So you are thinking about buying a home that has a pool? What should you do?

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So you are thinking about buying a home that has a pool? What should you do?

I hear these questions often and here are some of my suggestions:

First thing you need to do is get a professional to do a complete pool inspection that includes a pressure test of all the plumbing lines. When they do a pressure test they will fill all the lines with water and get the pressure in the lines up to 10-15 lbs and they will watch to see if the pressure starts to drop this could indicate a leak in one of the plumbing lines.

An inspection will also give you an experts opinion on the condition of the pool equipment it's possible age and if there is any repairs they feel should be made right away, the biggest issues I have found is an older heater that leaks and or does not fire up. Repairs can be costly if you need to replace equipment. If you have a concrete pool then you may need to have the pool re plastered or tile and coping repairs these can be a costly repair that you should not have to be responsible for. Re plaster jobs could be in excess of $5000.00 tile and coping could be the same.

A vinyl liner pool is different as long as the vinyl liner is in tact and not leaking you should be OK a liner can fade, but this will not change the integrity of the pool itself. A new liner can run from $2000-$3000 for the liner and then another $1000 for the installation.

Once you determine that the pool is sound and you have a good report from the inspector you can go to the homeowner and ask for credit for any pool repairs needed before you close on the house.

Once you own the home take a water sample from the pool to your local pool supply center and have the water tested. They will tell you what you need to add to the water to keep it clean and safe for swimming, they can also guide you on proper maintenance and operation. A pool is a great feature to have in the backyard, it can be fun for the whole family and give your kids some great summer fun.

With a little knowledge and patience, a pool can be a great STAYCATION at home and save you a great deal of money on those costly trips to the beach.

So go ahead and buy that house and go swimming.....

Until Next Time....

Is It A Bad Idea To Build A Spa Into A Deck?

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Is it a bad idea to build a spa into a deck?

I have been getting a lot of questions lately about building a deck around a  spa so I wanted to touch base on the pros and cons of this type of installation.

First off let me start off by saying I love the look of this type of installation but it does present some very difficult service issues.




Sundance spas

                        Lets go over the pros first:

• Very attractive appearance
• Easy access to get in/out of spa
• Does not block any views
• Seating can be incorporated around spa

                       Now lets talk Cons:

• It can be a trip hazard
• No service access to panels around spa
• May need a crane to install into place ($)
• If no access for service NO REPAIRS
• If spa is ever removed you have a big hole

Now I am not saying don't do it, all I am trying to do is give you some incite as to what the situation is. Most spas made today have a removable skirting all the way around the spa in the event of service the technician can remove this skirting and gain access to the inner part of the spa and find and repair the issue, if there is a deck around the spa then the skirting can not be removed and no repairs can be made unless the spa is removed out of the deck.

I recommend getting a designer to plan out this type of install. You can have pre-determined hatches made in the decking to allow a service professional to open these hatches and gain access to the skirting. In most cases they can blend these hatches into the decking so they are not noticeable and will not take away from the beauty of you new deck project.

If you have a pre existing deck you can also place the spa at an outer edge of your deck and remove a section of handrail and redesign it to incorporate the spa and you will get an appearance of a sunken spa and still have access to three sides of the skirting. This is what I usually recommend to my customers.

No matter what your choice is, a spa is a great family gathering spot, and even greater relaxation destination. So go out and get one NOW!

Until Next Time...