aluminum walls vs galvanized/copper wall

[tbelle]

Thanks for everyone's help. I have been researching for weeks. The two main dealers in the area do provide stainless steel service panels, steel bottom rail and the walls I believe are the galvanized (steel) not true steel as it's a copper alloy (???). Is that what you mean by steel walls??? The other dealer is actually in Hornlake, Ms (Splash Pools). He is the one that told me to buy an aluminum one. He referred me to someone who sells Esther Williams aluminum pools. Is the aluminum one stronger??? I do understand about the warranty; I guess maybe I'm asking if you prefer the aluminum( supposed to be stronger) or the galvanized walls? Wouldn't the steel bottom rim rust and the aluminum would oxidize?

Thanks,
Teena

[hrsdennis]

Doughboy uses a hot dipped galvanizing process plus many other coatings. I have found the steel walls to be much stronger than aluminum. And yes, the aluminum will oxidize much faster than the steel will rust.

Just from what I have seen, Dennis

[drumr]

I tend to agree with Dennis. There is another aluminum vs steel thread that I posted on earlier today. I have been in the aluminum extrusion business for 20 years and know a little about it . The steel wall pools are "1 piece" , where the aluminum are several individual self mating pieces. If something happened to that die while the extrusion was being run like, if it broke where the extrusions snap fits together and it wasn't caught before being painted it could very well weaken the whole structure significantly and all it would take is one bad extrusion to make a huge mess out of your yard. Even though this senario is very unlikely I have seen many scary things with extrusions before. Our main business is architectual shapes, curtainwall and store front shapes, which is the same alloy that pool walls are....6063. We have looked at the pool wall business but decided not to pursue it. It's not really "gravy" material even though we could do it. I have a 24' AG steel pool and it is 5 years old now. I replaced the liner for this season and the walls are in perfect shape.

I have been running my pool following the instructions of this website and for the last 4 years I have had perfect water throughout each swimming season, while my neighbors running baquastuff have fought algae each year. They must have deeper pockets than me. My pool has been a joy to maintain following the simple rules and advice of the wonderful people who has figured it out..Thanks to Ben and all the other who have contributed. I wouldn't have nearly as beautiful water as I do if it wasn't for poolsolutions!!

[JoshU]

The steel wall pools are "1 piece" , where the aluminum are several individual self mating pieces.

Most aluminum walls are also 1 piece rolled walls, the most expensive aluminum pools are extruded slot walls.

Josh

[gwrace1]

After doing a lot of research that included internet and AG pool books the bottom line came down to a hybrid pool. In terms of cost, durability and warranty the overwhelming advice was a steel/resin hybrid pool.

We ended up with an Artesian Echo Canyon that came with a lifetime non-prorated warranty. The bottom boots, bottom rail and top seat clamps are all resin. The rest of the pool is steel. Anything that could be exposed to corruption from the soil is resin. All I can say is it's a very sturdy, quality pool.

What you will find is that each type of material has it's pros and cons.

Aluminum does not rust but is more flexible and prone to corrosion over time. It also costs more than a steel pool.

Resin appeared to be an untested product without many years of real world pool trials. I've seen what the hot Texas sun can do to car interiors and other types of resin (plastic) over time.

For me the steel/resin seemed to make the most sense for the sake of durability and cost.

[drumr]

Josh,
Thank you for correcting me that only the higher end aluminum pools are extruded and not one piece as the steel ones are, I did not know that. When I looked at the pool at the pool store I told the salesman more about the extrusion than he could tell me.
When I bought my pool I did not even know they made ones out of aluminum, the store I bought mine from sells only the steel walls with stainless steel service panel which is what I have. I like the way the Johnny W pools look better than the way the steel walls look, but that pool was a couple of thousand dollars more than mine and I just couldn't afford it.