What to get for a successful-fun-low worry-new AGP

[Caplewis2001]

Hello,

I am looking into purchasing an AGP. I am open to shape- I think I'd like it to be 21' or 24' ft with a 52" or 54" wall. My yard is not perfectly level, but it's not terrible. I think I can rent a sod buster and enlist some of the high school baseball team to help me excavate and level the spot. My husband and I have had large aquariums for years, so I think (with lots of research here in these excellen forums) we will get the hang of chemical balance fairly quickly.

My husband feels a saltwater set up will be a bit easier to maintain and has a nice water quality without so much eye burn. I'm fine with that. Knowing he wants a saltwater system definitely reduces the pool type options which is a good thing here.

My daughter will be a sophomore in HS... she wants an AGP and I really want our house to be the house everyone wants to hang out at... it's just nice to know where the kids are... I need a pool that will not be terribly hard to keep up and will provide lots of fun for some teens to use.

- I am sorry if this was too much background- I didn't mean to write a novel there!


Anyway, I'm looking around online for a pool package- yikes! When I find a pool that looks good- I get totally overwhelmed looking at the millions of extras. I don't want to go too far above 2,000-2,300 if possible.

Here are my questions:

Is there a specific pool website you recommend for purchasing an AGP?
Intex pools seem to be the most reasonably priced- I see there's a forum of Intex users here- are they a good investment?
What gauge of liner makes the most sense?
What about a ground liner pad?
What type of pump should I get- one that comes with a "package" or are there better options bought seperately? Horse power has to be important- any suggestions?
I need to know the best options for setting up the pool for saltwater too.
I think a solar cover and winter cover are good investments- any suggestions here?
What about a skimmer/cleaner- good to have?
A ladder or stairs for sure...

I'm sure I've left out other critical components to consider- I am open to suggestions!


What do I NEED for a great pool?

:grin:Thanks in advance!​

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[rj2222]

It all depends how serious and how of an investment you want. Also consider what you want to do in the pool activity wise and how many people at a time. I've had an Intex ultra for 6 years now and it really suits my needs. Definitely get a solar cover to keep it warm and to help keep debris out. I know Intex ones come with pumps but you'll find people on here who retrofit them to use more powerful ones. My word of advice in general, keep up on the regular maintenance once you get it, you'd be amazed how many problems on here are caused by people not doing that.
I know I didn't answer all your questions but hope that helps.

 

[Caplewis2001]

It does help- thanks so much! Knowing you've been happy with your Intex for 6 years is a big help for me! I can see my post was a lot to ask from a group.

I'll try to ask individual questions about best saltwater and sand pump options, overlap vs. bead liners, ground cover options, and skimmers. Those seem to be the most important investments for start up.

I just want a fun pool for about 3-8 people at a time. I want it to last and I want it to be easier to maintain (with of course keeping up with regular maintenance) once it's set up. I'd love to stay under 2,500 before installation. I'm leaning towards a 21x53... but I'm open to options (a big part of my dilemma).

There are just waaaay too many options- it's hard for a newby to know the brands and products worth a splurge and which to really stay away from.

Thank you for jumping in!

 

[azide999]

The most important thing for your pool is make sure the ground is level! It is possibly the most annoying thing about installing an AGP, but do make sure the ground is level, to within a 1/4 inch for viewing. If it is not level, you will see this when the pool is filled with water - I highly recommend making sure that the perimeter of the pool is very level.

 

[jeffchap]

I've had a number of Intex pools over the years and I think they are a fantastic value. Yes, they will rust out after 4 or 5 years. But for what they cost, you can buy a new one every few years and still come out ahead.

As mentioned, consider upgrading the pump/filter and installing a Hayward Dyna-Skim skimmer and you'll be much happier with it in the long run.

 

[CJadamec]

One of the metal framed soft sided pools like the ones from intex can be a great pool to start out with and there are a large number of people here that leave them up for years without much hassle. Properly installed and maintained you should expect 5-10 years out of this type of pool before you start to either have frame rust issues or liner wear issues.

The pool factory, an online retailer, has been well reviewed by a number of people here. They have a good selection of traditional hard sided AGPs. There are other options online they are just the first that comes to mind. They are going to cost more but for the money you will get a longer lasting pool with better filtration and pumps right out of the box. You can "upgrade" a soft sided pool with better pumps and filters but it isn't a standard option. The cheapest of the hard sided pools installed and maintained properly should last 10-15 years before any major issues with the frame. The mid range pools 15-30 years, and the more expensive pools 30+ years on the pool frame.

As for size of the pool go as big as you can afford and fit in your yard. Round pools are much easier to install than ovals. Cheaply designed and built oval pools can be very difficult to get right. Make sure to actually measure your yard before buying a pool. You will need at least 2-3 feet of extra space around the entire pool to build it. So if you are getting a 24 foot round pool lay out a 27 foot circle when planning where it will go in your yard.

When you figure out the type of pool you will go with we can dig deeper into other options. You are welcome to ask all the questions you want to.
Here are some basic thoughts on equipment and extras.

Pumps : a 2-speed 1hp pump is ideal and plenty big enough for almost any AGP.

Filter : Sand is the easiest to maintain and use and generally the cheapest option. I would say minimum size of 19" possibly bigger if you get a bigger pool.

I've never found a pump/filter combo kit that is actually a good deal. More often than not the pump is a cheap energy hog and you are better off just buying the pump and filter separately.

A salt system is a great way to go and as far as "salt ready" rating on pools its mostly just marketing hype. All chlorine pools will have a build up of salt in them and after a couple years a "non salt" pool will have enough salt in it to run as a "salt pool." If you want to run a SWG don't let that dictate what kind of pool you buy. Just get the SWG. Expect to pay between 500-750 for a basic SWG that will function properly. Discount salt pool is a good place to look and the Circupool systems are a good value for this type of pool.

Solar covers are a great idea don't get caught up in the hype. The cheapest one you find that fits your pool is great and pick the color that best matches your pool. A cover reel or some way to handle the cover and make it easy to put on and off is worth the investment. They are big and get heavy when wet.

The more money and effort you put into how you will get in and out of the pool will have a direct correlation to how much the pool gets used. The easier it is to use the more likely it is it will be used. Don't forget to plan some sort of walk way to and from the pool so lots of wet feet aren't dragging grass/mud into the pool or into the house.

More to that point I strongly recommend a deck to go with the pool even if it will be next years project plan for it now with where you place the pool.

A winter cover is another thing you will need but the type you get will vary depending on the pool you get. It is something that can wait until the fall to purchase if need be.

 

[NoTime]

I wouldn’t want smaller than my 24’ pool with teens (unless there was a yard size limitation)

And as referred to, the general recommendations here are large filter and lower hp motor (more HP just means higher electrical bills)

 

[chipchip]

We bought a Lomart Verona from Pool Supply World and we got the liner there also. We bought a pump and filter from Sunplay. We paid a company to come and level the ground and install it, they did all the work. It was a 33-foot pool and with all our expenses plus the install it was about $4000 total. Previous to that we had a 22-foot Intex and it was fine for a year or so but we installed it ourselves and it was not level. A level pool is very important.

I want to mention that a properly maintained pool will not cause eye burn that you mentioned. And also, a salt pool is still a chlorine pool, which you probably know but I wasn't sure based on your comments.

Good luck!

 

[Caplewis2001]

Thank you! I didn't see this earlier- I really appreciate that tip!

 

[Caplewis2001]

Thank you sooooo much! Your response answers so many of the basic wonderings I had. Now I feel like I can start to ask more direct questions. I was especially curious about the filter/pump/saltwater setup.

I just posted another question related to that in the pump threads.

Sorry I didn't see this sooner- I was on vacation at the Atlantic ocean in Melbourne Beach, FL for a week- no time to think about a KY pool instal while enjoying such an awesome natural pool!