We ended up buying a doughboy Desert Spring 18x34 and are doing ground prep now. Husband got the concrete cut out about 18" all the way around where the existing pool was. Now we are waiting for the excavator to come this afternoon to dig an additional 2 feet deep.
We are running into issues though. The way doughboy explains installation for inground, you have to leave a 1/2-1" down from top screws on rails so it doesn't look like it will be completely inground. Looks like it's going to be a tripping hazard to me. But, I see pictures everywhere, even on their website where the top rails are flush, some even covered, by concrete or pavers and I've yet to find out how they did it with any expectations of changing the liner down the road. Also, we upgraded to the easy clip liner rather than the overlay because the store where we bought it told us going all the way inground we needed that type in case of replacement. So, no deep end, they're not expandable. HOWEVER, here again, I see pictures where pool is buried, rails covered, and a 7' deep end. Wish I could find out how to contact someone who has installed one that way so we could pick their brain! And, I have to complain just a little about Doughboy customer service. I've called the number, emailed them directly, even asked on their Facebook page to have someone contact me and they seem non-existent. Don't answer the 800 number, emails, nothing. I've been trying to talk to someone there since we bought it two weeks ago. Spending twice as much on this pool, you expect SOME kind of customer service!
We we never replaced the old pools liner, it was still in perfect shape. We lucked out on that pool, it was cheap, but a great pool. Never had a problem. We had two days of major flooding last year, our house flooded, and the water was coming too fast for drainage to keep up and the sides caved in. And now, looking back, my husband thinks it probably could have been fixed. We were too focused on the house problems and the pool just got away.
If if anyone has any answers, it would be GREATLY appreciated. I'm certainly not going to be as happy with this install if it's a tripping hazard.