| Nothing is more fun and inviting than a backyard | | | | Pools have gotten deeper in recent years. The |
| pool. Beating the summer heat with family and | | | | standard 48 inch high pool is now overtopped by |
| friends is one of summertime’s biggest | | | | 52 inch and even 54 inch tall models. |
| pleasures. With the huge popularity of above | | | | To hold water, your pool needs a vinyl liner. There |
| ground swimming pools this major backyard | | | | is a large selection of patterns from simple blue to |
| water feature is not only fun but affordable. | | | | exotic looking tile motifs and even a liner that |
| Getting the right pool for your home and budget | | | | mimics a tropical reef complete with fish and coral! |
| can be a daunting affair. So many choices and | | | | Most pool packages are sold with an overlap style |
| such odd terminology; hopper bottom, skimmer, | | | | liner. These liners wrap over the top of the pool |
| return lines, cove etc. It’s not really that | | | | wall and cling to the outside of the pool. The liner |
| hard to cut through the noise and find the above | | | | is held in place by the top rail. You will also see |
| ground pool that’s right for you. | | | | beaded liners. These snap into a thin receiving |
| Above ground pools come in two shapes; round | | | | strip just under the top rail on the inside of the |
| and oval. These shapes are available in a number | | | | pool and eliminate the overlap. Beaded liners tend |
| of sizes that most manufacturers sell. The most | | | | to be an upgrade and cost more but they are |
| popular size is the 24 ft. round pool but round | | | | usually a heavier, 25 gauge vinyl rather than the |
| pools are available in diameters from 12 ft. to 33 | | | | 20 gauge common in overlap liners. |
| ft. Oval pools usually start in the 12 ft. by 20-24 | | | | The most important purchase after the pool itself |
| ft. size and get as large as 21 ft. x 41 ft. The | | | | is the filtration system. If you make an informed |
| area for your pool and your budget will combine | | | | choice your pool will run cleaner and be less work. |
| to suggest the size that will work best. The ideal | | | | Sand and cartridge filters are the usual choices |
| pool location will get at least 6-8 hours of sun | | | | available for above ground pools. Each has |
| during the summer and should be as flat and | | | | advantages and drawbacks. Filter sand is |
| unobstructed as possible. Trees in particular can | | | | inexpensive but if neglected can turn nasty and |
| be troublesome if too close to a pool. Power lines | | | | sand filters are a chore to clean and re-fill. |
| or telephone poles are right out! Keep in mind that | | | | Cartridge filters require less maintenance but |
| many oval pools have side supports or buttresses | | | | cartridges do wear out and can cost over |
| that can jut out as much as 2-3 feet from the | | | | $200.00 to replace. |
| base of the pool. Some newer oval designs have | | | | The heart of any pool filtration system is the |
| done away with buttresses that allows oval pools | | | | pump. A good pump, properly matched to the |
| to go where ovals have never gone before. | | | | size of your pool will give many years of |
| Above ground pools are nearly always made of | | | | dependable service. Don’t buy too much |
| either steel or resin/plastic. Steel pools have been | | | | power. Pools need to have clean filtered water |
| around for more than 40 years. Resin pools are | | | | not imitate Old Faithful. Most above and many |
| relative newcomers. Corrosion is always a | | | | in-ground pools work well with no more than a 1 |
| problem with steel pools and resin pools definitely | | | | hp. pump and motor combination. Small to mid-size |
| will not rust. Resin pools generally cost more but | | | | above ground pools do well with ¾ hp |
| industry figures put the average life span of an | | | | units. Proper pump sizing will use less electricity |
| above ground pool at between 4 and 5 years. | | | | and less wear on hoses and filters. |
| Rust may not be a factor! The choice is yours. | | | | |