I have decided that I would really like a bigger pool, being that IGP isn't an option for the foreseeable future, I'll be going with an AGP type.
I have a relatively massive yard, so that's really not an issue, but I have some questions on shopping for one so I don't get taken since I'm buying used.
Sorry they're a lot of questions, but I kept 'em pretty short. You don't need to answer them all at once either.
1. How old can a liner be before it's too old to drain, fold and move. Then successfully set back up without it ripping, tearing or not stretching back into place?
1a. How do I tell, is there a way to tell this before hand if the liner is in good shape? Elasticity and stretch wise or what not.
You should be able to tell what my climate is by my previous posts as well as my location info.
2. If the liner is shot, about how much do they run for the bigger professional AGPs? Such as Hayward, Doughboy, or what not.
3. I'd really like to be able to have some sort of deep end, but it looks to me like that's only possible if it's an expanding liner an hasn't been cut, or they already have a deep end and I would have to match that depth at max. Is that about right?
3a. I have seen a few sellers that have the liner excess tucked in under the rim. They say it's an expandable liner, is that OK or does that ruin it?
4. I have looked at plenty of posts showing the build process, unfortunately nothing about the actual bonding (grounding) procedure, just talk about it, no actual steps or how-to's. Is bonding really necessary so long as the pump is on a GFCI breaker?
5. I haven't seen any specifics on what a cove really is and how you do it it, let alone what it's for. Although I have read a lot of talk about it, again no specifics and still lost there. HELP please??
5a. It seems there are several kinds, just building it into the dirt, IE some sort of dirt/sand shelf around the inner perimeter on the liner side. The other kind being some sort of rubber or hard foam/styro, maybe even plastic things. If that's the case, what am I looking for when I buy the pool, do I need to inspect these before plopping down cash?
6. It's wintertime, I'd like to buy one during the off season as I'm assuming most sellers will want to let go of it for less during this time. But I'm thinking it's actually going to be a lot more work to inspect, test & ultimately take it down during our cold and potentially snowy, icy winter months. Do you think I'm going to pay about the same now as I would in the spring when it's warmer?
6a. Obviously I can't outright test the pump and filter if the pool isn't up. Any ideas how I might go about that?
If not, then probably a bad idea to buy it during the winter months, as a large part of the purchase is the filter+pump so I hate to blow money on something they swear works, knowing full well with my luck I'll get it home, set it up and something is jacked. Seriously, that's my luck. HAHA
The durn things know I'm a tech, so they break on me. LOL
7. What brand is a good brand for quality and the sides not falling over, bursting or whatever else can go wrong?
8. Any other gotchas I haven't really thought of that I can watch for while shopping and inspecting?
Thank you so much!!
I look forward to your wonderful and wise input on the matter.
y_not
I have a relatively massive yard, so that's really not an issue, but I have some questions on shopping for one so I don't get taken since I'm buying used.
Sorry they're a lot of questions, but I kept 'em pretty short. You don't need to answer them all at once either.
1. How old can a liner be before it's too old to drain, fold and move. Then successfully set back up without it ripping, tearing or not stretching back into place?
1a. How do I tell, is there a way to tell this before hand if the liner is in good shape? Elasticity and stretch wise or what not.
You should be able to tell what my climate is by my previous posts as well as my location info.
2. If the liner is shot, about how much do they run for the bigger professional AGPs? Such as Hayward, Doughboy, or what not.
3. I'd really like to be able to have some sort of deep end, but it looks to me like that's only possible if it's an expanding liner an hasn't been cut, or they already have a deep end and I would have to match that depth at max. Is that about right?
3a. I have seen a few sellers that have the liner excess tucked in under the rim. They say it's an expandable liner, is that OK or does that ruin it?
4. I have looked at plenty of posts showing the build process, unfortunately nothing about the actual bonding (grounding) procedure, just talk about it, no actual steps or how-to's. Is bonding really necessary so long as the pump is on a GFCI breaker?
5. I haven't seen any specifics on what a cove really is and how you do it it, let alone what it's for. Although I have read a lot of talk about it, again no specifics and still lost there. HELP please??
5a. It seems there are several kinds, just building it into the dirt, IE some sort of dirt/sand shelf around the inner perimeter on the liner side. The other kind being some sort of rubber or hard foam/styro, maybe even plastic things. If that's the case, what am I looking for when I buy the pool, do I need to inspect these before plopping down cash?
6. It's wintertime, I'd like to buy one during the off season as I'm assuming most sellers will want to let go of it for less during this time. But I'm thinking it's actually going to be a lot more work to inspect, test & ultimately take it down during our cold and potentially snowy, icy winter months. Do you think I'm going to pay about the same now as I would in the spring when it's warmer?
6a. Obviously I can't outright test the pump and filter if the pool isn't up. Any ideas how I might go about that?
If not, then probably a bad idea to buy it during the winter months, as a large part of the purchase is the filter+pump so I hate to blow money on something they swear works, knowing full well with my luck I'll get it home, set it up and something is jacked. Seriously, that's my luck. HAHA
The durn things know I'm a tech, so they break on me. LOL
7. What brand is a good brand for quality and the sides not falling over, bursting or whatever else can go wrong?
8. Any other gotchas I haven't really thought of that I can watch for while shopping and inspecting?
Thank you so much!!
I look forward to your wonderful and wise input on the matter.
y_not