Oct
8
In-ground pools are certainly more luxurious, however, above ground swimming pools have their distinct advantages. They are considerably less expensive, much easier to install, and can be taken down if needed. Additionally, these pools will not increase your property tax bill because they are not considered a permanent structure.
Compared to in-ground pools, above ground pools are much less of a bother to construct. You do not need the construction permits, heavy excavation equipment, noise, and overall disaster-area feel that an in-ground pool excavation requires. However, you will need to flatten a suitable area to put the above ground pool on, a task that is much less involved than digging a large hole. Consequently, above ground swimming pools are much less expensive, and consistently outsell the in-ground variety.
If you are a very handy do-it-yourselfer, you might even be able to install an above ground pool yourself, reducing your out of pocket expenses even more. But if not, don’t worry, a swimming pool dealer can install your pool for you.
With all these great advantages, the above ground pool option comes with limitations. An above ground swimming pool is essentially a big tub that sits on top of a flat area in the yard, and therefore it is limited in its size and shape. Above ground swimming pools almost always have a constant depth of typically 4 feet, and are usually circular or rectangular. They are characteristically made of supporting walls lined with a vinyl water container.
Above ground pools also suffer from that tub-in-the-yard look that many people find aesthetically unappealing. This however can be greatly helped with some landscaping and light construction that will give an above ground pool a more permanent look. The two primary things you can do to achieve this are to place fence and some vegetation around the pool to mask its outside walls, and build a surrounding deck. Many above ground swimming pool kits do include a deck. And if that’s not the case, or if that deck is not to your liking, a separate deck can always be added. Ideally, if you can place your pool on an area that’s lower than your house, you can build a deck straight from your house (maybe with the addition of a few steps) to the pool.
An above ground swimming pool is a good and very popular alternative to the much more expensive in-ground kind. And with the right landscaping and decking it can gain a classy, more permanent appearance.
