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So we went out today looking at above ground pools. It seems the prices for what seem the same item vary greatly from store to store. Today I saw a Celebration pool and an Infinity pool. I'm trying to figure out if these are manufacturer names or in-store style names. Any recommendations on good brand names in above ground pools?
Above ground pools come in several "flavors". This is my guess at categorizing them:
1) Donuts. These use an inflatable ring and a small cartridge filter and can run from 10' in diameter and 32" high to 20' in diameter and 4' high. Most are circular but some are even oval shaped. The pioneer and STILL probably the most reliable is the Intex EasySet series. I had one for 3 years and retired it 12 years ago.
2) Inexpensive frame/buttress pools. These are a bag with slots for the fram to make them self supporting. They can round, oval or rectangular. Again, Intex is one of the biggest names.
3) Classic Round pools. These consist of a frame of either metal or resin plastic, an inner wall of sheet metal, usually, and a liner that either fits into a slot (j-hook or beaded) or over the top of the frame (overlap). There are many brands like Dough Boy, Esther Williams, Johnny Weismuller and house brands.
4) Oval version of #3. They usually have "Flying buttresses" on the straight walls.
5) Splash brand pools. They are similar to #2 but are far better constructed and can be custom sized. I've only heard good things about them. Some are round but most are rectangular.
6) Solid frame rectangular pools. These look like the old "redwood" pools popular in the '60's and '70's. The two most well-known brands are Kayak and FantaSea. Both are owned by the same company, online as leisureliving.com or poolsupplies.com. They also make a less expensive version of them. The key to the FantaSea is the decking around the pool is hollow and functions as solar panels, heating the water and keeping the deck cool at the same time--this is the one I personally have.
I've probably missed some, or described some less than accurately, and, if so, I appologize.
Carl ~ As a fellow New Jerseyite, may I ask if you bought the AG pool locally or online and did you install it yourself? I also had Anthony & Sylvan out today to give me an estimate for a fiber glass drop in, 48K not including the fence! For a drop in! Their gunite was only a couple grand more which to me says "We want to push consumers into purchasing the more expensive of the two options."
Still looking for the mythical trustworthy pool installer in NJ. LOL
My pool is a FantaSea, and they are/were based in Grand Island, NY near Niagara Falls. They did the install.