Mid-Atlantic Pools

Maybe I should have retitled this article as “Swimming Pools 102” because I really don’t want you walking away with just the basics or someone else’s opinion. There must be thousands of articles that discuss one brand of swimming pool or another. Some tell you to go with an above ground swimming pool while others state that below ground is the only way to splash around in your back yard. So what’s the truth and which is better? The answer is both!

There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to the luxury of private aqua activity in the comfort and privacy of your very own back yard. The fact of the matter is that it’s your pool and you shouldn’t necessarily be persuaded as to what is best for you. Both above and below ground swimming pools have their advantages and disadvantages, just know the differences between what’s available on the market before making your purchase.

Above ground swimming pools are comparatively the most affordable at face value. There are different levels of material quality currently available, some offering aluminum wall structure and others being manufactured out of steel. The materials can have different levels of thickness and sometimes it gets down to “you get what you pay for”. I am not the industry expert when it comes to above ground swimming pools although I have learned allot about the product options over the years. What frustrates me most is when I see creative advertising that the consumer may not really understand what they are reading or seeing. The best example I have was when I saw an advertisement stating that the liner was “20 gauge” which was misleading. Vinyl Liners are measured in “mils”, metals are “gauged”. The most common vinyl liner thickness for above ground pools is around 12 mils, an inground swimming pool is typically 20 mils. So when I saw the ad I thought to myself, “that’s a thick liner”, then I realized what they had done with creative wording. Though I can’t “gauge” a liner, a comparable thickness would be about 12mil, the thickness of a typical standard above ground vinyl liner.

I’ve seen above ground pools advertised for between $999 upwards to $10,000 and there’s no one answer to the difference in price. Quality of materials and size are two of the biggest contributors but don’t forget to familiarize yourself with the filtration equipment. A great swimming pool equipped with lousy filtration equipment is in my opinion a lousy swimming pool.

That statement holds true for inground swimming pools whether they’re made of concrete, fiberglass or vinyl liner. Inground swimming pools are typically at least twice the cost of your most expensive above ground pool so cost can certainly be a drawback to some. Most people find inground swimming pools more aesthetically pleasing to the eye but I believe beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As I said in the beginning, every pool has both advantages and disadvantages. Above ground swimming pools have given hundreds of thousands if not millions of people personal and private enjoyment for decades. If this is what is within your budget and you want to take a plunge then go for it and don’t look back!