above or below ground pool
 

Maybe you guys can give me some advice. We are thinking about having a pool built. The above ground models are alot cheaper and look decent with raised decking. The below grounds are alot more expensive. Just wanting to know the pros and cons of each without hearing it from a salesman.
Thanks for any advice,
Robert Davis

What do you plan to use it for? Aboveground aren't much good for serious swimming or diving. They are good for splashing, cooling off and make great children's pools. Also look at cost. Willing to spend $3000 or $15000? Also remember this about pools, as they age they lose their attraction. The first couple of seasons you can't stay out of them, then you can take them or leave them. After about ten years you wish you'd never seen it.

Righto!!!!

It's a tough call, if you can make an above ground work with a deck or something go for it! These days diving is not such a good idea anyway there are several companies around here that will not install a diving board.

Oh yeah, forgot to mention.... for yall living in civilization there may be a building code or covenant to consider.

Our building code says that permission is needed only if you have other homes within 300 Ft. which is only a few deer. I am going to sneak in an above ground with decking for the time being our house is elevated so I can get away with blending it in. After building a new house and losing 60% of my wealth to taxes and market drops $3000-4000 tons better than 50K and the kids won’t know the difference.

In my neck of the woods, there are quite a few outdoor in-ground pools. Suprised? Given that we have cold winters, I imagine so.

Here's what happens here:

In ground pools:

1. Actually cause a loss of home value thanks to maintenace costs, insurance costs, and the fact that many young families won't consider a home with a pool thanks to the percieved (real or not) danger to their young children.

2. Cost lots to put in, but are durable and long lived.

3. Big $$ to install.

Above ground pools:

1. Don't detract from your property as they can be taken out without enormous expense, but can still cost to run and own. Insurance is still required.

2. Not nearly as durable, and won't withstand the abuse an in-ground pool will.

3. WAY cheaper to buy and install.

My $0.02

John, you for got # 4

Both get you wet.

Howdy Robert,
In ground. It looks like you are going o stay a while :)

That part about a pool reducing the value of your home is highly dependent on your location. Here in Florida, a $25,000 in-ground pool would increase my home value $50,000. An above ground pool would probably decrease the value because the buyer would have to haul it away - those things are a joke down here. I suspect the same is true in Texas, where Robert is.

You could always build one like mine:). It is easy to clean too - just let the tailgate down.

Are there rattle snakes/small wild animals where you live? If so, I would stay away from the outdoor pool...they have a tendency to make kamikazee dives into the water...and after a while, all you'll be doin' during a lazy evening is netting dead carcasses out of it...and Cap'n Carageous is right...after a while, you just get bored of it...but you still gotta keep payin' the maintenance bills on it...and netting out dead carcasses...ugh

Yall, that really is Engatwork in that pool. I know cause it's my truck that the pool is in!!!:D :D I just don't wear swim trunks, so we couldn't use my picture!!;) :eek:

I vote for above ground... know people with both styles...
Just don't put one below a tree. Fewer animals fall into the above ground pools. Plumbing problems are easily reached and dealt with on the above ground pools... Very hard to keep an inground pool from cracking if you are in clay....

On the pool me and cap't built you can fill it with beer and ice when you don't want to go swimming. It makes you real popular at the race tracks. One of my buddies ran an exhaust pipe through his to heat up the water and uses it as a hot tub:).

Yeah.....

GREAT idea for the next GTG! Jim and Cap'n get the pool ready and mikemover can get some groupies to wash all our backs! :D