Above Ground Swimming Pools Guide

Creative Swimming Pool Designs

If you have what you might think of as a boring backyard, you may be looking for a way to make it into something special.  A swimming pool is often a great way to do just that.  Swimming pool designs and poolscape possibilities can be combined to make a fabulous showplace out of even a very drab piece of property.  Before you go nuts and just start looking for things to buy, it is absolutely essential that you plan out what you want your property to look like after the project is complete.

The undertaking of a large project like this can be a bit daunting, so organization is a must.  You should start by writing down some basic facts.  You can get more detailed as you go along.  A very important consideration for most people will be the amount of money they have to spend on a project.  Anyone who has taken on a home improvement project in the past most likely has realized that expenses can mount in a hurry if you don’t plan out everything as much as possible.

Once you have some idea of how much you are willing to spend, you may want to start the wheels turning on anything that may take extra time, such as obtaining swimming pool financing.  Many people do not take on any extra loans, but if you think that you might, it could be a good idea to find out where you stand before proceeding on to anything else.

Since this site is mainly dedicated to above ground swimming pools, we will concentrate on those as the main feature of your re-vamped back yard.  As I’ve mentioned previously, if you are willing to consider a used swimming pool, you can cut your costs substantially.  Even if you want to go with a brand new pool for your construction project though, you can find better prices on above ground swimming pools and accessories during times when swimming pool dealers are looking to clear out stock from their inventories.

As you consider your backyard, think about the amount of room you have to work with and how you want to utilize it.  A realistic assessment of your situation will help you  to end up with a better finished project.  Just because you could cram a 28 foot pool in to the space, doesn’t mean that it is a good idea.  You are planning not only for a pool, but also an entire poolscape that will be used for entertaining family and friends.  This doesn’t have to be complicated and expensive, but your overall experience will be a lot nicer if you can actually hang out by the pool without having to walk sideways to get by each other!

photo credit: Kecko

Think about any special features that you might want your pool to have such as lighting or a deck.  Both of those will require money and preparation.  If you plan on having cook out parties, make sure that you plan for room to cooking and for sitting down with friends to eat.

As you start the planning of your pool design and how you want the area around your pool to look, start with some ideas and be will to be a little bit flexible as you work toward your final outcome.  You may have the perfect design for your pool area all planned out.  If so, that is great.  If you are working from a general idea of what you want though, you may actually come up with ideas you like better as you move along in the project.

Cheap Above Ground Swimming Pools for SaleIt can be really frustrating when you know that you want to get a pool, but every time you go to a dealer with their advertisement in hand, you feel like you are getting the “bait and switch” done to you.  There are some times that the pool dealers actually do need to get things moved along.  You just need to know the right time to shop.

If you have been on the fence about getting a pool, now is one of the times that you might want to start checking for discount above ground swimming pools.  Of course it will all depend on what the pool retailers are doing in your particular area, but I know that where I live, I usually start hearing advertisements for the big Fourth of July sales starting to fire up right about now. Of course the swimming pool dealers also like to have sales at the end of the season and then again at the beginning of the season. The biggest challenge sometimes is making yourself wait for the next big blowout sale. As I said, if you still aren’t ready, there will most likely be end of the season sales near Labor Day as well, but the downside is that you might not even get to swim in your new pool until next year!  If you have kids, that might be a tough one to sell.  Most likely it will still be warm enough to squeeze out a little bit of time after Labor Day though. Personally, I skipped past all of that by purchasing a used swimming pool. That is an option that I can’t stress enough if you are willing to put in the effort to possibly take down a used pool and then re-install it yourself. It can really save some money. Above ground swimming pools are a lot like cars in this regard. As soon as they leave the “lot” they become a lot easier to find for a great price. Above ground swimming pool prices really aren’t that bad.  Some friends of mine live in an area where they are required by local ordinances to get an in-ground pool if they want a pool on their property.  That is a MUCH more expensive way to go.  Personally, I don’t think I would be too thrilled by the idea of local laws telling me what kind of pool I could put on my property, but that’s just me. 

If you already have a pool installed you might want to check for sales starting soon on above ground swimming pool landscaping accessories.  Some people have a real talent for making a pool look great.  That is one disadvantage of above ground pools.  They don’t look quite as nice and integrated as in-grounds.  For the price difference though, I can live with it and so can a lot of people who are working within a budget. You still might want to watch for sales though if you have been considering adding a deck or possibly getting a nicer pool ladder or some other “extra” for your swimming pool. The deals pop up, you just have to be read for the sales when they arrive.

If you’re purchasing a new swimming pool, it will most likely come with its own liner. If you already own an above ground swimming pool, or if you have picked one up used, you may find yourself in a position where you need to look at what is available in above ground swimming pool liners. Even if you do your very best to maintain your swimming pool in the best condition, eventually you’ll probably need to replace your pool’s liner. As you shop around for above ground swimming pool liners, check to see what the life expectancy is of each one and ask if there is any kind of guarantee that comes with it.

You’ll need to know what kind of swimming pool liner is required for the job before you can do anything else. Without the proper liner your pool is useless. Overlap pool liners do just what their name implies. The far edges of the liner overlap the side of the pool and hang down along the outside wall. Some people are fine with the way this looks, but if it bothers you you can simply trim some of the excess away to make it look a little bit neater. It might be advisable to leave a bit showing however in case any adjustments ever need to be made.

Beaded swimming pool liners are designed to fit into a track that holds them in place. If you’re not sure what you have, looking under the top rail should answer your question. If you still cannot figure it out take some photos of what you see underneath the top rail, so that you can show them to someone at an above ground swimming pool dealer near you. You do not necessarily have to buy anything from this person, but they will be able to tell you more about your pools requirements and even give you a quoted price that you can compare later.

This may seem obvious, but before you go to talk to anyone, you should know as much about you’re swimming pool as possible. This would include both the size and shape of your above ground swimming pool. An oval above ground swimming pool, we’ll have different requirements than the traditional round pool. There are also different sizes of swimming pool and this is very important when you are purchasing a liner. The measurement you’ll need for a round swimming pool is the diameter of the pool itself. For those who do not remember their high school geometry, this is the distance across the center of a circle. In this case the distance across the center of your pool.

Just as when you’re buying almost anything else, you will generally get what you pay for in an above ground swimming pool liner. Heavier gauge liners that are designed to handle more wear and to last longer, are going to cost you more money. The amount you spend will be determined by the quality of the liner you decide to go for in your purchase.

Finally you’ll want to think about what your swimming pool liner actually looks like. You may or may not have a preference as two patterns, colors, and the like. Most above ground swimming pool dealers will have a variety of patterns for you to choose from. Even if you decide to look for your swimming pool liner online, you most likely will be able to find many patterns available.

Finding Discount Above Ground Swimming Pools

If you are looking for discount above ground swimming pools, it is probably safe to assume that you would like a quality swimming pool but you do not want to spend a lot of cash.  Rather than try to point you toward one particular retailer or outlet, I think it would be more useful to show you some of your options as you search for a discount above ground swimming pool.

You can find above ground swimming pools cheap if you are willing to do a little bit of research and not rush into anything too quickly.  It really does not take that long to check out the options that are available to you.  You can learn a lot from looking on the computer and picking up the telephone.  You should also hang on to any circulars or advertisements you get in the mail related to swimming pools and swimming pool accessories.

Of course you realize that the best above ground swimming pools are going to cost more than the less extravagant models that you will be considering in your search for discount above ground swimming pools.  This does not mean that the pools you will consider are junk, just that you may not be looking at the biggest and the best  swimming pools unless you’re willing to adjust your budget a bit.

One major consideration that will play a role in how much you’re swimming pool will cost, is the size of the pool itself.  Generally, small above ground swimming pools are going to cost less than larger models.  Similarly, if you are willing to consider inflatable above ground swimming pools that are on the small side, you can save even more money.  An example of this would be the Easy Set swimming pool.  These are made by Intex above ground swimming pools and generally come in the form of a swimming pool kit.  If this is something that would interest you you’re looking at swimming pool costs starting in the low hundreds of dollars instead of thousands.  This company also makes larger pools but obviously, as the size increases so does the cost of your swimming pool.

For most people, purchasing a new swimming pool is a major investment.  Realistically, a brand new above ground swimming pool of 18 feet or larger in diameter is probably going to cost you at least $1500 just for the pool itself.  That may sound like a lot, but to keep it in perspective, in ground swimming pool systems can easily run into the tens of thousands of dollars.  You should also realize that you’re swimming pool will be serving you for several seasons if you maintain it correctly.

There is also another option that I have mentioned in other articles, which you may want to consider.  You can sometimes find used above ground swimming pools for sale at very low prices by highly motivated sellers in your local classified ads.  Once somebody has lost interest in maintaining a swimming pool, they generally just want to get it off of their property.  This sometimes happens when kids or grand-kids grow up and move away and no one is left with an interest in the swimming pool.  If the homeowners do not enjoy swimming themselves, keeping the pool up becomes another chore that they would rather not be bothered with anymore.  Taking a couple of weeks to scan your local classified ads could save you thousands of dollars if you are willing to move the swimming pool from somebody else’s property to your own.  If you choose this option you should know something about installing above ground swimming pools yourself or know somebody who does and is willing to help you.  Or, you can do a search for people in your area who will install the swimming pool for you.  Just be sure that the people you choose know what they are doing and are insured before signing them up for the job.

While you are keeping an eye on the classified ads, continue contacting above ground swimming pool dealers in your area and watch for specials that might be advertised on television or in print.  Some of the best times to find discount above ground swimming pools are at the beginning of the swimming season, the end of the season and around the 4th of July.

One more thing, if you do find free above ground swimming pools or used above ground swimming pools being sold for a good price, keep in mind that you may still need to buy swimming pool accessories to go with your new purchase.  This could include things like a swimming pool filter, swimming pool equipment for keeping the pool clean, and pricing above ground swimming pool liners to install in a used pool.

In conclusion, you can find good deals on above ground swimming pools if you do just a little bit of homework.  Realize that different swimming pool designs and sizes will bring different costs along with their own advantages and disadvantages.   Between motivated buyers trying to sell used swimming pools and above ground swimming pool dealers eager to move inventory, you should be able to find a well priced swimming pool that suits your needs without too much effort.

Considering Above Ground Swimming Pool Decks

A deck around your pool can really add to the overall atmosphere of the poolscape.  Some decks are so huge and extensive that you can hardly even tell that  you are in an above ground pool.

One thing to consider when you’re purchasing an above ground swimming pool is what you’ll do with the area around your new pool.  This is sometimes referred to as the poolscape.  For some people this will just be whatever happens to surround the pool after it is installed.  Other people will have very elaborate plans.  Building on above ground swimming pool decks can be a bit of an expensive chore, but the results can be very nice.  I suppose a lot of this has to do with whether you prefer to focus on form or simply functionality.  Any properly installed swimming pool will cool you off when it is hot.  If you intend to do a lot of entertaining, you may have to put in a little bit of thought and money though. I think that most people would like to have a deck installed around their swimming pool if it was part of a package.  This does not happen too often though.  As I mentioned in a previous post, you can sometimes find some very nice stuff been given away for free if you look in your local classified ads.  This even includes above ground swimming pool decks.  It’s an individual choice whether or not you’re interested in looking for used decking material, but it can save you a bundle. If you do not even want to consider a used swimming pool deck, you may want to think about checking the costs of a prefabricated pool deck.  These can be purchased in a variety of materials and each has its own particular benefits and drawbacks, including cost and what the finished product will look like.

Many people decide that they do not want to have anything at all to do with the actual labor of installing their swimming pool deck.  In this case you should probably start looking for a reputable swimming pool contractor or other carpentry expert.  Word of mouth is often the best advertising for projects like this.  If you know somebody who has already had a swimming pool deck installed, ask them to share what they have learned.  Get as many bids as reasonably possible.  Do not wait for each person to come and give an estimate before calling the next person.  Contractors sometimes get busy and it can be difficult to pin one down to a time for an estimate.  You should also call several contractors because there can be a huge difference in the quotes given for completing the work.  You should also always check your local codes to be sure that you are following the letter of the law before installing anything that could get you fined for not following local rules.

I found this video that shows the construction of an AMAZING deck (and a few other things).  I think it is safe to say this project will not qualify as a discount anything!

If you’re going to purchase an above ground swimming pool, it is wise to spend the extra money and purchase a decent quality swimming pool cover as well. For the long term, purchasing both a summer solar pool cover and a winter cover would be a wise investment.

One of the hidden costs not mentioned in my previous article, is having to top off your swimming pool with water as the water evaporates during the hot days of summer. Keeping a solar swimming pool cover on your swimming pool when it is not in use can do more than just keep the water warm. It can actually help to reduce water loss through evaporation. Eliminating this water loss can really save on water replacement costs, as well as help you keep the balance of your pool chemicals consistent. Some people seem to struggle with this constantly. Personally, I’ve never had that much of an issue with keeping the swimming pool chemicals in balance, but if you do, slowing the evaporation process might help. The funny thing is that people sometimes don’t realize just how much water they can actually lose by evaporation. If you own a pool already, pay attention to how much water it takes to raise the level a couple of inches the next time you are filling and then consider how much must be going into “thin air” when the level drops. This in itself is a good enough reason to pick up at least a cheap swimming pool cover.

Swimming pools have a huge amount of surface area, this can lead to not only loss of water through evaporation, but also a great deal of heat loss. Solar swimming pool covers are available at prices which are quite reasonable. Taking a few minutes every evening to put the solar cover on your above ground swimming pool can really help a lot in keeping your swimming pool warm and free of debris. When you purchase a solar swimming pool cover, you’ll usually get what you pay for. The more expensive models will usually do a better job of keeping your pool consistently warm even when the nighttime temperatures drop. If you have set up your pool near a source of debris, such as the tree, a swimming pool cover can help protect your pool from falling leaves and other unwanted materials like bugs and bird droppings.

There are different varieties of pool covers. Some solar swimming pool covers look like huge, round pieces of very thick bubble wrap. Others covers are made of a heavy type of vinyl or mesh which can be secured in place. This latter type of pool cover is sometimes used to increase pool safety, but should probably not be relied upon as the only pool safety precaution used with your swimming pool. Check local ordinances regarding this area of concern. Most localities have requirements such as fences and swimming pool gates for the area surrounding the pool. The heavier covers are also used for winterizing swimming pools. Winter pool covers are secured in place when the pool is closed and then left alone until it is time to open the pool again.

Swimming pool covers are not extremely expensive, but they are another expense to consider when you decide to own a pool. You should look for the best combination of value and quality that you can afford. Before you purchase your cover, compare the prices available at several retail outlets. You should also take a few minutes to check out what is available for sale online. If you are not in a hurry to get a swimming pool cover right away, it may be wise to watch for sales on swimming pool accessories. You can often find sales for swimming pool related items around the 4th of July and at the traditional end of the swimming season near Labor Day. I do not recommend buying a used cover unless you can see it in use first. Even a small hole can be a starting point for larger tears and you really don’t want that bother. If you do go for something used, perform a thorough visual inspection before making the purchase.

Here is a video showing a neat invention. It is a roller for a solar cover being used by a six year old! Automatic pool covers can be purchased both online and at retail outlets. Retractable covers are designed to make life easier for the homeowner who doesn’t have helpers around when it comes time to get the cover off and on the swimming pool. For most, an automatic retractable swimming pool cover is a convenience item, but there are some people who might find that it is more of a necessity.

Exploring Hidden Pool Costs

In today’s uncertain economy, most people are not looking for ways to spend extra money.  Investing in a swimming pool is one of the last things that many people are thinking about.  Above ground swimming pool costs are much more reasonable than many people realize however.

Compared to the cost of taking your family on a vacation, installing an above ground swimming pool can actually be a bargain.  You must remember that you will have your pool for many years to come.  When you spread the cost of installing the pool out over several years, the investment really begins to look like quite a deal.

Some homeowners can afford the luxury of an in ground pool, but investing tens of thousands of dollars into a home improvement is not something that most people want to do if they can avoid it.  Above ground swimming pools are a much more reasonably priced alternative.  There are many above ground swimming pool options available.  Rather than spending thousands of dollars, a homeowner can invest hundreds and still have the luxury of being able to swim on their own property.  Above ground swimming pools come in a wide variety of sizes and shapes designed to meet the needs of almost any homeowner.

There are some hidden costs that must be taken into consideration when installing your swimming pool.  These are the little things that you may not think of when you are planning for your new pool.  The total of these costs will still not be anywhere near the cost of installing an in ground pool, but they do have to be taken into consideration.

photo credit: renfield
Here is a short list of things to remember:

• Your land and must be level.  If your property is not level, you may have to pay for excavating and leveling the area where you intend to place your above ground swimming pool.  The cost of this will vary greatly depending on the work involved and who you get to do the work.
• You must have access to electricity at your pool site.  Check your local codes to see what requirements there are for running electricity to your pool.
• If you intend to install a deck, realize that it will not be cheap.  If you’re able to do the work yourself, that will save you a considerable amount of money.  My jaw must have hit the ground when we got one estimate for a pool deck.  I had grand plans of a deck going about half way around our pool that included steps and a gate.  I also had the contractor figure the cost for using Trex to avoid splinters.  Total estimate for the deck: $8000.  It didn’t happen.  The following year my father-in-law and I converted some wooden steps we got out hands on to a mini-deck that works just fine.  It is only about six feet square, but our total cost was about fifty bucks.  That worked for me, because most of our time near the swimming pool is spent in the pool, not next to it.
• If you’re going to have somebody install your pool, It will cost an additional money.  Everyone wants to get paid and honestly, if you don’t know what you are doing, it is a wise investment.  If you do have the skilled labor available, putting the pool up yourself will save a nice chunk of change.

Even with these additional costs, an above ground swimming pool is still a great investment that you’ll have for years to come.  The convenience of not having to travel to get to a pool and the savings compared to paying for season passes is a real plus.  In fact, I would dare say that once you have your own pool, you probably won’t want to think about going to a crowded public pool again. Figure out who you might know that is qualified to help you as far as doing skilled work goes. If you have people in your family skilled in carpentry or electrical work, ask them for an estimate. Every little bit of money that you can save is a bonus. Once you start looking at the swimming pool options available to you, you might be surprised at how nice of a pool you can get (even with the hidden costs).