Do you wish you would have went with a different shape pool, round or oval?

[daltrey]

I cant seem to make up my mind between round or oval. I have plenty of room for either. On the one hand i like that the round pool holds more water so it would seem that you could swim around in it more. but on the other hand, i like the long pools 33'-40' because you could use them as more of a lap pool.

does anyone here wish they would have went with the other size and why?

thanks

daltrey

[virangos]

15 x 30 oval here. Love it. A friend has a 28' round pool, and as nice as it is I really like the oval better. Like you said being longer it gives you the room to do laps.

[sevver]

I have a small 18' round, it is fine for now, but eventually I want either an inground or else a larger above ground. I like the rectangle pools for the above ground ones, and I would especially like for it to have a deeper end. I would like a something like 40' long, and as wide as possible.

[CarlD]

My personal opinion is that anything you can do in a round pool you can do in an oval of the same length. But the oval has far less water: consider a 33' pool, with a true depth of 4'. A 33' round will cover 855 square feet and hold 25,600 gallons of water. A 33'x18' oval will take up 524 square feet and hold 15,700 gallons. Less chemicals, less to filter, less yard eaten up, easier to cover with a solar cover and a winter cover, but still 33' long so you have ALL the advantages of the round.

[hrsdennis]

Hi, Oval pools are little more expensive and a lot harder to install but I have to agree with Carl, they are a better value in the long run. Having had many different sizes I would have to say my current 15 x 30 is perfect. Big enough for swimming laps but managable cleaning wise. Just the right pool for me.

Dennis

[sloop]

I agree with Carl too. I have a 15X30 oval AG with a 6' deep end. It seems like a really big pool to me. I'm fighting algae right now and I'm glad I don't have any more water to treat. It was a pain to set up. But I really like it.

[CarlD]

But if you can, a rectangular A/G is, IMHO, much nicer. I have a 40' long rectangular and you can swim laps, and don't have to seek the long points of the pool.

However there seem to be only 2 kinds of A/G rectangulars--really, really inexpensive, like Intex, or really, really expensive like Splash, FantaSea or Kayak.

[Watermom]

Hey guys - there is nothing wrong with a round pool. Also, I think structurally they are stronger than an oval because the water pressure is exerted equally on all parts of the pool wall. Thus, no need for buttresses which in my opinion, don't look very good in your yard, and are a pain to mow around.

BTW - You know you're gonna get multiple answers to this question. It's generally gonna be whatever people have is what they are gonna recommend. Kind of like the "what is the better type of filter - de, sand, cartridge - debate!"

[Islander2C]

I agree with Watermom. What you have is what you are going to like, because in most cases you don't know any different!
I have an AG 27 Round and we love it of course. Lots of room for a few floaters (floating loungers)to be in at the same time and are not bumping into each other. I bought a badminton net and tied it up from one corner of the deck to the other and we can play easy 3 on 3 wide or even 4 on 4 no problems!
We also like the fact that we have 1/2 yard left for dog to run. We knew that what ever type of pool we were going to purchase, we were going to put decking all around it to give it the "feel" and "look" of an inground. We decided to go with the round and after building deck all around the round, we still have lots of yard left where as if we had an oval with the deck all away around, we wouldn't of had as much yard left.
No regrets here!
Good luck on your decision!

[CarlD]

Notice I keep saying "IMHO".

That translates as "InMy Humble OPINION".

In other words, what I like and prefer. When asked an opinion by the thread starter I gave it.

Daltrey now has to decide what is best for him/her (sorry, can't tell from the name). We can only give the advantages that we see and we value as individuals.

Round, oval and rectangular all have trade-offs--disadvantages and advantages. Daltrey must decide which are the most important in the Daltrey household.

Me, I prefer rectanular, oval and round, in that order. My reasons are based solely on my personal preferences for how I and my family use our pool. That's how it has to work for every pool owner. Personal preference.

I keep saying the best pool is the pool YOU love to use, that works best for you and your family. The worst pool is one you cannot use (having no pool falls into that category).

[ChuckD]

I guess the pragmatic side of me wants to put that investment to some kind of use, and for me that would be exercise. Our pool is 17x33 (came with our house) and, for me, it's just not long enough to do laps. I find I can push off and by the time I start my first stroke I'm already at the halfway point. Two or three more and I'm hitting the other end.

I should say that I spent most of my early years as a lifeguard and swimming instructor trainer so I have decent form.
But still, for any adult who knows how to swim, I think 33' just doesn't cut it. I have a dream of building a lap pool, one lane, 25 yds long, adjoining another free-form area for more hedonistic enjoyment.

A boy can dream...
C.

[Trimom]

II have a dream of building a lap pool, one lane, 25 yds long, adjoining another free-form area for more hedonistic enjoyment.

A boy can dream...
C.

He he he... that is my dream pool too! Be sure to add the waterfall in the free form area.

I chose the 21x41 oval for lap swimming - now I just have to teach myself how NOT to do a flip turn. Since I am training for another triathlon, I need to cut out the turns anyway.

[NWMNMom]

Got the 18x33 and it is as big as will fit into the area we have without having to use our dozer to push out more woods. I know a 33' round would have been cheaper and the structural issues, etc. We are buttress free so no mowing issues to deal with. I can swim laps nicely, but then at my age and current shape, swimming from one end to the other end is quite enough to get that old heart a pumping! Back and forth a half dozen times and I am ready for a big inflatable floatie and a Pina Colada.

I think I have heard that ordering and handling solar covers and reels with the really big round pools is more of an issue than with the long oval or rectangular pools. IMO, solar covers and reels are an issue PERIOD, but whatever we all get, we come here and find someone else to help us figure it out as inexpensively, efficiently and asthetically pleasing as possible. Try THAT at a pool store.

[matt4x4]

In my opinion (especially with freezing temperatures), in the world of regular AG pools, I would go with a round pool of larger size. I may be biased since I have one, but here's my reasons:
1. If you have kids, you can still do laps without them getting in your way, heck, they can even play volley ball while you swim laps through the center.
2. Less problems with regards to stress and wall shifting over an oval, especially in climates where frost heave occurs.
3. Easy to build in comparison to a buttress or buttress free pool.
4. Round pool seems to give good flow from the return all the way around, I see my one neighbours pool (oval) getting less circulation at the far end opposite the return, since his stairs are there, it gives him issues with algae regularly. probably due to non circultaing water.

[mohawk]

My vote is for the round pool. We have a 30' round and the kids can be on one side playing without splashing on me--very important. Denise:)

[CarlD]

Actually, my vote is for a rectangular pool--the better ones like Splash, Kayak and FantaSea. I couldn't stand to have a pool less than 40' long, and only rectangles and a few ovals get that long.

I also think big rounds take up more space and use a lot more water for what they give you. Of course for small pools, 18' and under, I think rounds are the ONLY way to go. The extra area and water that I believe are DISadvantages for big pool are ADVANTAGES for small one.

But this is all opinion.

The FACT (and not opinion) is that the shape that works best for YOU is the best shape. If round floats your boat, get a round. If it's oval, do oval. Me? It's that 40' long rectangle.

[sisie5]

I notice your pool size and my is the same size as yours.Can you tell me what size sand filter you have?how much sand does it hold,and the pump size?I"m having trouble keeping mine clean,I'm thinking my sand filter is to small.
Also did you bid this pool new,just wondering if the sand filter and pump came as a package deal.I 'm just not sure what size to get for my 18x33 ester williams.I now have a jacuzzi sand filter and pump.thanks for all the help.what now my pool has something on the botton of the pool and when I vacuum its back the next day.

[GraceByDesign]

Sisie,
check your PM's :)