BG Homeowner and DIY Thread - Out of the Basement Edition

[Ksandra]

Man I just don't see how you can prefer the walls of a pool to literally no walls. You're still losing yard space cause they're going to put rock and gravel under your pool for draining and leveling, if not just a concrete slab anyways. The netting around an inground pool is only there when you're not using it and the kids are too stupid to save themselves from drowning, which afaik you're out of those years or nearly there, and Id prefer temporary netting to permanent pool walls and uncomfortable ground near it.

Your preference is your preference, but aside from cost savings I ain't ever seen someone say they prefer an above ground pool. Climbing that ladder with those narrow rungs always hurts the feet lol.

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1. You don’t put rock under the pool

2. I am getting stairs, not a ladder.

[Salodin]

Now, if the above ground pool was close enough to the house that a deck could be built encassing the pool and also leading directly out the back door, that would definitely be aight.

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[Qalbert]

Kind of telling that the way to improve an above ground pool is to artificially emulate an in ground environment.

[Ksandra]

Ksan getting real heated when she hears the truth about above ground swimming pools...

It's ok ksan you shoulda seen me when I found out we're not wearing jorts anymore. I was devastated...

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It sucks man. I loved those pools growing up. Like so many fucking fond memories. And so happy we worked so hard to be able to afford the save to have one and then I just get called trashy because I legit don’t care about seeing the wall and don’t want to go into unaffordable debt over it.

[Ksandra]

Like we make middle class income and live in a middle class home but we’re trashy because we want to have an affordable pool. It’s nuts.

Again if YOU don’t want one, that’s great. Doesn’t make it trashy.

[Corrderio]

Not necessarily. In some states they are required I think.

Not sure the case for SD.

I would scout the area and ask the neighbors if possible about it. Do you know if it was added later, or was it originally built when the house was?

Not really. I'm just doing some scouting for when my lease ends next year (Yeah I know I'm doing this way too early) and just trying to find what could be a potential red flag. I just don't want to live in a house with water damage like the one I grew up in. Still surprised the foundation hasn't caved in yet.

[Roranora]

Like we make middle class income and live in a middle class home but we’re trashy because we want to have an affordable pool. It’s nuts.

Again if YOU don’t want one, that’s great. Doesn’t make it trashy.

trashiness is measured on an aggregate index that is heavily influenced by general opinion. sorry we're so collectively judgmental that the objectively inferior variant invariably is seen as trashy but we is how we is

they're trashy. however i believe with your persnicketiness here yours might end up a somewhat tasteful trashy. do kindly share final pics, thx

[Ksandra]

Not sure the case for SD.



Not really. I'm just doing some scouting for when my lease ends next year (Yeah I know I'm doing this way too early) and just trying to find what could be a potential red flag. I just don't want to live in a house with water damage like the one I grew up in. Still surprised the foundation hasn't caved in yet.

Yeah I wouldn’t be “concerned” but just would ask a lot of questions about why it’s there, have foundation inspected, etc.


I feel you, though. I grew up having to get buckets of water out of our house.

When I was super little my parents had an extension added to the house, and the contractor did a terrible job. He committed suicide shortly after so I don’t think his mind was on the job so to speak.

It was leveled wrong so water just would rush into the home all the time.

They finally got a portable pump to prevent the water coming in. After my dad died my mom hired someone to relevel the problem area. It’s a fucking nightmare they went through. Though that nightmare was extended based on my dads pure stubbornness to not hire someone to fix it.

[Qalbert]

To echo Roranora, just because you don't think it's trashy doesn't change the general perception, and even if that's flawed based on some perceived status symbol bullshit, doesn't magically mean other people won't be judgmental dickwads about it, and while that may not be a big factor to you it's at least worth being aware of.
Think of it like a lower back tattoo. It may be something beautiful or meaningful to you, and doesn't directly affect your experience with it, but the average person just sees it as a 'tramp stamp.'

[archibaldcrane]

Not wanting to spend money and wanting to keep a yard are both completely valid reasons to prefer an above ground.

But they're the same decisions poors make who have small lots and not enough money, and that's why they are associated with white trash.

[Ksandra]

To echo Roranora, just because you don't think it's trashy doesn't change the general perception, and even if that's flawed based on some perceived status symbol bullshit, doesn't magically mean other people won't be judgmental dickwads about it, and while that may not be a big factor to you it's at least worth being aware of.

Yes but see, you personally can change your perception on how trashy you think it is and how much a dickwad you want to be to others about it.

[Roranora]

my sister recently got an in-ground trampoline and i had no idea they did such things

[archibaldcrane]

Although growing up with an above ground pool AND having to bail out your basement with buckets?

*extremely Jeff Foxworthy voice intensifying*

[Qalbert]

Yes but see, you personally can change your perception on how trashy you think it is and how much a dickwad you want to be to others about it.

My problems have nothing to do with 'trashiness' though, I was just explaining why people look at it that way. My issues, as already laid out, are that it is, imo, an inferior experience. I'd take it over no pool, for sure, but there are notable differences between the two types.

[Jaybar]

You can do laps and swim in these pools. I don’t see how that would be different in an above ground. I did laps all the time. Also your water sentence makes no sense as it would be the same as an in ground.

That picture you posted earlier does not look conducive to "swimming" but maybe hopping around in. My water comment was in general, not specific to above ground pools.

I might need to update OP at this rate yall.

Anyway, wouldn't the above ground pool block off the little raised garden area in the back (at least block the view from the house)? I think an in ground pool that sits adjacent to the raised garden kind of like a reflecting pond would look real nice.

[Tyche]

Ksandra is getting real pissy about people disagreeing with her opinion. It's patently absurd. I live in white trash kentucky. I've been in a dozen or more above ground pools. And I have never been in one with a depth of 10-12ft, so I can't see how you can say that the depth is esse tislly the same. My ex-inlaws had one behind their...double wide trailer. With a nice deck built around it.

[Tyche]

I had to burrow through my ex wife's facebook to find a pic of my kids in this pool and now I'm in a bad mood...

[Boyiee]

What if... You're all wrong.

And dumb.

Who cares lol.

[Buffy]

Man this pool convo....

I have generally considered above ground pools for those who couldn't afford in ground pools but wanted a pool. I prefer in ground pools. If I was buying a house, an above ground pool would be a negative and an in ground pool would be a positive. I also think above ground pools are more easily damaged due to the more easily punctured sides than an in-ground pool.

One advantage of above ground pools is that with kids you can take the stairs away when the pool isn't in use, which makes it harder for a child or pet to go into the pool and be in danger. With an in ground pool they can far more easily fall in - which is why for me, with a 1 year old, for the next 10-12 years I won't have a pool at all. The risk isn't worth the reward or the cost.

Get whatever you want Ksan.

[Boyiee]

I grew up with a massive in ground and a huge yard. Cost a ton to maintain but the drain at the bottom was great for cleaning.

We moved to a house with a large backyard and an oversized oval above ground with a deep end. No deck attached. We didn't use it nearly as much. It cost a shitload less to maintain but more annoying to clean.

My current house has just under an acre, large oversized oval above ground with a large deck attached to it that comes off the back slider. It's wonderful. Best of both worlds for the most part. Most neighbors have in grounds. We are debating knocking it down for one in 10 years.

Problem is that an in ground will run 40k+ and add ZERO value to the house. Not to mention many homebuyers nowadays are looking for homes without pools due to cost to maintain and upkeep. This devalues the house. A 40k+ investment with no return and possibly becoming less appealing to potential buyers.

To each their own.