The summer is quickly approaching, which means families are hopefully planning vacations as long as the immediate threat of covid-19 has passed. Even if you aren’t planning trips, you might be planning how you can have summer fun at home.
One way to have a blast with your kids this summer, including if you’re on a tight budget is with an above ground pool, but what should you know?
First and foremost, even if you opt for an above ground pool instead of an in-ground pool, you should make sure you have the same safeguards and protections in place that you would with an inground pool such as a fence surrounding it and a gate.
Beyond that, the following are important things to know if you’re weighing one of these pools for your home.
What Are the Benefits of An Above Ground Pool?
If you’re thinking about an above ground pool, one of the primary benefits is the fact that they are less expensive than an in-ground pool and sometimes significantly so.
It’s possible to get an above ground pool for just a few hundred dollars, depending on the size and shape you opt for.
The maintenance is easier when you go above ground versus below ground, and you can find them in so many different styles to suit different aesthetics.
It is only fair to think about downsides, though.
One big downside is the fact that an above ground pool is going to take on a significant amount of wear and tear over the years so you’ll ultimately have to replace it more than likely, although it may not be for several years or more.
If you opt for the cheapest above ground pool you can find, you’re probably going to see that it breaks down faster, and you may see things like eroding pipes faster than you’d like.
Safety and Size
Briefly, safety was touched on above, and if you have kids this is going to be a big concern for you. Even if you don’t have kids you want to make sure you choose a safe pool and also limit access so that neighborhood children can’t accidentally wind up in it.
If your kids are younger, you might want to think about a smaller and more shallow pool.
At the same time, if you’re going to spend a fair amount of money, you might want an option that can grow with your family.
If you have children, you want to put your pool somewhere that’s within eyesight of your house. You’ll also need to think about how warm the pool will be from the sun hitting it.
You may need to look into the regulations where you live and see if there’s anything, in particular, you need to do or have with your pool too.
Also important as far as safety is the filtration system and pump. If your pool isn’t clean, it’s not hygienic, and it can be dangerous for you and your children.
You should plan on maintaining your pool at least once a week with chemicals, and you may need to treat it annually with an algae treatment.
For an above ground pool, a sand filter is a common option, and to sanitize the pool, you might use chlorine tablets or salt.
Generally, an above ground pool may be safer than an in-ground pool if you have kids because they’re more difficult to jump or fall into, but still, you can’t ever let your guard down when it comes to kids and water.
Preparing to Set the Pool Up
If you’re going to get an above ground pool and especially if it’s going to be fairly large, you’ll have to prepare the site.
Factor this into your costs because you will need to make sure that you have a hole that’s wider than the pool and deeper.
Then, you can level it out with sand. You’re also going to need to put a ground cloth under it because you can’t put the bottom of the pool on a surface that’s abrasive.
Finally, you might opt to build a deck for your pool too, and that’s a good thing because it makes it easier to secure it and add a gate, but of course, this will add to the costs. If you are going to build a deck and you don’t have experience, you may need a professional to come and do this.
Overall, an above ground pool can be a lot of fun for a family, but it does require planning and careful budgeting.
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