It'll probably be covered by then, doofus.

Haha, suck it Boob!

The recent storm we had, blew many leaves in our Bowie community pool behind the mansion. The life guards had a great device that worked from a garden hose to blow leaves on the bottom into a net.

Pat of installing a pool is arranging a "Wind Break"

You might have noticed that most pools are surrounded by walls or a house to break the wind.

You dont have to build a prison yard, just a sealed fence or wall here or there to limit the wind.

You will get more use out of it if you can limit the wind, its more comfortable and secluded.

Women like the privacy that fences or walls afford.

Plus you can lock it up to keep kids safe.

We have laws in Md that a 6 foot fence around a pool is mandatory, so that a child does not wander in and drown.

I sure hope it’s done by Memorial Day

You have a tomato plant growing out of your gutter. Get your soon to be pool boys up there to clean them lol

What is the deal with that giant tree growing diagonally in the background? haha

I'm looking forward to seeing your pool in person eventually. Very cool you were able to get this done for your family.

Being from the East Coast (PA) the bigger concern is the amount of shade those trees are going to put on the pool. The season is short enough but without a heater, you're probably cutting another month+ out of the season as the water will be too cold. I know the OP said he's saving for one down the road, good idea!

Like any kids that will wear off quick!

SEC - Good luck with everything as it's a big project, a lot of work but all that goes away when it's 80+ outside.

BTW that back corner of your lot is a nice place for an outside bar!

Wicked nice pool. Who's going to be the 1st to try to hit it from the deck?

Gutter tomatoes are a Maryland specialty.

The gift that keeps giving

uh-oh, famous last words

Yeah I am waiting for the post where you were told "your pool exceeds the amount of gallons allowed per the HOA bylaws, we need you to take the pool out".

Dear Santa,

We require pinto bean shaped pools, and your kidney bean pool must be removed as it is a travesty and abomination to this communities genteel sensibilities.

Further, your grass is 1/4 inch too short and you will be fined until it grows. Also please pay previous fines for the grass being 1/2 inch too tall or we will be forced to foreclose the property and sell it to the HOA president's grandson for peanuts.

Signed,
Satan

What do you mean there’s no fence up?

Looks nice! Really hope it works out well for you and the HOA doesn’t give HOA’s a bad name

Good luck Santa, fingers crossed for you with the HOA. Hopefully they'll show a little mercy under the circumstances.

Good luck hopefully they’re reasonable

Best wishes on this mess.

LTG : )

Hoping your HOA isn't as bad as most are, run by egotistical control freaks that could not get elected in county elections.

Our community pool is only open 2 more weeks. Labor Day.

The good news is, my part time job starts next weekend at Renn Fest up in Crownsville. And its kids weekend, the get in free.

The pool looks great!

Good fortune to you on that stuff. About the trees and shade, if you have the coldest water in summer you're doin OK.

Thanks for this post. Lots of great info for a newb like me. Just contracted a fiberglass pool from Riverpools Virginia. Excavation will commence in November. I’ll keep everyone apprised once things begin.

Throughout the years, I've found it better to ask forgiveness than permission from the HOA (installing flag pole, landscaping/trees, patio extension, new roofs, house painting, fence painting, etc.) Finished my latest project about six weeks ago (a covered pergola & refinished patio in the backyard), and still awaiting the HOA notice to come in the mail for this one since I did not submit the project to them for approval.

They really pissed me off several years ago when I was in the hospital and let my yard go an extra week without mowing, and I received a notice in the mail threatening a fine. I know they had no way of knowing I was in the hospital for a week and nearly died, but at the time I could drive up and down my block and the one next to it and point out a half a dozen houses who's lawns had been neglected for weeks or even months - over grown, covered with weeds, large dead spots, etc. while mine was manicured, no weeds, and green but about 3 or 4 inches higher than normal. That was the moment when I stopped caring about HOA rules and decided to fight them just for the fun of it every opportunity I had to do so.

My suggestion is to do the bare minimum of whatever they require as cheaply as possible, get their approval, lay low for a few weeks/months, then remove whatever changes they forced you to make that you didn't want and see if they even notice.

My .02$…..it one of the reasons I didn’t buy a home in a HOA. Stand your ground…so to speak.

At my vacation rental, I have a few pins (and arcades) in the gameroom which is right off the pool area. I have a prominent “No wet suits!” sign in the arcade…may be a good reminder to set down ‘the law’ if your boys and their friends have potential to run back and forth between arcade and pool. May be over worried, but shudder at thought of dripping wet kids hanging over the pins and arcades.

Anyway…good job on pool. Looks great. Hopefully the HOA concern is remedied quickly.

This was our number one thing when we looked for a house, I would never live in a HOA. Why own your own property just to have other people tell you what you can and can’t do with it?? Sounds like a nightmare Santa I hope things go well for you, your pool looks great as well as your gameroom!

Here's the other side of that coin -

My sister and her husband had some people move in next to them that started a construction company out of their house. There were trucks and bulldozers going in and out of there for 20 years til the person died. Non stop fights. THAT was a nightmare.

The nice thing about an HOA is your neighbors are kept in check. In my sub, you can only use vinyl fencing, so I don't have to worry about my neighbors 20 year old unpainted wooden fence falling over on my property. Or their 2 foot long grass or broken cars in the yard bringing down my values when I sell.

HOA or not HOA, I would probably opt for the latter, but they aren't all bad is my point - they protect as well as inhibit.

Having said that - Santa, hope it works out!

If you haven't already...I would talk to a lawyer just in case. If you need a reference I can ask my neighbor. Her company manages 100s of HOAs around our area and I'm sure she would have a good referral. Good luck...hope it all works out.

Yes. And then send paperwork to the HOA asking for approval to do what's already done.

Erect the fence and invite the directors of the HOA over for drinks and a swim. Enjoy the pool!

I wouldn't put the fence up because now you officially know that you don't have the permits, so I would halt all work. It might also make them a bit more sympathetic to your issue vs moving forward with the rest of the project.

I recommend that you panic and sell me your Swords of Fury at a deep discount. haha

Hoping the best for you!!!

It looks great.

I can't believe that builder did that to you. Let's hope they actually have insurance in case you need to go after them.

Seeing you have proof that you supplied the necessary information to the Builder, I would contact the HOA president directly and ask him to come over to your house (seeing he lives down the street). I would politely ask him in person, in front of the pool (without your kids in it), if you should (for safety of the community) erect a safety fence. He may say NO. He may say Yes. He may say, drain the pool so no one drowns in it, till a fence and the pool is approved.

Down the Street here in Bowie, we do not have HOA, but the city code enforcement. He is strict. If he sees construction on his daily drives, he stops to look for permits from the county, and the city. They want their tax money. If you are found without the permit. You receive a Stop Order! You are fined. I have seen several additions and fences stopped for close to a year. If you continue to construct, the fines increase.

Walk a very careful line and do not lose your temper with the HOA. The pool company will fold if sued.

Best pinball wishes for a happy conclusion.

Congratulations on the pool, looks great. We’ve had ours for about 2 years and love it. Good luck with the HOA. No HOA here but the County can be a PIA where I’m at.

Make them an offer they can't refuse, and if there happens to be a poolside accident, we'll such is life.

Why would the HOA ask you to move the pool, makes no sense. Anything I've ever done here in that last 2.5 years being in a HOA for the first time I send my own engineering plans. They don't really care unless you paint your house pink, have a boat in the driveway, or put in a fucking shed (yeah, we worked around that too with "It's not a shed".)

No HOA here, but county code enforcement is about as bad. Just stupid shit, like someone parking their riding mower on the grass behind their house, code enforcement says they have 30 days to pour a concrete pad to park the mower on.

WTF? You can drive the mower all over the grass, but you cannot park it on grass?

That's what you get for changing your name, I just can't get used to it!

You have to be joking.