Last Updated on March 4, 2019

Should you buy an above-ground pool?

If you have a lot of space in your backyard or garden and have been pondering how to use it, then consider an above-ground swimming pool. During hot and humid summers, a swim in a pool conveniently located in your backyard is a real treat. A membership at your local club or paying to go to a public pool might cost you a small fortune. You might also be forced to think twice before driving all the way to a faraway pool. However, with an above-ground pool, you can have a cool splash any number of times in a single day or even at night. Not only do above-ground pools suit your budget, they are also easy to maintain and manage. An above-ground pool is one of the best choices if the weather conditions in your area do not permit a full-fledged in-ground pool. Let us discuss the benefits and disadvantages of an above-ground pool in detail.

Temporary Arrangement

Above-ground pools are portable and movable, which means you can install them anywhere you wish and dismantle them. Setting up an above ground pool is just as easy as putting up a tent. All you have to do is position it in a predetermined area, inflate it and then fill it with water. However, a real swimming pool is a permanent and perpetual structure. You can neither move it nor dismantle it when you need extra space. Above-ground pools are simple structures that can be moved easily from one place to another.

Attractive and Easy to Maintain

Above-ground pools are easy to maintain and manage. Unlike permanent pools, they do not require regular cleaning, bleaching, filtering and the like. Also, you do not need to treat the water in it regularly to avoid allergies and infections. In an above-ground pool, the water never remains stagnant. If you setup your pool in the garden and have nice landscaping done around it, you will create a more realistic look.

Adjustable Size

Above ground pools are movable, so you can place them in whatever part of your yard that you like. They are also available in different shapes, sizes and depths. While your kids play independently in a toddler pool, you can swim laps or relax on a float in a full-size pool. You can also increase the depth and size of your pool as your kids get older.

Easy to Install

You can take inflatable above-ground pools wherever you go and have them setup in no time at all. You can do this all by yourself without any professional assistance. No digging, leveling or tilling is required for setup. In the case of traditional pools, however, you must have a hole dug a certain depth, have it flattened, have pipes and filters connected to it, have it cemented, tiled and later on filled with water. All of this is a tedious and time taking procedure. You will need to pay for the items necessary to put in the pool and the contractors to work on it. All of this requires a huge financial investment and plenty of time.

Privacy Guaranteed

With your own backyard pool, you will still have your privacy. You can wear any kind of swimwear you like without worrying about being looked at or criticized. This is not always possible at public pools, as there are often restrictions.

Now let us discuss the cons of installing an above-ground pool.

Fencing or a Barricade Might be Required 

Though above-ground pools are simple and easy to maintain, you might have to barricade them if you have kids or pets at home. You cannot leave the pool unattended when it is filled with water. Also, the local authorities might impose some rules as to the maintenance of such pools, so better to check with them before you install one at home. Some above-ground pool kits do not include fences. To keep them upright you might have to invest in fencing separately, and this could be an expensive affair.

Need a pool fence?

Brave the Damages

If you install an above-ground pool in your garden, the weight of the water-filled pool will spoil a huge patch of grass, so once you take it down, you will have to wait for new grass to grow. The pool itself could get punctured if it comes into contact with sharp edges or rough surfaces, and that much water leaking out in your backyard could cause quite a mess.

Cost Difference

The difference in the cost of above-ground pools and in-ground pools might seem to be a benefit factor for some while others might consider it a con. While an above-ground pool costs $1,500 to 5,000, the cost of installing an in-ground pool ranges from $7,000 to $45,000. Last but not least, selling a house with a permanent pool would be a nice payday for anybody; however, the choice is yours.