We regret getting an above ground instead of an in-ground.

[rweiler994]

We plan on having a deck built, but it is going to have to wait a bit with current lumber prices, and we want to do the decking with composite to avoid the maintenance/sealing etc. We are waiting on the other 2 quotes, but the first one in for a simple 6x8 deck is at $8500, almost as much as the pool...

 

[Newdude]

We are waiting on the other 2 quotes, but the first one in for a simple 6x8 deck is at $8500, almost as much as the pool

That was my original quandary. The ABG oval pool was $6k. The fence was another $6k and the full deck was $12k. It put the project into IG pool (only) land. But of course that needed a patio and a fence as well and the $6k pool ended up costing $60k.

We were over the moon happy with what we ended up with, but it’s not an easy call for anybody to make. There is nothing wrong with doing either in stages to get something cooler in the end. 10 years from now you won’t even care about the 1-2 years it took to get there.

 

[rweiler994]

I agree, your deck looks amazing, and is huge compared to what we asked for quotes for, hence why we decided to wait so we can have it built how we want it, not limited to an already restricted budget due to pool purchase/install.

 

[cowboycasey]

Prices have gone up that much... I put in my 6 x 10 deck with stairs for 600 dollars plus supplies... Yes I built it but man....

New above ground oval 18x33 install

just bought these steps and sealed every single hole/opening in it.. it really wants to float now so I made a trip to Academy sports and bought these and plasti-dipped them.. 90 pounds should do it, good to go in the water now :)

www.troublefreepool.com

New above ground oval 18x33 install

just bought these steps and sealed every single hole/opening in it.. it really wants to float now so I made a trip to Academy sports and bought these and plasti-dipped them.. 90 pounds should do it, good to go in the water now :)

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[rweiler994]

What did you seal the holes on your steps with? I think it will take more than 90 Lbs. to weigh the ones I got down, much more plastic area. Also anyone else have the plastic steps and done something different than fill them with water/sand?

 

[cowboycasey]

I used 100% silicone to seal them, worked for about 6 years and they started coming off... Have not done anything to them and no issues with greenies so far

 

[rweiler994]

I think the first year I will try to just use weight, and keep water in spec, I considered drilling a few extra holes for flow also side to side.
On a different note...how did you do the lights on your pool, those are so cool...

 

[kellyfair]

PSA: Don’t fill with sand! It turns into an algae garden! Here’s an example from my pristine Intex When I pulled the stairs out.

 

[kellyfair]

I cleaned them out (took forever) and drilled a bunch of holes in them before I put them in the new pool. I haven’t weighted them yet, but once they filled with water they didn’t move much when I got in. I’m going to use a couple of bleach bottles filled with gravel, water and a bit of bleach as weights.

 

[thefloatqueen]

We have an above ground. And yes, using just an A frame ladder is a huge pain in the Rear with small kids. I hated it - If I did not want to swim, I had to awkwardly sit on it to watch my oldest swimming. We dealt with it for 2 years until we saved up enough to expand our deck out. Get a deck! You won't regret it. I have landscaping on the side of my house for privacy. Would I have liked an inground pool? Yes! However, I like the idea of retirement even more and saving my money and living within my means. You can certainly make an above ground pool into your own oasis! It just sometimes take a little time.

This is the type of deck we want to do next spring! We already have a small deck in our backyard that came with the house, we just want to expand it to the pool. Not looking forward to using an A-frame ladder/steps this year again, but the groundwork is blowing my budget out of the water. Yours looks great!

 

[BowserWowser]

Looks like I already missed the boat on pool stairs for this year. I can find the ones for inside of the pool, but the complete "entry system" that has both sides plus the "bridge" piece look to be $1200+, and that's if you can find them in stock anywhere. Thanks a lot, COVID!

 

[rweiler994]

Looks like I already missed the boat on pool stairs for this year. I can find the ones for inside of the pool, but the complete "entry system" that has both sides plus the "bridge" piece look to be $1200+, and that's if you can find them in stock anywhere. Thanks a lot, COVID

I felt the same, but still shelled out for mine, it took 2 different vendors to get system, and color will not match, steps are grey and connector/enclosure kit has a blue step, but with my size and wife's health it is worth it. but if you look hard enough there are some still out there, like these, they are steeper than we wanted, but they are still steps on both sides and <$600

FYI I ended up buying two of these and then this. I actually got the steps through Lowe's with a 10% veteran discount, so if you look around you may be able to find some step kits cheaper than Amazon, but you are right they are not easy to find.

 

[PoolBrews]

35 years ago we installed our first pool - it was an 18x36 oval inground pool in MI. After one year, I built a small deck deck with a locking gate for access to the pool and safety for our two small boys. Both boys were fish within a year (at the ages of 3 and 5!), we used the pool for 5 years.

This was enough to convince the Mrs. that we had to have an inground pool The AG was sold to a buddy ($100, plus he had to remove it...), and we put in an L shaped inground (42' x 16' across on the deep end, then 30' across on the shallow end). We've never looked back. I'm in my 3rd home and 4th pool in 35 years. I never regretted the AG pool. It was an inexpensive way to ensure we really wanted a pool.

Based on you even asking the question, I'm going to say just sell the pool NOW, get bids, and get started on what you really want

 

[Newdude]

Based on you even asking the question, I'm going to say just sell the pool NOW, get bids, and get started on what you really want

I’m going to +1 here and expand on it with some perspective. By using the ABG of it isn’t quite cutting it for you, although the better economical choice at the moment, You have to weigh the precious loss of time.

When we decided to build a pool last time, the natural choice was to save up and not owe any money on it. But my kids were 4 and 8 at the time and that would have stolen several years from them. Then a year or two more before having the yard put back together enough to want extra company over. By taking a loan we made sooooooooo many memories that made the $6k(?) in interest worth every penny to start the process right away.


i mention this because I bet your grandkids are similar in age to where mine were at the time and if you wait out 5-10 years with the above ground pool before moving forward, you may miss the window where Grammy/Grampy’s house is just the coolest place in the whole wide world. Once they are tweens/teens, it’s all eye rolls and *FINE !!! We’ll go swim at Grampy’s if we HAVE too’

It’s not even necessarily the type of pool between IG and ABG. Kids are resilient and will enjoy either. But the larger pool opens up more possibilities where all the grandkids can play with their cousins and you’ll be more apt to have all your kids and grandkids over if you have room for them all.

The pool will work great as long as you decide. The memories and time cannot be reclaimed later.

Food for thought.

 

[phonedave]

My ABG came with the house, so I really cannot have a regret. However, I basically grew up in my neighbors in ground pool (their son was my age).

Yeah, the diving board and slide were pretty cool, but in retrospect they were not *that* cool, and the ability to stand in my ABG is a plus.

I have a deck about half way around my pool and we are on 1/2 acre lots here. No issues with neighbors

 

[nobueno]

We're very happy with our above ground. 20x40, w/ a deep end and even after the deck, it still cost us something like 1/8th of what an in ground would've cost us. With the deck, nice steps, and a deep end, we don't mind it at all.

 

[phonedave]

Maybe if I was in a warmer climate (like the OP in Georgia) I would lean towards an in-ground. Then I would use it year round and get a lot more use out of it.

Here in NJ, I open my pool in late May, and close it up in early September. 3 months of use per year. That is a factor in ABG vs In Ground for me.

 

[S-Merry]

I would love to have an in-ground rather than our AGP, but with all the drainage issues we have on our heavy clay lot (so many issues!), being in MN with a short pool season, and already having a 12 yr old when we put it in, the AGP was the better choice for us. This will be our fourth summer with it, and if it makes it another three, we'll be happy.

At that point we'll be about ready to downsize, and are looking at a plan to convert the pool area to a (more desirable for the area) patio extension with a gas fire-pit and a pond/water feature (we dug a deep end for the pool). The sand base, hole for the pond, gas line, and electrical are already out there, so once the pool is removed, it's just a few days of pavers, liner, rock work and plants to make the switch.

Maybe we'll get an in-ground at the new place, wherever that is.

 

[KellyVB]

I cannot say about a deck for your agp, but i would recommend getting a good set of stairs for your pool and this will make it safer entry and exit of the pool.

AMEN to that. When we got our AGP 10 years ago it came with the CHEAPIST ladder. It was dangerous and didn't last 3 months. We shopped around and got a really good one. There not cheap, back then ours was $300, BUT it is still in use today. Moral, DON'T skimp on your ladder

 

[GregN]

Thanks everyone. I just ordered some stairs and I’m pretty excited about them. I love those deck ideas! I had never seen one with the bar around the pool, those look awesome. Mostly I’m just bummed that the kids got back from their friends house and were talking about how awesome their pool and diving board was.

Make sure you look into whether or not those stairs can be converted into a set that attaches to a deck if you decide to build one (i bet they do). We put in our AGP pool and during the first year, had an A frame ladder that got the job done, but it is a bit of a pain. Last spring, I built a second deck at pool height level, connected it to my existing 1 story deck and WE LOVE IT. No more having to go down, walk across lawn, and then go up the A frame ladder. Having a deck built around even just 15-20' of deck perimeter makes a BIG Difference. No, it is not an inground, but we really enjoy it. Just something to think about....enjoy what you have this summer!!



Greg