Above Ground Pool Guide
Above Ground Pool Buying Guide
Everything you need to know before buying — pool type, size, shape, wall construction, salt systems, and what ships with your kit. Make the right decision the first time.
Pool Type Comparison
Above Ground Vs. Inground Vs. Semi-inground
The honest comparison — cost, timeline, effort, and what you actually get.
Above Ground
Starting Cost: $1,600 – $5,000
Installation Time: 1–2 days · DIY
DIY Friendly: Yes
Excavation Required: No
Permits Required: Sometimes
Good for Sloped Yards: No
Depth Options: Uniform — 42" or 52"
Shape Options: Round, Oval
Deck Integration: Possible with add-on deck
Relocatable: Yes
Longevity: 15–25 years
Home Resale Impact: Minimal
Annual Maintenance: Lower
Semi-Inground
Starting Cost: $8,000 – $18,000
Installation Time: 1–2 weeks · contractor
DIY Friendly: Partial
Excavation Required: Partial
Permits Required: Usually
Good for Sloped Yards: Yes — built for it
Depth Options: Uniform — 42" or 54"
Shape Options: Round, Oval
Deck Integration: Excellent — designed for it
Relocatable: No
Longevity: 20–30 years
Home Resale Impact: Modest
Annual Maintenance: Moderate
Inground
Starting Cost: $35,000 – $80,000+
Installation Time: 6–12 weeks · contractor
DIY Friendly: No
Excavation Required: Full
Permits Required: Always
Good for Sloped Yards: With grading
Depth Options: Variable — shallow to deep end
Shape Options: Rectangle, Grecian, L-Shape + more
Deck Integration: Full surround deck standard
Relocatable: No
Longevity: 30–50+ years
Home Resale Impact: Strong
Annual Maintenance: Higher
Pool Shape
Round vs Oval
Most Popular · Recommended
Round Pools
Water pressure distributes evenly — no extra bracing needed. Simpler, faster, and less expensive than oval at equivalent volume.
No A-frame buttresses — simpler installation
Lower price at equivalent water volume
Available in more sizes — 12' through 30
Works in square or irregular yards
Shorter swim lane than oval at same footprint
For Rectangular Yards
Oval Pools
Better for long, narrow yards. Requires A-frame buttresses that extend 2–3 feet beyond the pool wall on the long sides.
Fits rectangular yards more efficiently
Longer swim lane — better for exercise
More complex installation — buttress assembly required
Buttresses extend 2–3 feet beyond pool edge
Higher price than round at equivalent volume
Wall Construction
What Wall Specs Actually Mean
The pool wall is the single most important spec. Everything else can be replaced — if your wall fails, you need a new pool.
Entry Level
Painted Galvanized Steel
Standard galvanized steel with painted finish. Solid and dependable for standard chlorine use. Not salt warranted. Will eventually rust if coating is scratched and left untreated.
Salt Compatible
Galvanized Copper Bearing Steel
Copper in the alloy actively inhibits rust from salt chlorine generators. This material earns the salt warranty. Mid-range price — the right choice if you plan to run salt.
Premium
Heavy Copper Bearing (+25%)
Same copper bearing alloy but 25% more steel thickness. Maximum rigidity and longevity. Salt warranted. Found on Santa Rosa and Seaside kits.
Important — Read Before You Buy
Salt Systems & Your Pool Warranty
Using a salt chlorine generator on a non-warranted pool voids your structural warranty. This is the most important decision before buying.
Salt-Safe Kits
These four kits use galvanized copper bearing steel and are specifically warranted for salt chlorine generator use.
- Sun Valley
- Atlantis
- Santa Rosa
- Seaside
Chlorine-Only Kits
These kits perform excellently with traditional chlorine. Using a salt system on them voids the structural warranty — do not do it.
- Easten
- Pocomo
- Crestwood
Suggestion
Future-proof your purchase: If there is any chance you will want salt in the future, buy a salt-warranted kit now. It costs very little extra and eliminates the warranty problem permanently.
What Ships With Your Kit
What Comes With Every Kit
Always Ships With Your Kit
Water pressure distributes evenly — no extra bracing needed. Simpler, faster, and less expensive than oval at equivalent volume.
Pool wall panels and all frame hardware
Top rails and uprights
Vinyl liner — overlap or unibead per kit
Sand filter and pump — sized to your pool
A-frame ladder
Skimmer, return fitting, and plumbing hardware
Free freight on all above ground kits
You Source Locally
Better for long, narrow yards. Requires A-frame buttresses that extend 2–3 feet beyond the pool wall on the long sides.
Level, compacted ground or 2–3" masonry sand base
Dedicated outdoor GFCI outlet for the pump
Garden hose water supply to fill the pool
Garden hose water supply to fill the pool
Pool startup chemicals
Local permits if required by your municipality
Here to Help
Not Sure Which Kit Is
Right For You?
Tell us your yard size, budget, and whether you want salt — we will tell you exactly which kit to buy.