What Pool Should I Buy

How Old Are Your Children

Children and teenagers tend to use swimming pools more than other age groups, spending more time swimming than doing other recreational activities, according to the Census Bureau.

I built a pool when my children ranged from two to seven years of age. They were in it almost every day in the spring, summer, and early fall until they left for college. However, having neither the time nor inclination to swim, my wife and I rarely used the pool after that until our first grandchild arrived.

Should We Buy A House With A Pool Pool Upkeep Costs Explained

May 12, 2022

As summer approaches and the mercury rises, some home buyers are adding a new item to their wish list: a swimming pool. While pools are a great way to beat the summer heat, they come with additional costs. Before you buy a house with a pool, read on to learn about pool upkeep costs, maintenance issues, and the pros and cons of pool ownership.

Which Inground Pool Type Has The Most Built

Before jumping into comparison, its good to know what is available in todays market and the expectations of an educated consumer. We all come to the pool buying experience with a unique set of life experiences that shape our perceptions of what a pool could and should look like, what features it should have, and how it should make us feel when were spending time in it.

Some pool buyers expect a pool to be a kidney or oval shape, about five feet deep, and capable of becoming a skateboarding venue when it no longer reliably holds water. Some buyers are all-inclusive vacationers, and they count hot-stone massages and swim-up bars among their favorite things. Still, others hear the word swimming, and their heart rate goes up as they think about their next swim workout, water volleyball game, or an intense game of sharks and minnows.

The good news is that there truly is something for everyone in this modern age of backyard pools. If you want something quick and dirty that may not last super long but gets you in the water today for a sweet price, thats available. If you want to mimic the luxe resort life right outside your backdoor, thats more attainable than you might think. And if youre going to get in your backyard pool and get your red blood cells oxygenated, we can do that, too. Some pool types can deliver the features you want and need more efficiently and affordably than others.

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Disadvantages Of Fiberglass Pools

The first disadvantage of a fiberglass swimming pool is that the swimming pool needs to be transported via road to the home site so we are limited as to the dimensions of the swimming pool. Our largest fiberglass swimming pool is 40 and 16 wide . If you want a swimming pool larger than this size then a concrete swimming pool is going to be your best option. In truth however, 95% of swimming pools are less than 40 in length.

The second disadvantage of fiberglass pools is if you are looking for a design that is not available from our range. Fiberglass swimming pools are built off a mold that is an expensive item to build. Therefore, we are limited to the number of mold designs. Leisure Pools undertakes extensive market research to ensure that we can offer a range of designs to suit 95% of customer requirements however if you are wanting a design that is a little out of the ordinary then you may need to consider concrete swimming pools.

How Much Time Are You Willing To Commit To Maintenance

A swimming pool requires constant maintenance, including removing debris such as leaves and grass, testing the water for proper balance, adding chemicals, and pump and filter upkeep. Depending on conditions, owners can easily spend five to 10 hours a week keeping their pools in shape. The need for maintenance continues even when the pool is not in use.

You can opt to use a pool maintenance company, but that will result in an added expense. Willan Johnson, CEO of the national pool management company Vivo Pools, suggests in a CNBC interview that pool cleaning services will run $100 or more each month. My present pool service in Dallas, Texas averages $180 per month for weekly cleaning and chemical supplies.

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Why Trust The Spruce

This article was researched and written by Katie Begley, a freelance writer specializing in home and family products. Katie has been writing for The Spruce since 2019. An avid swimmer, Katie has spent every summer swimming laps as part of her swim team growing up and now splashes in the pool with her own children. For this article, she looked for pools that were easy for homeowners to set up and maintain that also provided enough space to enjoy pool games.

Above Ground Pool Kit Price

The actual pool will cost approximately $2,000 for an all metal 18 pool and go up to approximately $11,000 for an all resin 33 pool. You will find the all metal pools to be the most inexpensive option, while the all resin pool will be the most expensive pool kit. If there is a hybrid pool option, it will be priced somewhere in between a metal and resin pool kit.

BONUS: If you have ever wanted to see an above ground pool kit be manufactured, here is a great video that gives a high level overview of the process. Note that installation in Oklahoma has a few differences than what is shown on the video.

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Theyre Not Easy To Maintain

Pools need to be drained regularly, and smaller pools that get heavy use need to be drained more often than most. Regularly cleaning is also a must. Alternately, they sit full of dirty water or exposed to the elements, a recipe for waterborne disease the next time theyre used.

Responsible pool owners also have to make sure their pools are visibly clean free of debris and scum and invisibly clean with correct chemical levels throughout. Managing water chemistry is tricky and it requires either hiring a professional or learning more than you probably want to about the science and best practices. Either way, its an investment that eats into the supposed advantage of ordering a pool online in the first place.

What Is The Most Popular Size Above Ground Pool

Basically, you can classify pool sizes into small, medium and large sizes. Small pools tend to measure around 12 X 24 while medium-sized pool tends to be around 16 X 32 and big sized above ground pool 20 X 40. Most people tend to prefer medium-sized pools because they are big enough for a family of five. In addition to that medium-sized pools dont take up lots of space. When it comes to round shaped pools the most popular diameters are 15, 18, 21, 24, 27 and 30. When it comes to depth of above ground swimming pool most common measurements are 48 52 or 54.

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How Much Money Should I Spend On My First Cue

Last on our list of considerations is budget. As mentioned earlier, a good quality beginner cue will cost you around $100 for fiberglass or graphite, and between $100-$200 for wood. Dont be tempted to spend much more than this on your fist cue.

As a beginner, all you should be focusing on is good shot form and technique and a high dollar cue wont help you do that any better than one under $200.

All the benefits of high dollarcues typically go unnoticed to most casual players anyways. Professionals on theother hand can feel every little difference and deviation between cues becausethey spend so much time with them. Unless you have spent countless hours with acue in your hand, chances are you wont gain or feel any benefit from buying a$1000 pool cue.

How To Measure Above Ground Pool Size

For a round shaped above ground pool, you can simply measure the diameter using a tape measure. Take the measurement while youre inside the pool from wall to wall. For oval-shaped pools, simply take the measurement from the wall to the center, and also take the measurement from wall to wall on the longest point. For rectangular shaped pools, take the measurement of the long side and short wall.

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Which Inground Pool Type Has The Lowest Upfront Costs

Vinyl inground pool costs range from $35,000 to $65,000, the cheapest of the three types of pools in upfront costs. Downsides that may offset this plus of upfront savings include lack of high-end feature capabilities like zero-entry, more frequent need for repair and rebuild, and higher maintenance costs.

Fiberglass pools have an upfront cost that is usually slightly more than vinyl and less than gunitein the range of $45,000 to $85,000. However, due to their durability and lower maintenance costs, homeowners may want to consider overall costs or lifetime value rather than upfront costs.

Gunite is typically the most expensive of the three types of pools. Gunite inground pool cost ranges from $35,000 to $100,000 and up. However, gunite pools may be less expensive than fiberglass pools in sun-belt states that are not subject to freezing temperatures.

Impact On Home Value & Property Taxes

Remodeling surveys and real estate agents seem to agree that a swimming pool is probably a wash when it comes to cost versus value. However, this can depend on your area. Massachusetts real estate agent Kimberly Kent sums up the ambiguity: A pool is a great selling feature for those buyers who want one, and a major detractor for those who are absolutely against one.

Homeowners who live in neighborhoods where private in-ground pools are common often face market pressure to have a pool. Carol Royse, a Tempe-based real estate agent, says pools are a must-have feature for a new home in Arizona, and that any home with a market price of $250,000 and up is pretty much guaranteed to have a pool. Those that do not are likely to sell for less.

While a pool might not add to your homes resale value, local taxing authorities might increase its taxable value to gain additional municipal income.

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Which Type Of Inground Pool Has The Best Warranty

Vinyl liner pool warranties generally expire or cover less over time. A vinyl liner may have a 20-year warranty that covers defective workmanship, but by the time you need a new liner, that warranty will be ineffective and wont cover the cost of your new liner or expenses associated with draining/refilling your pool.

Fiberglass pools by Thursday Pools include a 15-year surface warranty that will warrant the surface of the pool from osmotic blistering. And a one-time transferable limited lifetime structural warranty protects against any leak due to structural failures caused by workmanship and material used in the manufacturing for the lifetime of the pool.

Gunite pools dont come with a manufacturers warranty because they arent manufactured. Gunite pools may only have a workmanship warranty. Make sure to understand what is included in any warranty.

What Is The Best Type Of Swimming Pool For My Home

So youre thinking about getting a swimming pool for your backyard that will provide years of enjoyment, laughter, and fun for your family. No doubt, owning a swimming pool will have a wonderful and lasting effect on your life. Notwithstanding, in order to make the most out of this experience, its important you understand what your options are and which type of pool will best suit your needs.

Even though we are one of the worlds largest manufacturers of inground fiberglass swimming pools here at Leisure Pools, weve decided to give you the honest and unbiased answers you need to answer this very important question. Here goes

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So What Kind Of Pool Should I Get

Any pool installed by a certified professional who knows how to prepare the site, safely run electricity, and maintain safe water chemistry is fine. That, of course, means doing less yourself and spending more money. The effort needed to safely install a pool outweighs the cost savings, and the fact that they just arent all that safe should make passing on cheap pools sold online an easy choice.

Osinski says to expect to spend about $2,500 to $7,500 to purchase a low-end on-ground pool made by a company that specializes in pools. Larger rectangular models can be had for about $10,000. Either way, professional installation should cost $1,000 to $3,000.

Those are way more than the pools available on Amazon, but way less than any sort of in-ground pool installation. The cheapest vinyl options there will run you $25,000 to $35,000 fiberglass options, $45,000 to $80,000 and concrete or tiled options from the mid-$50,000 range to $100,000 .

Osinski says the only pools you should buy online are kiddie pools: very shallow, narrow, often inflatable options that will only really be entertaining to younger kids. Their small size means theyre easy to dump after each use, a step thats absolutely necessary, as is keeping them clean.

And remember to heed Griffithss advice: Active vigilant supervision of children without distractions is required.

Lets Talk About Vinyl Liner Pools

In the northeast, the vinyl liner inground pools is amongst the most popular. There are three different varieties of vinyl liner pools. One is the steel wall vinyl liner, which is most commonly made with galvanized or stainless steel panels. The next is the polymer/composite wall vinyl liner pool. The last type is the cement wall vinyl liner pool. Out of all the vinyl liner pools, the most popular are the steel wall and cement wall pools. The biggest advantage to these types of pools is that you can do just about any shape or style with these two materials. This is because steel is structurally sound and can be cut and molded into any size, shape, dimension, look, or feel. Just about anything a future pool owner is looking for can be created. The same can be said for the cement vinyl liner pools. After that, a liner can be cut to fit any shape or size pool. The biggest downfall of the steel wall vinyl liner walled pool is it can eventually corrode and oxidize. It is generally not the pool to get if you live in an area with a high water table or an area that is not for soil that holds water. The polymer/composite pool is more limited due to the pinning or locking system used to assemble the panels. This gives a bit more restriction in terms of how structurally sound they are although as a result of its material make up it has a long lifespan compared to a steel wall vinyl pool.

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Install The Pool Base Support Material

When you install the base beneath the liner, it acts as a buffer between the pools thin vinyl membrane and the harsh terrain nearby. A good pool base material also helps absorb rock, stone, animal, and insect debris. The more supportive your pool base is, the more protected it will be from the elements.

Installing Your Above Ground Pool

After purchasing your pool, the online retailer will ship it directly to your door. Setting up the pool in your yard can be a challenging or straightforward task, depending on the model you buy. For the most part, inflatable pools are easy to set up. All you need to do is fill them with air and water, and youre ready to take a swim.

However, larger pools with frames and liners require some calculated thought when setting them up in your yard. If you order a large pool, then you might want to think about hiring a professional installation company or handyman to help you build the pool.

There are quite a few steps involved with the successful installation of a large above ground pool.

A professional handyman or installation service might cost a few dollars, but its worth it when you consider the hassle involved with the process of building your pool.

Start by leveling the ground. Your pool needs a stable and level surface, or youre going to end up having one side thats fuller than the others. Ensure that the ground has no stones or roots are showing, and then pack the soil around the pool area using a leveling machine.

Make sure that you place patio blocks under all of the uprights of the frame to prevent them from sinking into the ground. If youre working with a large kit, it might take two or three people to help you with the job, unless you want to try and struggle by yourself, which isnt a great idea.

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Determine How Much Salt Is In Your Pool

Salt test strips are the best way to test how much salt you have in your pool. Brand-new pools usually have 0 ppm, which makes the calculations much easier. Traditional chlorine pools often have around 500 ppm.

Alternatively, you can take a sample of your swimming pool water to your local pool store. Most stores provide free, accurate tests.

Advantages Of Vinyl Liner Pools

If youre looking to get an inground pool and have a very limited budget, vinyl liner may be the best choice for you. Their material costs are low and as a result a vinyl liner pool will in most cases cost $5,000 to $10,000 less initially than their concrete or fiberglass counterparts.

With a vinyl liner pool, you have very few limits when it comes to shape and size. With todays technology, you can make the pool as deep and as curvy/straight/large as youd like.

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