A number of us here have done DIY installs of commercial solar heat panels, which is a viable option, we generally feel that trying to build a DIY solar collector is not economical, you are far better off buying a commercially built panel and installing it yourself. As to which one, that depends ona number of factors, personally I opted for using Techno-Solis panels (same as the house label Vortex panels sold by Solar Direct), but Aquatherm was a close second, at least for me. There are also other big names out there like Fafco and Heliocol, both of which are closely tied to their dealer / installer networks which makes buying their products difficult for the DIY'er. As to mounting location, south is best, followed by west then east, exact details depending on angle of roof, your latitude, desired swim season, etc. In general no extra pump will be needed, however you will most likely need to run your pump on high when using solar heat, you will also want a solar controller is you do not have an automation system that supports solar heat. Without a solar controller you can loose a lot of potential heat as solar panels also make very good pool coolers in rain storms and even during cloudy days.
If you search the forum you will find many solar install threads, I suggest reading them as they will likely bring up topics you have not yet considered.
Ike
