Above Ground Pools
By Mike, Fri Dec 9th

Nothing can beat the heat of summer like the cool, refreshingwaters of a swimming pool. The cold water of swimming pool is ahaven in the scorching heat of summer. You never want to get outof the swimming pool. The pool becomes irresistible.

Swimming pools are basically made for recreational swimming andcompetitive swimming activities. A personal swimming pooldefinitely adds style and value to your home.

Swimming pools are mainly of two types: in ground swimming poolsand above ground swimming pools. In ground arepermanent structures requiring excavation and professionalinstallation; above ground are becoming morepopular these days, as they are easily installed.

Above ground The above ground arethe best option for recreational swimming as they have very lowconstruction costs. The basic advantage of these pools is thatthey are easy-to-build. Above ground pools are made up ofprefabricated kits. These kits can be put together by a keen DIYenthusiast to make a pool. But most people like to have itinstalled by the professionals as the pool then comes with aguarantee.

A professional will install the pool quite systematically foryou. Firstly, the ground is leveled to provide a flat buildingsurface. Then the installers assemble the base track. The tracksupports the outer wall made of plastic, metal or even wood.Then the plumbing is laid after the sand and is spread in thepool area. Finally, the vinyl liner over the pool walls issecured, smoothened and fastened into place and the pool isfilled with water. Now the pumping system and filtering systemare hooked up and the pool is ready for swimming.

Types of above ground pools An above ground is anowner's delight. They can be placed anywhere. They areeasy-to-build and easy-to-use pools. There are basically twotypes of above ground swimming pools, hard-sided pools andinflatable pools with soft sides.

Hard-sided pools Hard-sided pools are available in severalvarieties of depths and sizes. These hard-sided pools aregenerally oval or round in shape with a sheet metal frame. Forstabilization, one piece of flexible metal wall with a sheetmetal rail is attached to the top. The top rail is attached tothe inserted vinyl liner so that the water is contained. Ametal-sided pool is difficult to assemble, as it requires moreelaborate ground preparation.

Soft-sided pools Soft-sided pools have become increasinglypopular over the last decade. These above ground pools areavailable in both rectangular and round shapes, with therectangular shape being more popular. These pools also havemetal frames, and are available in a variety of depths andsizes. These pools are known for their strength and durabilityand are cheaper than hard-sided pools. They are a great way tohave a customized pool as they can be built in large

sizes.

Soft-sided pools can be placed on almost any surface. They canbe placed on dirt, grass, sand, concrete and even gravel. Thepools have tolerance up to 3" out of line on each level. Theliner material which is used in these pools is similar to thatused in bullet proof vests. This makes the liner punctureresistant and durable. Soft-sided pools can be assembled withina few hours.

Both hard-sided and soft-sided pools require an electric pump tocirculate the water. They also require filters and ladders.Filters are needed to ensure that the water is clean andladders, so that one can get in and out of the pool safely.

Both pools also require an automatic chlorinator, pool heaterand a pool cleaner. A swimming pool slide and pool lights makegreat accessories to improve your swimming experience. Aboveground are cheaper compared to in-ground swimmingpools. A small above ground swimming pool costs up to $1500 anda large one can cost up to $10,000. Above ground pools areeasier-to-install, however, these pools have disadvantages aswell. They are not very attractive and will require somelandscaping to help them blend in to your garden. They are alsoless durable as compared to in-ground pools.

However, above ground are popular pools and arepurchased by a large number of people. They provide many happydays full of enjoyment and easy relaxation, a great investmentfor your home.

About the author:Mike writes articles on a number of different topics. For moreinformation on above ground please visithttp://www.swimming-pools-guide.com/above-ground-pools.html andfor additional swimming pool articles please visit the followingarticle pagehttp://www.swimming-pools-guide.com/swimmingpool-articles/