Is a Cheap Pool a Bad Idea?

[BigDave]

Hi, we wanted to move up from our 15' Intex donut to an 18' x 33' or 16' x 30' AG with an eye to building an inground in a few years. We shopped around a bit then went to the town construction office to get started with permits etc. I was very surprised to learn that our town requires a 15' setback from the property line. This may sound reasonable but most of our town is 7500 sqft lots with 75' frontage - not much room for a pool and anything else. I said "OK, our neighbors don't openly hate us, we'll ask for a variance". Silly me. It turns out we won't be able to get on the Planning Board's agenda, heard, memorialized and permitted before September - October. We'd like to swim this year, so... Plan B. We'll install a small 12' x 24' AG (that will fit inside the setbacks) to keep us wet for the next couple summers and save up for, and get permission to build, the IG or maybe bigger AG. Sorry for the long story.

My question is:
Are cheap AG pools really so crappy that it's just not worth buying one at all even for a relatively short expected life. I am really uncomfortable with this, I tend to prefer to purchase quality and take value over time ( I drove my frst new car 14 years and my second 11). Since we're throwing money on the fire ( expecting to get a new pool in a couple-few years) I'd like to burn less of it.
Will a cheap pool give us headaches or nightmares (awake at night fearing a wall collapse) or will it be fine for a few years with limited long term value?
I sure would appreciate some advice / experience.

I keep thinking of the gas grill we have. We upgraded our old painted steel Weber that gave us almost 20 years of trouble-free performance to a shiny stainless steel model from another mfg. that cost 30% less than a comparable Weber. I hate the new grill and have since the first month we had it. I eagerly await the day I can thow it out, when I do it will have given us four years of frustration and big dose of buyer's remorse.

[BigDave]

Oh, by the way, I'm going to apply for permits for the little pool tomorrow - wish me luck.

[madwil]

For an AG, I think it really depends on the install; I had a 18 ft Intex for 5 years, had to replace liner once (about $150)... but it worked great! If you're looking for only 2-3 years, Intex has a 21 or 24 ft now for $7-800, I think...
If you think it may become 7-8 years instead of 1-2, I don't have any advice.

[CarlD]

Usually the problem with pools like that is the same as with your 15' donut: They skimp on the pump and filter combo. You may need to consider upgrading that to something like the littlest pump and matching filter from Hayward, something like 1/3 or 1/2 hp AG. But remember that the filter's capacity, ie, gallons per minute MUST exceed the pump's output.

Carl

[BigDave]

Thanks, I'm not considering an Intex type storable pool, but an inexpensive 52" tall steel sided AG. (12'x24'). I am planning to purchase an oversize (for this pool) filter and pump ( pump sized to filter, smaller than PS recommends) for two reasons: (1) I'd like to reuse mechanicals when I do get a larger pool and (2) I plan to heat this pool with solar panels on a second story roof and need to push the water through extra piping and up 25'.

My concern is with the pool itself.

[BigTallGuy]

I'd like to suggest that you look into and compare a couple of different things.

#1, If you're really trying to save money, look into a 48" tall vs. the 52". The 4 inches might save you a bundle.

#2, Liner thickness, the thicker, the better. But you could save a few bucks with a slightly thinner liner. also the plain liners are almost always cheaper than the printed ones.

#3, Size of the top rail and vertical supports. I'd stay away from the low end like 2 inch wide stuff. 4" - 6" minimum. Also, the more vertical supports the better.

#4, Thickness of the side wall. Probably not a whole lot of wiggle room on this.

[BigDave]

Thanks BTDG ( your nick describes me well )
1) At 52" the pool wall is an acceptable barrier.
2) The cheapest pools do sport 20 mil liners.
3) I haven't seen anything yet 2" wide. The cheapest I've seen are around 6".
4) How thick should I expect, I haven't seen alot about wall thickness - coatings, corrugation, style, but not thickness.

[waste]

As this is ~ temporary pool, you should do well for a year or 2 with almost anything - but do take into account the things BTDG mentioned.

Also, you're dead right getting the system for your upgraded pool now, that you can use on your 'new and bigger/ better' pool. (GOOD JOB!!)

[BigDave]

Thanks waste,

Is it possible to have buyer's remorse before a purchase?

[BigTallGuy]

Thanks BTDG ( your nick describes me well )
1) At 52" the pool wall is an acceptable barrier.
2) The cheapest pools do sport 20 mil liners.
3) I haven't seen anything yet 2" wide. The cheapest I've seen are around 6".
4) How thick should I expect, I haven't seen alot about wall thickness - coatings, corrugation, style, but not thickness.

#1, I assume this means that with a 52" wall, you don't need a fence?
#2, 20 mil liners are great but a thinner liner is plenty good and usually cheaper if you're only going for a few years.
#3, More is better, a cheap pool can fail, I wouldn't skimp here.
#4, Not sure, but my point is to compare different brands, again more is better. I had a 4x18 foot pool "Bulge" at the bottom because of too thin of side wall and vertical supports. The pool store and pool supplier came out to my house and installed "Stiffeners" to the vertical uprights to "Help". Which all could have been avoided if I had done a little more homework. But that pool is rusting away in a landfill somewhere, so all is good.