grew up with a pool at home and the community pool, both have great benefits.

Nothing beats an evening poolside with family and friends, The excitement of dusk when the pool light comes on, one on one time with family members, pool games, downtime to just float, relax and think. Summer smells- food on the grill, suntan lotion. Jumping in the pool after a summer rain, outdoors, a cool summer breeze and the first time you feel the chill getting out of the pool on a summer night.

Memories that you will treasure, Soon. =)

These are reasons I decided to build one for my family.
I am cannot wait for summer to arrive, and usually I dread the heat, no longer!

I am going to further jazz it up with great backyard lighting and outdoor audio/video system. We very well may watch movies in the pool this summer!

Yep, nothing like watching movies from the pool.

I can't wait to show my husband those pictures of a TV on the porch! I KNOW he'll want to do that! After asking numerous people yay or nay to a home pool, those that said don't do it....costly maintenance, lot of work, etc....don't actually own pools. Those that do own pools have said go for it! I have not come across one person that owns a pool that has regretted their decision to put one in so we are GOING FOR IT!

I think where you live is a factor. Places under drought restrictions or high utility costs would make you think twice about putting in a pool. I agree that maintaining a pool is not hard work but it's like the poster wrote - IF you stay on top of it.

If you live in an area with plentiful water and low electric rates, go for it.

As for knowing no one has peed in the pool - you only know that for sure if you are the only one that ever enters the pool. Have a party with your kid's friends or a team party? Drunken adult friend?

ssannella, it all depends where you live and how big a pool you put in. We put in a spool ( social pool) and the cost for electricity is about $15- $30 per mth. We just added solar so I expect the cost to run the pump more hrs to double. I check my pool chemistry once a week and we enjoy the pool everyday even whne we are not swimming in it. Look at out pool build http://www.thathomesite.com/forums/load/pools/msg0718532217198.html?21
I hope this helps.

I would say my electric bill went up $100-150/mo. I didn't really think about it being higher in the winter but the pumps ran a lot of days for 24hrs since Texas had an unusually cold winter.

On the other hand, we spend a lot less money going out and 1 bar tab will run us $150 so we likely more than break even by staying home more.

Yes, people will still pee in your pool but at least it will be people you know.

Think about it this way...how often is the community pool open? It probably only opens regularly about when school is out and closes again when school starts. They tell you what hours you can enjoy the pool and usually close one day a week. There are a lot of strangers in the community pools who may be sick, have infections or without manners. You will only experience a chlorine pool with a community pool, because they have to bombard the thing with chlorine. hence, the smell, the green hair, the dry skin, etc. Get you own pool and control your use. Don't worry...your kids' friends will end up at your pool!

We lived in a community with a pool...here were our issues.

1. An overzealous homeowners association president who had no children. He liked to book it for the personal adult parties so he created a rule that families could reserve the pool house/pool....nice except when you have family visiting and no one posts when the pool is reserved..you all go up in swimgear only to be turned away.

2. Teenager friends of teenagers...they are not as concerned about offending you b/c they don't live there...several times they cannonballed on top of other children and caused quite a dangerous situation..not to mention the blaring offensive music...

3. Pool after a party, who cleans up all that trash, sometimes we would go and 3 large trash cans would be overfilled with food/drinks spilled and bugs everywhere...

We left our subdivision for country life, but our close friends who still live there have now put in their pool, just too many hassles to deal with...and you ended up complaining about the community pool more than enjoying it.

HTH!
Tara

Dear womanowned;

Green hair? My dear, that is from too much copper in the water. You know that as well as I do. Stop the FUD marketing. You build too nice a pool to depend on that.

Chlorine smell is spent chlorine, usually from poor chemistry maintenance. Dry skin is from the sun. 99% of the pools in the US use chlorine, including the ones you build, to sanitize and oxidize pool water. Be glad it's there. Granted, your pools tend to have an ozone generator to augment the chlorine.

Scott