Above ground pools are great in that they are flexible and versatile. You can get a variety of sizes and depths suitable for either children, adults or both. For people wanting a pool in their yard they are far cheaper options than the traditional in ground pool, and building and set up costs are approx 10% that of an in ground pool, not to mention that they will cause far less disruption when setting up.
Above ground pools have the advantage that they are portable, so if you wish to move homes you can dismantle it and take it with you. This of course obviously means that it will not detract from the value of your home, as prospective purchasers will not be left with it in their yard.
When choosing which above ground pool to buy, there are a number of considerations to take into account. Are you installing the pool on its own or with a decked and fenced area around it? This will obviously add to the initial set up cost. If you want a fenced area you will need to check with the planning department of your state that this is allowed.
You also need to consider how much of your yard you wish to be taken over by the pool. If you are a keen gardener then big backyard pool isn’t going to be very enjoyable. Is your backyard area level? If not then you are probably going to have to pay a contractor to level and roll it for you, even putting down another surface as a base for your pool.
There are two main types of above ground pools, soft sided and hard sided. Soft sided ones have the advantage that they are easier and faster to erect than hard sided ones, but more vulnerable to damage such as puncturing. You can get round and rectangular soft sided pools, constructed of a pole framework supporting a pool liner. These generally come in depths of up to 5 ft deep. Hard sided above ground pools, however, are made out of metal sheeting to which a pool liner is attached on the inside.
These come in a wider variety of shapes and sizes than the soft sided pool and are a little more robust. They do however take a little longer to put up and dismantle so if you’re planning to move homes in the near future this might not be the one for you. If cost is a consideration to you then all the extras you will need, from filters to clean your pool, to lights, heaters and even nets required to clean it should be taken into account.
Safety is very important when you have your pool. If you have young children you will need to make sure that they are supervised at all times whilst in the pool, and also that they cannot gain access to it without an adult present. A high fence around it would be invaluable if you do have very young children, preferably with an equally tall locked gate to which only adults have access to a key.
Whichever above ground pool you decide to go for, those summer days will never be the same again and you will never regret buying one. Also, it has the added bonus that it will do wonders for your social life – you will be the most popular household in the neighbourhood!
