I've been reading quite a bit on this website for the past couple of days and have learned quite a bit. Thank y'all for the great information.
The brilliant idea struck me last week to get a pool. I definitely want to go above ground so I visited some of my local stores. What I found was at the very least disheartening. The 18' above ground kits were going anywhere from $3000 to $5000 with an installer charging upwards of $1000. This was not going to work with me.
I started searching online for DIY videos because the deal breaker for me was the installer. I'm pretty good with my hands and under 30 so I have plenty of energy to do it myself. After coming to the conclusion that this was something I could easily undertake with my roommate and girlfriend I began shopping online for pool kits. The $3000 Highland pool at my local store lacked the equipment I wanted and the pool was not salt safe. The $5000 Cornelius Kamika contained much of what I was looking for but at a steep price tag. I found discountpoolkits.com after many hours of searching but turned myself away after reading the BBB rating and complaints (plus searching this forum). I then found thepoolfactory.com on this forum and it looks to have what I am looking for. I am thinking of the below setup.
18'x52" Saltwater 5000 Round Pool
18'x52" Round Uni-Bead Portofino Liner - 25 Gauge
Hayward XStream 100 Cartridge Filter System 1-HP Power-Flo Pump
or
Pentair CC125 Cartridge Filter System 1.5HP Opti-Flo Pump
Confer Evolution Resin A-Frame Safety Ladder 7100
18' Round Armor Shield Liner Floor Pad
18' Round Peel N' Stick Foam Pool Cove
A couple of questions for ya'll.
First, what do you think of my setup? Am I missing anything? I was thinking about a robot as well and will get to that later in my questions. I will also pick up the standard leaf picker upper and a TF-100 test kit.
Second, which filter would be best in terms of the least maintenance and most energy efficient? Reliability is important as well.
Third, what about the pool pad I have selected? I read about the Perfect Bottom on discountpoolkits.com and it seemed to be an awesome product. I don't want to haul 4 feet of sand into my yard (I know some will be needed even if I level the ground) and don't want the hassle of making the cove if I can help it. Will the floor pad and cove work just as well as a Perfect Bottom?
Fourth, I was thinking about a robot as well. Does it require anything special to the pump? Should I plan to have an outlet close enough for it to be plugged into?
Fifth, do online pool retailers run amazing deals on Black Friday? I don't want to wait that long if they don't but if it would save me a couple hundred bucks I would force myself.
And last, the outlet I plan on using is in my large shed. I can easily run the wire to the shed and have the pump next to the shed but the pool will probably be another 5-10 foot away from the shed/pump. Will I be able to run pumping from the filter to the pool that far? If I need to put the filter closer to the pool could I dig a trench and then run a large gauge extension cord another ~10 foot contained in PVC and then bury it (I'm good with a lot of things, but not electricity. If forced I will learn but I would rather not)?
Thanks to everyone in advance for your answers and advice!
The brilliant idea struck me last week to get a pool. I definitely want to go above ground so I visited some of my local stores. What I found was at the very least disheartening. The 18' above ground kits were going anywhere from $3000 to $5000 with an installer charging upwards of $1000. This was not going to work with me.
I started searching online for DIY videos because the deal breaker for me was the installer. I'm pretty good with my hands and under 30 so I have plenty of energy to do it myself. After coming to the conclusion that this was something I could easily undertake with my roommate and girlfriend I began shopping online for pool kits. The $3000 Highland pool at my local store lacked the equipment I wanted and the pool was not salt safe. The $5000 Cornelius Kamika contained much of what I was looking for but at a steep price tag. I found discountpoolkits.com after many hours of searching but turned myself away after reading the BBB rating and complaints (plus searching this forum). I then found thepoolfactory.com on this forum and it looks to have what I am looking for. I am thinking of the below setup.
18'x52" Saltwater 5000 Round Pool
18'x52" Round Uni-Bead Portofino Liner - 25 Gauge
Hayward XStream 100 Cartridge Filter System 1-HP Power-Flo Pump
or
Pentair CC125 Cartridge Filter System 1.5HP Opti-Flo Pump
Confer Evolution Resin A-Frame Safety Ladder 7100
18' Round Armor Shield Liner Floor Pad
18' Round Peel N' Stick Foam Pool Cove
A couple of questions for ya'll.
First, what do you think of my setup? Am I missing anything? I was thinking about a robot as well and will get to that later in my questions. I will also pick up the standard leaf picker upper and a TF-100 test kit.
Second, which filter would be best in terms of the least maintenance and most energy efficient? Reliability is important as well.
Third, what about the pool pad I have selected? I read about the Perfect Bottom on discountpoolkits.com and it seemed to be an awesome product. I don't want to haul 4 feet of sand into my yard (I know some will be needed even if I level the ground) and don't want the hassle of making the cove if I can help it. Will the floor pad and cove work just as well as a Perfect Bottom?
Fourth, I was thinking about a robot as well. Does it require anything special to the pump? Should I plan to have an outlet close enough for it to be plugged into?
Fifth, do online pool retailers run amazing deals on Black Friday? I don't want to wait that long if they don't but if it would save me a couple hundred bucks I would force myself.
And last, the outlet I plan on using is in my large shed. I can easily run the wire to the shed and have the pump next to the shed but the pool will probably be another 5-10 foot away from the shed/pump. Will I be able to run pumping from the filter to the pool that far? If I need to put the filter closer to the pool could I dig a trench and then run a large gauge extension cord another ~10 foot contained in PVC and then bury it (I'm good with a lot of things, but not electricity. If forced I will learn but I would rather not)?
Thanks to everyone in advance for your answers and advice!