First big Above Ground pool

[Daddydave]

This forum has help me take care of our 14' intex pool last 4 years.
We are finally going to pull the trigger on 24' 52" steel wall pool this year.
Any tips or advice?
Local pool supply says we're looking at $5400 pool and list of items that come with.
Installer cost around $1900.
I'm in central ky area.
Thank you

 

[Mdragger88]

Prices vary by locale. But that looks like an ok price for a good well known pool.
Show us what exactly they are including with the pool package & we can help you make changes if necessary.
For instance, the place I got my pool from includes the permasalt system (glorified copper ionizer) so I had them take that off & upgrade my steps to big wedding cake ones.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Looks to be a good price depending on what you're getting for that price. At the end of season in 2022 we paid about $6900 which included a SWG and an upgraded step system; it included everything else for running the pool in that price.

Some things to be aware of... Install probably doesn't include the sand base, we were quoted as needing 4 1/2 tons. Electricity to the pool - We have a line running to the filter, my neighbor with an Intex pool runs an extension cord. There also seems to be a different electrical code for different types of AG pools besides the power to the pump - mine has bonding everywhere, my neighbor probably has zero bonding. Local building codes may be different for an Intex vs hard sided AG pool, in our area there are property offsets that we had to adhere to. I have to say that my township is a stickler for building permits for everything so what I needed to do may not be what you need to do. Good luck with the new pool!

 

[Daddydave]

Attached picture is what comes with pool.
I just sent a message for pump details so I can plan the electrical.
Thank you all
Let me know items should like at replace or upgrade.

 

[Mdragger88]

Looks pretty normal & plain - nothing weird like permasalt, the frog, etc.
You likely wont use 90% of the included chemicals. Mine are still in the shed from 5+ years ago
I did my own startup - I wasn’t about to let them pour all that junk in my pool. They weren’t there when it got full anyway so if I was waiting on them to return I would have had a green swamp!
Only thing I can think of is if there’s an option you may inquire about getting a 2 speed pump.
Its worth the upgrade if you can get it. Some places just don’t offer them.

 

[phonedave]

Does that installation quote include leveling? If so, that is a really good price.

As others have said, if they have to bring in material, then they may charge extra for it. I just had my pool replaced, and the deal was they came with a yard of sand on the truck, and if they needed to get more, then they would charge me for it.

Your electrical is going to be the other thing you need to figure out. In a semi-related topic, ask about bonding. My installer would not install the bond clamps on the uprights for my pool. He wanted the electrician to do that (insurance is a wonderful thing). I had two issue with that, you are supposed to bolt on the bond clamps (not use self tapping screws), which is impossible to do once the pool is assembled. The second was I did not have an electrician, since this was a replacement pool of the same size (and I was reusing my exiting filter) there was no electrical work.

Luckily I was home when it was installed, and when I gave him the bond clamps I bought, he said the electrician had to do it. So I just did it myself. I drilled a hole in each upright and bolted the bond clamps on with stainless steel hardware I had.

Just something to ask about, and if necessary coordinate with the installer / electrician.

 

[Mdragger88]

My install included so many inches of digging for free (6 i think) after that the crew charged by the inch and they were to be paid separately. I think I ended up paying around $500 cash extra for my dig. I also had to provide my sand.

 

[Daddydave]

What is everyone's thoughts on the attached cove and pad for the walls? Had some co workers recommended.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

What is everyone's thoughts on the attached cove and pad for the walls? Had some co workers recommended.

Our last pool and our current pool just had/has the sand cove and no wall foam. I never said to myself I wish I had the foam but then again I don't know what I may be missing!

 

[phonedave]

What is everyone's thoughts on the attached cove and pad for the walls? Had some co workers recommended.

I have had both.

I had foam cove and wall foam in my last pool

I just used foam cove in my new pool

In my experience, the foam cove is awesome. It makes it very easy to get a consistent shape, and maintain that shape. I think it makes for a really nice install.

Wall foam on the other hand, not so much. I did not notice any sort of heat retention improvements or reduction in external wall sweating (condensation).

It does make the walls minimally "cushy", but I am not in the habit of crashing into my walls, so I don't see the benefit.

Also, foam cove makes the installation a lot easier. Wall foam is a bit of a PIA. It gets wrinkly if you are not careful, and then sand gets stuck to the glue, etc. It's not hard to do, but it can be fussy.

My installer does not charge extra labor for foam cove. If I used wall foam, I think he charged $100 extra to install it.


Also, I used a pad for the first time on this new pool, but I have not been in it yet (I closed the pool the day it was installed). When I changed the liner in my old pool, I spent a *lot* of time getting the sand bottom perfect - leveling, compacting, removing ridges, compacting again, etc. I also took a lot of care putting in the liner to not disturb the sand. It was great, for about 2 weeks, and then it started to develop divots from people's heels. It made vacuuming a pain. I am hoping the pad helps with it.

 

[Mdragger88]

I like the idea of the foam cove- wish i had it personally & plan to use it next time.
Wall foam - not so much for the reasons phonedave mentioned. Spend the money on something else you need/ prefer to have like a test kit refill

 

[Newdude]

I like the wall foam as cheap insurance. It will give the liner a slightly better chance of not puncturing with dogs, kids or flying branches during storms.

It's R value is a joke so it only insulates on a technicality. Yes it does, but also no.

 

[Mdragger88]

On the puncture thing I am not convinced that it doesn’t make the potential worse since there is more give. But what do I know, my pool has a bb hole in it. Not sure if wall foam would have helped there or not?