Looking to become a New pool owner. Need some help with purchase.

[mark44x]

Hello! I will be buying an above ground pool from The Pool Factory and I have some questions with the products and set up. I will be doing a 24' round saltwater pool and through my research I see I should go with a Resin Composite wall as that is what is best with the saltwater. I have never had a pool before and this is all new to me.

Going through the customization options on the Pool Factory:
Is it worthwhile to upgrade the liner from a 20 gauge to a 25, 30, 35 or even 40 gauge?

The filter system. This I need the most help with. Cartridge, Sand or D.E. If it matters I live in North New Jersey and there will be no trees around in the area of the pool. I would prefer a filter system that is less maintenance and more dummy proof but also less expensive over time.

Same thoughts/preferences with the Saltwater Systems. I see a Drop In, Return Jet and Hard Plumbing.

Would I be better in buying all these products straight from Pool Factory or will local stores possibly have the filters and saltwater systems cheaper? Thanks for all the help, Much appreciated!

 

[VinnyinNJ]

Welcome to TFP!

People have bought from the Poll Factory and I don't think anyone had complaints.

For your questions - Our last pool I think had a 20 gauge liner and it lasted about 19years. It was a plain blue wall with swirl bottom, the swirl pattern started delaminating about 15 or so years in and was almost completely gone by the time we got rid of the pool. Our new liner is 25 gauge and it's too new to say how long it'll last. Buy theoretically a thicker liner may last longer. Would I spend a ton of money more for it - no but a little bit more, $200-$300, as long as it's not killing the bank account - probably. As far as filters, I had a grid style DE filter on our old pool and I loved it! I didn't go with a DE this time because our dealer only sold Hayward filters with "fingers" and our township treats used DE as hazardous waste ... so I bought a sand filter. I can't really see a difference in filtration but I have heard DE cleans a pool faster when it gets yucky. I can say the few times in the old pool I had yuck it did clean fast! Salt system - I have one, the Hayward Aquatrol, and if I could do it all over again I may have gone with a brand people talk about here; I think it's Circipool or something like that. I would say you should hard plump you filter anyway so go hard plumb. You didn't mention a ladder system - we personally like a step system vs ladder. It is easier for some people to get in/out of the pool with them.

My thoughts about buying local... as long as you aren't paying an absorbent amount more it might be a good thing about buying local. Any issues can be addressed quickly and sometimes you get things that online won't give you. I went local and the pool store's price was inline with the pool factory plus they included the salt for the pool ($9 a bag or so), the sand for the filter (quick search $25 a bag) and hard plumbed the filter to get us going. Did they do a great job hard plumbing the filter not quite but all I had to do is add some unions to break apart the filter plumbing. If something goes wrong you have someone local assuming they are a good business.

I going to ask - have you talked to your township and know the codes for what's needed? There are setbacks from property lines and houses and electrical requirements. My township is really crazy about following their rules. If you have any questions, just ask!

 

[Bperry]

Hello! I will be buying an above ground pool from The Pool Factory and I have some questions with the products and set up. I will be doing a 24' round saltwater pool and through my research I see I should go with a Resin Composite wall as that is what is best with the saltwater. I have never had a pool before and this is all new to me.

Going through the customization options on the Pool Factory:
Is it worthwhile to upgrade the liner from a 20 gauge to a 25, 30, 35 or even 40 gauge?

The filter system. This I need the most help with. Cartridge, Sand or D.E. If it matters I live in North New Jersey and there will be no trees around in the area of the pool. I would prefer a filter system that is less maintenance and more dummy proof but also less expensive over time.

Same thoughts/preferences with the Saltwater Systems. I see a Drop In, Return Jet and Hard Plumbing.

Would I be better in buying all these products straight from Pool Factory or will local stores possibly have the filters and saltwater systems cheaper? Thanks for all the help, Much appreciated!

The resin pool walls are a good idea for water pools, not just salt water pools. Walls will rust the same with both.

If you want simplicity for filter, then cartridge is the only option. They all work fine and provide about the same water clarity but sand is heavy and takes a bit longer to filter and needs backwashing and DE can be messy and same backwashing.

 

[mark44x]

Welcome to TFP!

People have bought from the Poll Factory and I don't think anyone had complaints.

For your questions - Our last pool I think had a 20 gauge liner and it lasted about 19years. It was a plain blue wall with swirl bottom, the swirl pattern started delaminating about 15 or so years in and was almost completely gone by the time we got rid of the pool. Our new liner is 25 gauge and it's too new to say how long it'll last. Buy theoretically a thicker liner may last longer. Would I spend a ton of money more for it - no but a little bit more, $200-$300, as long as it's not killing the bank account - probably. As far as filters, I had a grid style DE filter on our old pool and I loved it! I didn't go with a DE this time because our dealer only sold Hayward filters with "fingers" and our township treats used DE as hazardous waste ... so I bought a sand filter. I can't really see a difference in filtration but I have heard DE cleans a pool faster when it gets yucky. I can say the few times in the old pool I had yuck it did clean fast! Salt system - I have one, the Hayward Aquatrol, and if I could do it all over again I may have gone with a brand people talk about here; I think it's Circipool or something like that. I would say you should hard plump you filter anyway so go hard plumb. You didn't mention a ladder system - we personally like a step system vs ladder. It is easier for some people to get in/out of the pool with them.

My thoughts about buying local... as long as you aren't paying an absorbent amount more it might be a good thing about buying local. Any issues can be addressed quickly and sometimes you get things that online won't give you. I went local and the pool store's price was inline with the pool factory plus they included the salt for the pool ($9 a bag or so), the sand for the filter (quick search $25 a bag) and hard plumbed the filter to get us going. Did they do a great job hard plumbing the filter not quite but all I had to do is add some unions to break apart the filter plumbing. If something goes wrong you have someone local assuming they are a good business.

I going to ask - have you talked to your township and know the codes for what's needed? There are setbacks from property lines and houses and electrical requirements. My township is really crazy about following their rules. If you have any questions, just ask!

Thanks for the reply Vinny. Yeah I am in Wayne and through my research online it looks like I need permit by Zoning and of course for the electrical. I have plenty of space in the backyard and the pool won't be near any property lines so I will have to contact their office to get more information on that.
I think I will swing by a few local pool stores and get some quotes. You made a good point that issues can get addressed quickly.
After reading some articles I was leaning to getting a cartridge filter.

 

[VinnyinNJ]

People here love their cartridge filters; I have flashbacks from when I was a kid! I'm sure back then it was severely under powered and didn't work correctly.

One thing I will say is please don't listen to pool stores on how to take care of your water. Buy yourself a good testing kit and take the advice you get at this forum! We aren't here to get money from you and everyone does want you to have a great pool experience.

Good luck with your search and don't be shy to ask questions!

 

[mark44x]

First up is the Aurora Saltwater from Pool Factory. Supposedly it has resin walls according to the description. I see great reviews online about this pool.

The other option is the Wilbar Sharkline Matrix. I would save about $1,700 going with the Matrix.

Does anyone have any experience with either of these pools? Or is there another saltwater pool model I should be considering?

Thanks!