Above ground pool?

[MagicalMom]

We would love an inground pool but that is really out of our budget at this time. We are considering a 24ft round Zodiac pool for 4700.00 with installation but don't have much to compare to and are unsure of whether this is a good deal or not. Will those with above gorund pools please tell me the pros and cons. Do they regret their decisions? Was it worth the money? We have 3 kids 17, 13 and 7 and think we would get a lot of use out of it.

 

[chisnpeke]

We got our above ground 10 years ago this summer. It was 3600 with installation. It's an 18 foot. The only problem we had was the first year the liner got a hole in it so we had to have to have it replaced but that was the only major thing. Other cons of it is the upkeep and basic caring for a pool. Other than that it's been good. Especially since you have a 7 year old I think they will get a lot of use out of it.

ETA: No we haven't regretted it.

 

[Queen of 3 princess]

We got one last winter. Ours is a 15x30x52 oval. We paid $4800 (installed) but we got the upgraded liner, upgraded stairs, filter instead of sand and solar cover. The pool is ALOT of work. We are constantly cleaning the leaves and other things out so they don't clog up the pump. We love it though. My kids were in it everyday they could be this past summer . We entertained alot with family and friends which was lots of fun. My daughter even got to have a pool slumber party for her 10th birthday. This was a huge hit.

PROS: great when it's hot, family fun, good exercise, great for entertaining, keeps kids busy during summer break, feels like heaven floating around on a "floaty"

CONS: Needs work everyday, takes up alot of yard, water is too cold sometimes for adults (kids don't seem to care), younger kids need constant supervision so they can't go in unless you have time to watch them, Cost of pool supplies.

 

[MagicalMom]

Thanks so much for the info. I really thought the aboveground would of been cheaper than the price we were quoted but still think it sounds like a great idea for our family.

 

[rie'smom]

We had one when I was a kid. It was 48" deep and my dad and his friend put it up for us. We lived in the pool each summer for a few years until we moved.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you need to be "cheap" about getting a pool put in I suggest waiting. It is a luxury item and costs, get you here and there.

I did inground at my old house however I would still imagine you are going to have those things with an above ground that are not included, like yard repair. Things that will nickel/dime you.

It also raises your electric bill each month. So something to keep in mind.

 

[Disney Doll]

We had one as as kid. We covered it every day, even during the summer, once we were done using it, and that cut down on the upkeep part a bit...not so many leaves and stuff to have to fish out of the pool. These days, the solar covers seem to warm them up a bit more, if you don't have a heater...at least accoridng to my DBIL who currently has a pool.

Upkeep not unbearable but I would recommend you keep up with the upkeep, or it becomes very difficult. Pretty much every day we skimmed the pool several times, vacuumed it regularly, checked the chemicals several times a day. My parents were religious about making sure that chemically the pool was always in balance...they always bragged that no one ever got an ear infection in our pool, whereas, back then, a lot of pools caused ear infections. Our water was always crystal clear. My parents did have us kids do some of what we were capable of doing, depending on size/age. We all knew how to cover the pool from Day 1, and as we got older, learned how to test for the pH, skim and finally vacuum. My father usually handled most of what had to be done with the filter though...flushing it and so forth.

For us it was well worth the effort.

As far as cost, I would have no idea because it was 35 years ago that I was a kid!

I'm not sure I think spending $5000 as opposed to $20,000 on a pool is being "cheap". As kids, we had just as good fo a time in our 18 ft.round pool as we did when we went to someone's house who had a built in.

 

[Patch'sD]

Good Investment, My above ground is now 23 years old. Have gone throw 3 liners 2 filters and 3 pumps. It has lasted longer than any other pool in the neighborhood. I think this will be last year as usage is way down, Boys are in there twenties and my sixteen year old daughter's schedule keeps her away a lot. Last year it was used maybe two or three times. Stay away from Copper Bearing Steel Walls, Stick with Aluminum, it won't rust.

 

[twinmomplus2new]

Had an above ground for 13 years. Had no issues with it. Have recently replaced it with an above with a surround deck.

As far as it is a Luxury item.. and to wait??? Why wait? I am uncertain as to what that means? I could afforrd an inground. I chose an ABOVE, why resale, amount of time we use as our season is short.

There is nothing wrong with choosing an above VS in. Our kids have had alot of fun over the years as I am sure yours will to.

as far as upkeep I would suggesst spending an extra 500 and getting an automatic pool cleaner.. it will cut way down on daily maitenance.and rails.

we got it on sale.. this does not include installation of 2400 and stone dust for the base of 372.

 

[Shmily1]

We've had our pool for 9 years now and most of the time we love it. We have the Frog system on it and it is wonderful and not much maintanence but the store that sold the Frog bak-paks went out of business and now I have a difficult time finding them. Using the chemicals in the skimmer, distributor, or whatever is so much more painful!!! I have a much harder time keeping it from going green on me!!!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

.

As far as it is a Luxury item.. and to wait??? Why wait? I am uncertain as to what that means? I could afforrd an inground. I chose an ABOVE, why resale, amount of time we use as our season is short.

The OP was not clear on her budget. I was just saying that there are added costs to installation that you need to include.

If you remember installation, you know that you have this and that to budget in.

 

[Pigeon]

If you can do take down and intallation yourself, keep an eye on your local craigslist. In my area, every spring there are lots of people looking to get rid of above ground pools, some of them quite new (sometimes they bought the house with the pool, but don't want it) and they go for a song. They are often free if you will disassemble and remove.

 

[barkley]

when you're evaluating the costs remember to consider increases to your homeowners insurance as well as any requirements your locality may have in place (special fencing and such). both were issues where we used to live-and some homeowners in our area who figured the city would never catch on if they did'nt do the special fencing requirement were sadly surprised when the city decided to do perodic searches on something like 'google earth' for pools without fencing, issuing substantial fines (i guess they were better off than the neighbors who had put in decking and other more permanant structures w/o the necessary permits-they ended up in trouble with the tax assessors as well-and in many cases were made to dismantle the stuff).

don't know about craigslist but we gave ours away on freecycle-it was worth it to us to have someone else come in and dismantle the thing.

 

[wilderness01]

We had one as as kid. We covered it every day, even during the summer, once we were done using it, and that cut down on the upkeep part a bit...not so many leaves and stuff to have to fish out of the pool. These days, the solar covers seem to warm them up a bit more, if you don't have a heater...at least accoridng to my DBIL who currently has a pool.

Upkeep not unbearable but I would recommend you keep up with the upkeep, or it becomes very difficult. Pretty much every day we skimmed the pool several times, vacuumed it regularly, checked the chemicals several times a day. My parents were religious about making sure that chemically the pool was always in balance...they always bragged that no one ever got an ear infection in our pool, whereas, back then, a lot of pools caused ear infections. Our water was always crystal clear. My parents did have us kids do some of what we were capable of doing, depending on size/age. We all knew how to cover the pool from Day 1, and as we got older, learned how to test for the pH, skim and finally vacuum. My father usually handled most of what had to be done with the filter though...flushing it and so forth.

For us it was well worth the effort.

As far as cost, I would have no idea because it was 35 years ago that I was a kid!

I'm not sure I think spending $5000 as opposed to $20,000 on a pool is being "cheap". As kids, we had just as good fo a time in our 18 ft.round pool as we did when we went to someone's house who had a built in.

Our inground pool cost $50,000 inclusive of our fence, repair to the yard, retaining wall and minimal landscaping.

Aside from the cost of installation, whether it be above ground or inground, it is expensive to open, close, run, chemicals, etc. etc.