diging the hole has the hard part. i did the whole pool size down to the shallow depth with a bob cat. then my uncle dug the deep end out with his backhoe. back filled with a bobcat and by hand. friend of mine owns a concrete company. his guys did the flat work for me on the side i think i paid them $500 or $600 for there labor only took them one day. i more thing always make a bigger patio then you want you will use it. i added 3' x 34' to mine last year.
todd

Damn Dave, when's the party?

I love to boat all day then jump in the pool when I get home...It's the best part of having the pool.

Here's my .02, There is a couple of things I would make sure of first, make absolutely sure you want one before you do it, On the resale of your home in the future,some people just don't want one and will not buy it with one. Make sure the contractor has good references, a lot of them dig a hole in your yard and move to the next job to do the same there and so on. You have a hole in your yard and he won't come back to finish yours because he needs to get as many started as poss. Get a automatic cleaner because you don't want to spend all your time on maintenance because you will want to be boating or swimming not working. Last post a lot of bikin pictures

Pool is great after boating. We live about a mile frome the boat ramp and come home after boating to sit around the pool. We hardly ever get in the water but is a nice setting so I vote more patio smaller pool.

Plenty of seating and a hot tub.

We have a salt water pool that make it's own clorine. I only use chemicals to start up and shut down the pool. And it works of normal salt that gets delivered by Culigan. $7 a bag. www.watermaidnj.com

I spent about $50 the whole summer on supplies and the water is always perfect and clear. Best investment I ever made into a product.

Anytime !!! Dave

I have had my pool for 12 years or so, and have not had it opened in 8 years,, rather be out on the boat.

Use the boat almost every weekend, use the pool maybe once a month or for parties.... Wife had to have it and now never uses it.. I thing to consider, get the pool with a self cleaning system weither salt water or not, ALOT less work, good luck...