above ground swimming pool advice

[kimberlym4]

We are thinking of buying an above ground swimming pool this spring. Just wondering if anyone here has any good advice about what we should be looking for? Are some materials better than others? Round or oval? Do you have a heater with yours (we're in Ohio)? Thanks for any input you might have.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

The bigger the posts and top rail, supposedly the better the pool. We got a Voyager series 21 X 5 and I LOVE it!!! it has 8.5" wide top rails and posts. Last year we got the deluxe wedding cake steps, and they are pretty nice (if only they didnt float away... and YES, we have sand bags in them) Go overkill on the pump. Minimum of 1HP.
JMHO

 

[KC518vette@yahoo.com]

I'd reccomend a hot tub!

 

[KC518vette@yahoo.com]

But for the spring, I'm not sure what type of pool.

 

[kimberlym4]

Thanks guys. Anyone else?

 

[crz4mm2]

When we had our pool, it was a 24 foot round one. WE live in central IL. We did not have a heater. I loved ours for the first 5 years... Then got tired of taking care of it. Kids got bigger (older) and we just didn't use it much anymore. So It wasn't worth the $$ it cost to keep it running etc.
I sold it a couple of years ago.

I second the hot tub

 

[mommasita]

We have ours 4 or 5 years. We got 21ft pool, and a heater. WE LOVE THE HEATER. We swim in May, and finish in October. We live as you see, in MONTREAL, and it is downright cold in October. We really enjoy our pool. We have 2 kids, 11 and 8, and they live in it, during season. We often have friends and family over, and this is fantastic with me..

Expect visitors..

My DH said if he says Yes to a pool, make it fit our whole backyard, so he does not have to mow.. He almost does not have to, uses the weeder thingie..

Good luck to ya.

 

[Kahana-ri]

We just took down our pool after only three years. It was such a pain. In RI, we only have a few good months to swim. We didn't have heater, but it was small enough that it never got too cold. It was just ridiculous to open and close a pool we only used for maybe two full months. The maintenance piece wasn't too bad, but if only a few days went by without treating it-it was a whole process to get the pool back to swimable levels again. Sorry to give bad news, we thought it was going to be great as well. We have small children too, but it was just not worth it to us. So this summer season we will be using a baby pool and sprinklers.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I think whether or not its worth the trouble is whether or not you would actually use it enough.
CONSIDER THIS:
If your never going to allow the children in the pool without an adult, and the adult (whether its you or someone else) never "wants to" swim, your not going to enjoy it. A pool is only good when the children are old enough to swim alone OR the parents want to swim as much as the children. if neither applies to you, save the money for something else (like a home theater).
If you LOVE to swim as an adult, then go for it!
We love our pool. Its definately worth it. I'm also not a stickler on water perfection though. Some people want that "resort pool" and they do all these tests and add all these chemicals, and never get enough use out of it to equal the work they put into it. We spend about $50 a year on chemicals. I want the water relatively clear, but I cant stand the smell of chlorine. Id rather it be at that level thats basically aged water. I dont want GREEN water, but a bit turquoise dont bother me any. I dont do all the PH, and all tests as often as most. i dont really spend much time or money on it. We just use it.

Ours is a 5' deep X 21'. We downsized from a 24' X 4', and I havent regretted it a bit. the 21' is perfect for our family of 4.

 

[crzy4dsny]

Go for a pool with a J channel liner. This is the type of liner that is used in in- ground pools. Instead of the liner folding over the top of the pool wall and being visible from the side, this type locks into a J channel around the top of the pool wall. It is a much nicer look. We have a 15X24X52 Johnny Weissmuler Pool. We liked this one because it had zero butress. Which means it does not have the supports that come off the sides of the pool. There are three types of filters available. Diatomaceous earth (DE), sand, and cartridge. I would strongly suggest the DE filter. It cleans the best and is simple to deal with. People will argue over which one is better. I do very little maintance on my pool and it stays crystal clear. Putting a nice deck around part of it will make it a lot more inviting and nicer. There is something about climbing one of those pool ladders that I just don't like.

 

[mookie]

I had a few threads about this same thing. Don't know if they'll help in your situation, but I thought I'd share them here....

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1352342

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1321830

I'm sure there are others on here if you do a search for them. As for us, the downpayment was made on a 24 ft. round, but I'm still not sure if we are going to get it or hold off another year...decisions! Decisions!

Good luck!

 

[jillyjoey]

*We are on our 2nd pool -- we moved and that's the first thing we did. Pool was going in before house was done.

*We have a 27' round w/ lifetime guarantee on the liner. We also got the upgraded motor, in-pool steps and light package. Put the pool in October 2004 and I think the total cost was about $6500 w/installation. (discount because buying off-season). The company we went with, Aloha, does not sell the oval pools which we wanted --they told us they no longer sell them because they are not as strong.

*Cleaning & Maintenance: This is really DH's thing -- he's responsible for it all. No heater here in Tennessee! We swim from May to September.
You can buy some stuff that you put in the water at the beginning of the season to heat the pool from the sun -- sorry can't remember the details -- we looked into it last year but really didn't need it.

*Our pool looks like an on-ground pool because we walk out our back door and it is level with the deck -- we (DH) build decking all around the pool -so it doesn't stand out as an aboveground pool.

*We love our pool and use it everyday during swimming season. Our neighborhood has 4 lakes with swimming areas- I think we've used the lake area once for a baseball party. So much easier to walk out the back door and jump in your own pool. Plus no one else sees you in a bathing suit. The pool gives us an initiative to get house chores done early on the weekends because when they are done that is swim time! It really was a good investment for us. The comparison price of an inground pool similar size -- $25000.

*We also have a hot tub -- we never use it! We bought it last year and have been in it all of 3 times and none this year. And kids can't get in it b/c of temperature.

*If you are questioning the investment, you may want to start with one of those soft-side inflatable pools -- that's what we did -- when we found out that we were using it so much -- that's when we made our decision.

*Our first pool was 24' and this one is 27' -- don't know if it is really that much difference size wise -- I would make sure that you get the deeper pool -- so you aren't walking around with waist high water.

 

[grinningghost]

We loved our 24" round pool in our old house. Only one problem - we never bought the device that covers and uncovers the pool with the solar cover. We always had to pull it off by hand and put it back on by hand - a royal pain in the butt.

If you get one - spend the extra money and buy one of those things.

 

[PghLybrt]

This is what I do for a living.


My advice for an aboveground.

Top rails and uprights are a cosmetic feature, the offer no real support. So unless you like the look of the pool because of it then go for it but for structural integrity forget about it.

Rounds are much less cost wise than ovals but have more gallons.

Ovals need braces underneath to support them as well as struts on the side. Do not get a buttresses pool as the wall will bow….it is natural and not a defect and not a bad installation. Most people are unsatisfied.

Look for a pool with an aluminum bead track that the liner sits in. When winter comes around and water gets into that channel and freezes it will nit break. Plastic will.

Heaters. Solar is good. Gas gives you instant heat. Heat pumps are most effecting (but more expensive to buy) FYI a gas heater for a 24 round should be no more than $900.

Installation, most will charge you 20 for every inch they dig…that is pretty standard (the 1st 3 are free) If you find a place that supplies the sand and block be aware that they will burry that into the price and you will pay more for it then if you made a phone call and ordered it yourself.

If you want any advice on brands ect just message me I will be happy to help…..heck I am just watching the snow come down today!

 

[PghLybrt]

We loved our 24" round pool in our old house. Only one problem - we never bought the device that covers and uncovers the pool with the solar cover. We always had to pull it off by hand and put it back on by hand - a royal pain in the butt.

If you get one - spend the extra money and buy one of those things.

Here is a little hint....cut the cover in sections. It makes it really easy to pull off. It will void the warranty but most people will not send the cover back to the manufacture to have it covered anyway!