Heather, the link below is to my build thread. You mentioned how such a small planned project grows out of control.
I started with a 16' blue blob pool. Loved it. Wasn't level. Collapsed on one side. Really surprised the neighbor! That was in 2011. In 2012 I decided to upgrade. I looked at the 18', not big enough. I wanted to swim a lap or 2. Then I checked out the 22' and the 24'. Well for just a little more, I could get the 26'! My husband was SO surprised!
I never hooked up the intex pump/filter that came with it. I ordered a Sandpro filter/pump combo and the intex SWG. Both took a dive last year. So I upgraded all my equipment, hard plumbed, built a deck and put up privacy fence around the back yard.
My small, fairly inexpensive project has just blown me out of the water! Of course I had to have furniture for the deck. A pool boy (Diver Dave vacuum), I've lost track of what my little $1000 intex pool has actually cost money wise. But, it has paid me back big time because even the work to maintain and improve the pool is like a vacation to me (some days it's more like therapy). All the upgrading is good exercise for the brain too.
Oh, if you get the intex SWG, unplug the copper bars. I completely removed them from mine and used S/S screws and nuts turned upside down (so only the screw heads were inside the SWG) to plug the two little holes. The copper bars will put copper into your water and they say that is what turns blond hair green. I've gone naturally blondish in recent years and didn't want my white hair turning green.
Sorry to be so long winded but, I had to laugh when you talked about the project becoming all consuming.
You brought back some good memories of my build. Thank you.
http://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/44406-The-process-of-installing-our-Intex-26-x52-quot-pool