Pools Vs. Hot Tubs:
How To Know Which Option’s Right For You
Guest post by Hubert Dwight
Spending time in your backyard is an excellent way to make the best of your limited leisure time.
Whether you’re looking to cook up a storm on the BBQ, play a good round of backyard cricket with the kids, potter around in the garden or undertake a DIY project, nothing beats some leisure time out in your own backyard.
After all, you work hard, week in and week out, so it makes sense that you’d want to make the most of the weekend or days off.
If the weather’s great for it, why wouldn’t you want to spend time outdoors at home?
An excellent way to relax is by either swimming in a backyard pool or soaking in a hot tub.
But what if you are having trouble deciding which is the best option for you?
Fear not, because this helpful article will fill you in on the pros and cons of each option so you can make an informed decision.
Continue reading to learn more.
Pool Installation is a Big Job
Putting in a pool is more than just digging a hole and filling it with water.
You need to excavate with expert care and attention to reduce the risks of disrupting subterranean pipes on your property.
Pool safety should also be of paramount concern for families, which is why you will need to install a pool fence around the pool once it’s been constructed.
As for actually installing the pool itself – it’s a pretty mammoth undertaking.
To start with, there is significant earthmoving work required to prepare your backyard for a pool.
This means getting an excavator in to remove the dirt.
This alone can become expensive, depending on the scope of work required, not to mention the next steps.
Even before this step, someone will need to survey the yard to ensure a smooth installation.
Once the hole is dug, precise measurement is required to ensure a good fit.
Further excavation of pump trenches is then required.
Then, a crane will need to place the pool, or major concreting works are required to install a concrete pool.
All of this can cost between $45-75,000, depending on a few factors.
This is no small amount, so a pool is definitely the most expensive option between the two.
Fun for the Kids
So a major con to installing a pool is literally just the process of installation on its own.
But why invest in a pool for your home?
Well a significant benefit of the pool, compared to a hot tub, is that the kids will love it.
A pool in your backyard is sure to make a huge impact on your kids’ childhood years, with your outdoor pool becoming the beloved setting of so many summer days and family pool parties.
And if you’re raising swimmers, then you can do no wrong by getting a pool.
They can swim at any time, providing you’re supervising, and will grow to love the water.
They can play all sorts of games in the pool, including polo, diving, water volleyball and more.
Your kids will absolutely love the pool, and if you’d rather stay home during a hot day, then this is the perfect option for your home.
Ongoing Maintenance and Cleaning
It goes without saying that pools require ongoing maintenance, cleaning and chemical treatment to keep them clean.
If you can afford it, you can outsource this job to a professional company, but otherwise, this task falls to the homeowner.
So you better be prepared for all the intricacies of pool maintenance and cleaning if you’re looking to invest in one for your own backyard.
Thankfully, you can buy lots of equipment to help you with this, including automated cleaning tools.
Even with these tools at your disposal, you can expect your pool maintenance tasks to add to your general household task list.
These care and maintenance requirements should be a major consideration when deciding whether or not a pool is the right choice for your family’s garden space.
Hot Tub Installation
Now what should you consider before getting a hot tub for your backyard?
Well much like a pool, you can expect the installation of your hot tub to be a pretty complex affair, depending on whether you’re looking to invest in an in-ground hot tub or an above-ground tub.
Thankfully, there is a bit more of a cost range for hot tubs than there are for pools, providing you with more options.
For instance, if you’re operating on a lower budget, you can get an inflatable hot tub for under $1,000 by buying one online.
The better models cost between $5,000 to $10,000, though, and it’s worth getting a decent one because inflatable ones can be prone to leaks or punctures, which are a pain to rectify.
Delivery and installation are much more straightforward than a pool, as a company can deliver it and set it up within a day and for much less initial cost.
Hot Tub Benefits
Hot tubs tend to be preferred by adults, as it’s fantastic to soak in one at the end of a long, hard day.
With some tunes, a refreshing beverage and some ambient lighting, it will create the perfect relaxing atmosphere for your backyard.
The kids might like it, but not as much as a pool.
A hot tub also has a much smaller size footprint than a pool, and will only take up a corner of your yard.
If you have decking, it can fit on the decking quite easily if you add some composite decking to your outdoor area.
You also don’t have to deal with the massive excavation required, not to mention the enormous cost of installing a pool.
Maintenance and cleaning are also much less arduous and less expensive as well.
You can use it for hydrotherapy and exercise as well, as it has enough room for simple stretches and strength exercises.
When it comes to pleasure and relaxation, you can’t beat it.
There’s something so sublime about relaxing in a bubbling, hot tub of water, letting your aches, pains and stress melt away while you chill out.
Boost Home Value
Both a pool and a hot tub can increase your home’s sale value, should you choose to move out and sell up down the line.
A pool, due to being more expensive, will increase the home’s value more.
However, not all buyers want a pool, so this could impact your pool of buyers, pardon the pun, which is worth considering.
A Soaking Summary
This article has covered pools vs hot tubs and the key benefits and drawbacks of each.
Have you decided which is suitable for your backyard?