Above ground pools

[Krk77486]

I'd have the seller install it. That may give you some "safety" if any issue arise soon after the installation. If done by you it's all your fault I'd think.

By the way, we have an in-ground pool and I'd fill it in tomorrow given the chance.

I hear ya. Alot easier to take down an 8k above ground than fill in a 65k in ground although they sure look nice.

[CEO]

My parents bought one used, mostly for the grandkids 5-6 years ago. I believe they paid around $5k for it and it hasn't had any problems at all. Any time my mom mentions building a new house somewhere and moving my dad says there is no way they'll get the value they have now with a resort style pool and lakefront (pond) property.

[Cardinal]

Hope I dont get too wordy with my response, but hopefully I can cover all the bases...

My parents had on put in back in 2002 from a company in Tyler. I believe it is a Dough Boy "Copper Canyon" or simliar. Its 40x20 and starts at like 3 feet, then goes to 8 feet deep, and has a ledge around the deep end thats 3 feet deep.

They built a large deck around it, something like 65' x 40'. There is a covered 35' X 10' area on the north side where a table and chairs are, the grill, the stereo, etc.

I am not sure on cost, but I do know that the deck they built was just as much if not more (at the time). The deck maintenance (new stain, replacement boards, etc.) has exceeded the cost of the pool by now, no doubt.

My parents live in a stand of pine trees, so they built the pool and deck on the edge of that and clipped the corner of their hay pasture (around 80 feet from the house or so).

My dad eventually cut down a couple of pines that were close enough that needles could get into the pool, but the one thing he has fought over the years is the sand from the hay meadow. The above ground pool blocks alot, but when its dry at their place and we are cutting hay, the pool seems to be a magnet for sand and hay dust. However, my dad says the above ground element cuts down on how much really ends up in it - says that if it were in ground it would have silted in (lol).

As far as maintenance goes, my dad has said its basically like having another yard. You just have to stay on top of it, skim leaves off a couple of times a week and keep chemicals in check. They have had a couple of years where everything got out of whack in the spring and fought getting the crystal clarity in the pool a few months. One reason they think was because of the chemicals they were buying at wal mart. My dad buys most of his stuff from Atwoods now.

Someone mentioned the pool getting hot...yes, it does get warm later in the summer, but it also gets warmer earlier. I was working on my place next to theirs this weekend and almost made the jump in to the pool. We are usually in it the middle of April.

[cashcropper]

I had a 18k pool for 8 years. I put in an in line chlorinator and a pump timer. All I ever put in mine was chlorine tabs and stabilizer,with a little shock in the spring. Mine was not near any trees and was nearly trouble free. After 8 years and we weren't using it much I got rid of it. Use the timer,monitor chlorine and circulate a min of 8 hrs a day.

[Krk77486]

I had a 18k pool for 8 years. I put in an in line chlorinator and a pump timer. All I ever put in mine was chlorine tabs and stabilizer,with a little shock in the spring. Mine was not near any trees and was nearly trouble free. After 8 years and we weren't using it much I got rid of it. Use the timer,monitor chlorine and circulate a min of 8 hrs a day.

18? Above ground?

[DRT]

We have one that is about 12 or 13 years old. Never have had to replace the liner. Put seals in the pump a couple of times. The deck has required more work than the pool. We run Baquacil instead of chlorine. It's a bit easier on things.

[systemnt]

had one for about 6 years.... ditched the pump it came with a month after we got it for a better one... ditched that one for a better one.. ditched that one for a better one...
After that I spent about 3 hours cutting the pool up into little pieces...best time spent with it.

[Abcdj]

Every year at the end of summer I go buy next years pool while they are on sale. Leave it in the box over the winter. I get the biggest wal mart special with the blue blow up ring. That's about as long as the pump will last anyway.
Then the fun part at the end of the summer. Take a knife, stick and rip the bottom edge of the pool and watch the wave. Roll it up and throw it away. It cost you about $350 a year and no cleaning or covering it during the offseason.

[Txbownut]

Every year at the end of summer I go buy next years pool while they are on sale. Leave it in the box over the winter. I get the biggest wal mart special with the blue blow up ring. That's about as long as the pump will last anyway.
Then the fun part at the end of the summer. Take a knife, stick and rip the bottom edge of the pool and watch the wave. Roll it up and throw it away. It cost you about $350 a year and no cleaning or covering it during the offseason.

Now this idea may have some merit. 👍

[Double-O-Dave]

Yeah, we had one for probably 15+ years until one of pool walls rusted through and allowed the liner to protrude through it and burst. We had the largest above ground pool (AGP) available when we bought ours. I believe it was an "Esther Williams" brand, and it was probably 15' wide by 50" long - maybe 15,000 gallons capacity. We originally wanted an in-ground pool, but the installers said it would cost #10-$15k just to dig the hole for the pool.

Was it worth it? It depends. I cannot swim, and wanted to make sure my kids learned to swim. We had three kids (my niece, my daughter and son) learn to swim in that pool, and they all swim like otters. We had a lot of fun with that pool, but I was the only one that worked on it. When the pool died it was really at a good time. The kids were old enough that they wanted to go to a big pool (at the city parks) to meet and have fun with their friends. Also, it was getting too hard for me to do the maintenance anymore.

If you choose to get an AGP, don't cheap out. Get one from a reputable dealer, and stay with a good brand like Doughboy. Also, I would strongly recommend you have it installed by professionals. Once the pool is in, I would advise clearing the ground at least 3'-4' around the perimeter of the pool and lay a couple of inches of gravel around the pool. This will help keep vegetation from growing close to the pool (you have to worry about roots penetrating the pool liner).

Bottom line, while I'm glad it's gone now, I don't regret having the pool at all. Your kids will love it, and you'll build lots of great memories.

Good luck,

Dave

[Shinesintx]

I bought a 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank. I really don't clean the water...I just drain it. I think I got it on sale at TS for $199

[Ruark]

We've always wanted an IG pool, but the cost is just too prohibitive, unless we win the lottery. Sometimes we talk about getting a $500 AG pool just for now. Say one of those 4' X 18' AG pools.

Question: considering running the pump all the time, your chemicals, salts, filters, etc. etc. How much a month does it cost to have a pool like that?

[JP135]

I bought a 300 gallon Rubbermaid stock tank. I really don't clean the water...I just drain it. I think I got it on sale at TS for $199

Man, my uncle let us swim in his big (I'm sure it was no bigger than 10' but it seemed huge) concrete water trough when I was a kid. It was pretty dang great.

We've had a 24' above ground for six or seven years. It's under trees, so keeping leaves out is a constant battle, but it's shady so it stays nice and cold all summer. No big problems at all. Always thought above ground pools were kinda white trash looking, but I don't care anymore. I'm sure not spending the $$$ for in-ground. When it's hot outside, it's nice to jump in. We're moving soon, and we like it enough that we're disassembling it and taking it with us.