[Wendy]

I need some advice on above ground pools, what works, what doesn't work. Anyone have any experience of what to get?

 

[Allie]

Ask Brenda on FB, Wendeh...I know she has a nice one.

 

[Wendy]

Thanks Alllie!!!

 

[Lexis Mom]

I need some advice on above ground pools, what works, what doesn't work. Anyone have any experience of what to get?

Not much to provide, but I know the one my parents have is an Esther Williams brand pool. The biggest difference between an EW brand pool & others most pools have rolled metal for the sides, which are typically very thin & flexible. This makes them prone to collapsing.

EW has extruded side panels that slide together with a tongue & groove. Because each piece is extruded metal, they are heavier gage & therefore less prone to collapsing. Another advantage to the extruded side panels, if one is damaged or has an issue, you do not need to replace the entire outer wall. You'd just have to drain the pool & replace the affected piece.

My parents pool is at least 15 years old. Outside of the color on the side panels fading from the sun & replacing a panel or two, they've never had an issue with it.

Here is the website for EW pools http://www.estherwilliamspools.com/index.html

 

[Allie]

I would seriously love to have a pool. I know IG pools run in the $20k+ range, so I'm guessing AG pools are a bit cheaper?

I like that website--never knew you could do a semi-IG pool! Really neat idea. Our backyard has a slight slope so that would be ideal.

 

[Princess Zoe]

The thing I don't like about above ground pools is that a lot of people don't keep them up. Our HOA doesn't allow them. You cannot have a fence in our sub unless you have an inground pool. Someone has a "mostly" sunken one and there is a lot of contraversy around it. I would love to have a pool. I wouldn't get an above ground one though.

 

[Seamus Lab]

We just had a pool put in at the end of August last summer. Because of the timing of the purchase and the economy we got an amazing deal on the pool package. The very same pool was half of the price of when we first started looking earlier in the summer. The pool package included the pool, pump, filter, auto chlorine feeder, vacuum head, skimmer, poles, winter cover, solar cover and light. It included some chemicals as well. We also bought the pool from a dealer who has been in business in the same location for about 30 years. A family business.

We bought EW because it's all aluminum. The others rust quicker. Advice given to us from my sil who's had pools all of her married life. We got the "butress free" oval pool.

Bear in mind that the expense does not end with the pool package.
Installers were 800.00 and the electrician was 700.00. We had the electrician put in a timer for the filter in addition to running the electric. There was then landscaping around the pool which we did ourselves.

Don't forget that you will probably need permits. We needed and building permit and an electrical permit.

Once the pool was installed we were able to use it for about three weeks before it was closed up for the winter.

We just opened it over Memorial Day wknd and I was totally surprised at how easy it was to open up and get it going.

We're really happy with the purchase and the pool.

 

[Allie]

Do you live in a more northern climate, Seamus Lab? Down here in AL August would still be peak summer...we could easily have a pool open from March to October which would be FABULOUS. I would also want any pool we had to be saltwater or chlorine-free.

Does your dog swim in the pool?

I didn't think about permits...I know if you add a pool here, it is added to your tax assessment.

If we could do an AG or Semi-IG pool for under $5k I would seriously consider it.

 

[Seamus Lab]

Do you live in a more northern climate, Seamus Lab? Down here in AL August would still be peak summer...we could easily have a pool open from March to October which would be FABULOUS. I would also want any pool we had to be saltwater or chlorine-free.

Does your dog swim in the pool?

I didn't think about permits...I know if you add a pool here, it is added to your tax assessment.

If we could do an AG or Semi-IG pool for under $5k I would seriously consider it.

Yes, we live in PA.

Our lab doesn't swim in the pool yet, we're looking into floating dog steps for him. Our little dachshund does swim in the pool though and loves it.

 

[Princess Zoe]

Do you live in a more northern climate, Seamus Lab? Down here in AL August would still be peak summer...we could easily have a pool open from March to October which would be FABULOUS. I would also want any pool we had to be saltwater or chlorine-free.

Does your dog swim in the pool?

I didn't think about permits...I know if you add a pool here, it is added to your tax assessment.

If we could do an AG or Semi-IG pool for under $5k I would seriously consider it.

Here in Michigan they are not assessed like in the South. They are not necissarily a bonus to have.