Which swimming pool should I buy?

the Rock says...the frame-type pools are awesome --- I spent a summer at my cousins and he had one of these in his backyard...we had a great time...

for anyone interested in a frame-type pool, you might want to consider the following things:

>> the size of pool you're looking for --- which i guess would depend on

>> how much space you have in the backyard

>> how many kids and how old they are...also you and your spouse...

>> the budget that you're working with...

>> the warranty and service it comes backed by...

just my two cents worth...

Anyone have ideas on yearly cost for upkeep and maintenance on an above ground pool? One of those curiousity questions I've just never asked.

Thanks for the advice!

There's a wide range of pricing on swimming pools. Some of them are a lot more expensive than I want to spend ($5k+) which is why the framed pools look more attractive.

I think I have an idea how big I want the pool to be, but I should figure out how manageable it is to maintain and what kind of chemicals I need. It doesn't seem too involved, but to be honest I really have no idea.

Not sure but I was told in 95 it was about $1,000 for an inground pool. You may want to check with a pool owner and get it from the horses mouth. You have a lot of chemicals to add and a lot of testing of the water to keep it safe. There is also some liability issues if someone gets in your pool and has an accident. Is the pool going to be in a fenced in yard etc. You also may want to check with your insurance agent to see what the extra premiums are  before you go out and get a  large pool.

It is a little bit more involved than you may be led to believe. Perhaps if there is a town pool you could ask them if you could help them mantain it for a few days and you can drcide if it is for you and your family. In todays economics times a pool is a big investment but each family must decide for their own families. Will the pool  add value to your home. I know of 2 or 3 houses back home were the owner had to fill the pools in before a new buyer would buy their homes due to liability issues.

The village I live in might have a law about putting up a fence if you have a pool.
I'd rather have a fence anyway for privacy. 

Round pools are the best, you get the filter return just right for a slight whirlpool effect and mom gets to lie on a float in the middle, tanning like a rotisserie. Sand filters and chlorine is quite simple to maintain and annual cost for supplies is between 100 and 150. Never tried baquicil or the other filters. Above ground pools seem so much safer but the occasional bird or squirrel still falls in. If you get rust down the road, try a little bondo car repair putty. Wintering is a real art around here.

You're right, sometimes you can feel like a roasting chicken if you're in the sun too long!

When winter comes, do you need to empty out the pool altogether?

Down here in the South they do. If not you have all that merkey and smelly water in the spring  to deal with as well as all the bugs that get in it die and float for a while and then glide to the bottom and  disolve. You also have the a problem if the water freezes, it could expand and burst something and when it thaws out you really have problems. Don't forget the kids who may say ey we can slide on this or try to skate on it and fall through the thin ice. As I spoke about before a pool is a big responsibility and it may just be as inexpensive to go to th commnity pool or a friend who may have one. It is up to you and your family to decide.

As a kid we use to go to the pool some but we use to slip off and go to the swimming hole in the creek down from the house. If my mom only knew. One storey and then I have to get back to work as I am on my lunch hour.

We lived out in the country growing up and we had a creek that ran around between the subdivisions. Well when it rained, the creek would get up and overflow it banks. The water was running down it as rapids do. We use to blow up our floats we used in the pools or at the lake and ride the rushing water from the creeks for about a mile then walk back. We had some fun but as I think about it now we were a longer younger and not as wise as we should have been.  We also use to jump on the back on the PET milk truck and ride to the end of the road and jump off when he stopped. Mom  found about this and stopped it right quick., She got a phone call from one of the neighors who saw us riding on the back of the bumper.

All for now Back to it. Got to go earn some money.

Older and wiser now.  A lot older and a lot wiser.

Winter the pool full to the skimmer and get an inflatable pillow and a pool cover. Occasionally siphon water from the cover as possible, but freezing is not a problem. The pillow prevents the ice from pushing out the sides. 

To open the pool, shock with chlorine and stir. When it settles you vacuum it. Its easy if you know anybody with one. But maintenance includes regular vacuuming and chlorine. The secret is not backwashing the filter very often. They say aboveground pools don't add value....see me in july or August when its invaluable.

I agree with madgolfer.  We always leave water in the pool in the winter, just make sure its below the skimmer and drain all the water out of the pumps and hoses.

I love my pool, I can't imagine surviving a summer without it.  And considering the times, it could be a lot cheaper and definitely lasts longer than taking the whole family on vacation.

Ok, so some of the water stays in the pool during the winter. But what do you need to do to that water and the pool liner in the spring when it's time to get ready for the summer? Sounds like a lot of work?

I've taken pool covers off and the water is clear, but if its been hot, algae turns the water green. You add about a pound or two of chlorine (shock) and brush the pool walls and bottomliner with a long handle pool brush. After 48 hours, vacuum the bottom. Its once a year. Pool companies offer opening and closing services  for less than $200. A small price for the security of knowing your children and their friends can swim.

I had a friend that spent more time pulling dead animals (including a bloated Racoon!) out of the pool than he did enjoying the splish splash.   Sounds like way more trouble than it's worth in an area of the country where you can only use it 3 months.     When it comes to chemicals.....Baquacil (not sure on spelling).

I know that feeling so the pool always has a branch dangling in the water to give the critters a fair chance. Then when the pool is in use, the branch is tied up higher.

The Rock thanks birddog and madgolfer for chiming in with their thoughts and experiences... it sure sounds like some work to get to the splish and splash fun part of it... but still sounds like it'll be well worth it

hey dont buy yr pool when u can biuld it we did that abut 10 yrs ago . u can get the plans from yr local library , yr local hardware store might also hav the plans 4 sale too

We had a 15 by 30 oval pool growing up.  It is a lot of work and can get expensive.  It was a part of our chores growing up to take care of the pool, hint, hint.  To me it was well worth the fun, from what I can remember for our size pool it took anywhere from 45 min to 2 hours to clean, unless you have an automatic cleaner.  My parents never got one because my brother and I were automatic cleaners!!!!  Remember, a lot of work but a lot of fun.

I have an above-ground pool, 15 feet wide by 30 feet long, bought from Sears back in 1991.  These pools' usual life is said to be 7 years, so I've had extra years to buy chemicals for mine.  I'm figuring that I spend about $100 dollars on pool chemicals, mostly for chlorine.  If the pool owner remembers to balance the acidity of the water before adding any other treatment, chlorine works better and faster and costs less. Good luck with your purchase! luxdei

I'm a little farther south than Birddog333, and I never dump water from my pool.  I was glad to have water to share with neighbors when Hurricane Fran ended our electric service for 9 days — just one more blessing of having 11,000 gallons of water on hand in the pool! luxdei near Zebulon, NC