First Above Ground: Need Advice

[dannyboy44]

Grew up with in ground pools in Ft. Lauderdale.

Now older and semi retired. I cannot afford to build in ground and am not planning on moving.

I can go one of 2 ways

1. An inexpensive ($200-500) Intex or a more expensive Doughboy. I know there are many above ground manufacturers but have heard the Doughboy is the top of the line esp. the Tuscany model.

I mention Intex as for very little i can get wet but likely will want more pool.

Any thoughts on Doughboy as a company.

Allegedly lifetime warranty etc.

Can I go wrong with a Doughboy Tuscany or other model for that matter.

Of course I may need to build a deck around the pool as well. Oddly Doughboyclaims their pools can be completely buried?

Any help appreciated.

[PoolDoc]

. . . membership updated.

Doughboy and Intex are sort of opposite ends of the AG pool scale. If you've got the budget for a Doughboy, the only reason to even consider an Intex is if you aren't 100% sure you'll use the pool as much as you imagine.

Doughboy's often last a long time, but -- without actually looking at their warranty -- I'd caution that a "lifetime warranty" is usually so pro-rated that you'll be lucky if it's a 3 year full warranty.

If you bury the pool, it is unlikely to last as long as it will above-ground. Decks can be very nice, and offer privacy without additional fencing.

Putting an in-ground pump and filter combo on the pool can make maintenance considerably easier.

Good luck!

[suzyabbott]

You can go somewhere in between. We started with a 9x18 intex ultraframe and it was great for about 2 years. You suddenly will find that it quickly fills up with friends and neighbors! We looked at the higher end pools (doughboy, etc.) but we wanted something in between, reasonably priced but to fit more people. We went with a sharkline matrix from poolsupplyworld.com and had it installed in October. it's now open and crystal clear. We're using salt water but if you're using another method you may not need the resin. (the resin rails gouge EASILY).

Good luck!!

[CarlD]

Dannyboy, it sounds like you need to figure out what you're going to do with the pool. I've had a 15' round Intex and now have a 40' long pool you can do laps in (and I do). So I've been at both ends of the spectrum.

So...who is going to use the pool, and how? If all you want to do is relax in floating lounge chair listening to a ball game or your favorite music, I can tell you it fell just as good in my Intex as it does in my FantaSea.
Are you going to entertain grandkids? Then maybe a bigger pool is in order (though Intex Donuts go up to 18' rounds...and other brands go bigger!) Other adults, including seniors? Then something with a deck would be good.
Water therapy? Exercise? Laps? Just cooling off?

All this goes into the decision mix.