Advice on above the ground pool

[dugtoni]

Hello everyone! I am in the market for an above the ground pool. The place I am thinking about buying one sells dough boy pools. The three models they sell are the Pearl River, Summerville, and Silver Lake. I am interested in a 21 ft, 52" tall pool. The prices I was quoted are as follows:

Summerville: $5,154
Silver Lake: $6,328
Pearl River: $7,228

It is also an addition $2,000 to have the pool installed. Do these prices sound reasonable? My understanding is the Pearl River is more expensive due to the resin frame. Is it worth the extra money? The Summerville and Silver Lake both are steel frames, so not sure what is accounting for the price differential. I noticed the Silver Lake has 6" steel verticals as opposed to 3" for the Summerville. Is that something worth spending the extra money on? Any advice anyone could provide me on which is the best value, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Resin walls will last longer. Steel walls will eventually rust out on you. Rusting steel walls is the primary cause of AGP deaths.

 

[dugtoni]

Welcome to TFP.

Resin walls will last longer. Steel walls will eventually rust out on you. Rusting steel walls is the primary cause of AGP deaths.

Thanks for replying! Sounds like the Pearl River might be worth shelling out the extra money then. Does that price sound reasonable to you?

 

[ajw22]

I don’t have a feel for pricing.

Do you have any choice? Pay that price for the pool or wait for a recession when prices come down.

 

[dugtoni]

I don’t have a feel for pricing.

Do you have any choice? Pay that price for the pool or wait for a recession when prices come down.

I've inquired at a couple stores, but just wondering if I should keep shopping around if that sounds above market value. Understood you don't have a feel for that though.

 

[ajw22]

No harm in shopping around as long as the current inventory does not get sold out while you are shopping.

Does the store have them in stock or do they then need to order it?

Last year pools were hard to get, stores sold out of stock, and months long wait on orders. I don’t know how 2022 is shaping up.

 

[dugtoni]

No harm in shopping around as long as the current inventory does not get sold out while you are shopping.

Does the store have them in stock or do they then need to order it?

Last year pools were hard to get, stores sold out of stock, and months long wait on orders. I don’t know how 2022 is shaping up.

The store ordered them all for the year and have them in stock. Its first come first served, which is why I'm trying to make a decision sooner or later.

 

[ajw22]

The store ordered them all for the year and have them in stock. Its first come first served, which is why I'm trying to make a decision sooner or later.

That store may be economically rewarded for laying out the money to have the pools available when you want it. See if there are other stores around you who have done the same.

 

[Newdude]

Hey Dugtoni and Welcome !!! Like Allen said the prices are volatile and are what they are. There can be big differences across regions and even between different manufactures in the same region. *That said*, DoughBoy had always been a great pool. At times they were the cream of the crop and likely still are.

But call around and see what's available and do your best to get Apples to Apples quotes. One brands ok/better/best against another in the same size. Then go from there.

Also, if they are doing the install soup to nuts, I think $2k is fair, factoring in sky high labor costs. They'll do it in a day with a couple skilled workers, but you'll spend a full workweek on back breaking prep and then a full weekend of screaming VERY loud 4 letter words if you DIY.

 

[magiteck]

The prices seem high to me, but as others have said the price of everything is high right now - and Above Ground Pools have been in short supply/high demand for a couple of years.

I purchased my AGP in May, 2020 and had it installed July, 2020, right before they became impossible to get. I paid $5500 at that time (with installation) for my resin-frame 24x52 pool, liner, and pump/filter.

My price did not include a ladder, winter cover, solar cover, or any other accessories. I spent another $500 on those things. The installer also required enough water trucked in to allow them to set the liner the same day, which was another $350. So when all was said and done I spent around $6300 for my "pool package". But... that was then, and this is now.

The $2,000 for the installation seems reasonable.

For the pool itself, I would check a couple of other dealers (if you have others nearby) to see if they are comparable in price on in-stock equipment, but don't take too long. Make sure to inquire as to what is all included in the package as well. They may be including some type of inline chlorinator, fancy chemical package, etc. -- and if you plan on following the TFP Process you may not want those items. You could ask if they will omit them for cost savings.

IF you have access to an independent installer, you could also price out a comparable package at an Online vendor like The Pool Factory. I know many others on the site have used them with success.

 

[hwy17]

The Pearl River probably isn't a resin wall. When they say "Resin frame" they usually only mean the uprights, rails, or plates and tracks.

 

[magiteck]

The Pearl River probably isn't a resin wall. When they say "Resin frame" they usually only mean the uprights, rails, or plates and tracks.

That appears to be correct.

Pearl River - Doughboy Pools

www.doughboypools.com

Beautifully Crafted Resin Top Rails & Vertical Supports
This 8" curved, extruded top-rail with beautiful 7" extruded resin vertical supports offers a dynamic design and assures maximum strength.
...
Zinc Clad™ 11000
Hot Dipped Galvanizing and numerous protective coatings for protection and corrosion resistance.

Resin frame, steel wall. Which is fine, as long as you know that's what it is. It doesn't look like Doughboy makes any Resin wall pools, looking at their catalog. (The only one I've seen at all yet is the Pool Factory's Saltwater Aurora, but there may be others).

 

[dugtoni]

That store may be economically rewarded for laying out the money to have the pools available when you want it. See if there are other stores around you who have done the same.

The prices seem high to me, but as others have said the price of everything is high right now - and Above Ground Pools have been in short supply/high demand for a couple of years.

I purchased my AGP in May, 2020 and had it installed July, 2020, right before they became impossible to get. I paid $5500 at that time (with installation) for my resin-frame 24x52 pool, liner, and pump/filter.

My price did not include a ladder, winter cover, solar cover, or any other accessories. I spent another $500 on those things. The installer also required enough water trucked in to allow them to set the liner the same day, which was another $350. So when all was said and done I spent around $6300 for my "pool package". But... that was then, and this is now.

The $2,000 for the installation seems reasonable.

For the pool itself, I would check a couple of other dealers (if you have others nearby) to see if they are comparable in price on in-stock equipment, but don't take too long. Make sure to inquire as to what is all included in the package as well. They may be including some type of inline chlorinator, fancy chemical package, etc. -- and if you plan on following the TFP Process you may not want those items. You could ask if they will omit them for cost savings.

IF you have access to an independent installer, you could also price out a comparable package at an Online vendor like The Pool Factory. I know many others on the site have used them with success.

Thanks so much to you and others for the replies.

That appears to be correct.

Pearl River - Doughboy Pools

www.doughboypools.com

Beautifully Crafted Resin Top Rails & Vertical Supports
This 8" curved, extruded top-rail with beautiful 7" extruded resin vertical supports offers a dynamic design and assures maximum strength.
...
Zinc Clad™ 11000
Hot Dipped Galvanizing and numerous protective coatings for protection and corrosion resistance.

Resin frame, steel wall. Which is fine, as long as you know that's what it is. It doesn't look like Doughboy makes any Resin wall pools, looking at their catalog. (The only one I've seen at all yet is the Pool Factory's Saltwater Aurora, but there may be others).

Thank you and everyone else for your replies. That is helpful to know. In your opinion is the resin frame worth spending the extra money on compared to the other pools I mentioned considering the wall is steel? I guess my concern is if the frame is still in great shape it doesn't do me much good if the walls are all rusted out, so maybe better just save the money and go all steel?

 

[magiteck]

Thanks so much to you and others for the replies.

Thank you and everyone else for your replies. That is helpful to know. In your opinion is the resin frame worth spending the extra money on compared to the other pools I mentioned considering the wall is steel? I guess my concern is if the frame is still in great shape it doesn't do me much good if the walls are all rusted out, so maybe better just save the money and go all steel?

How long do you expect to get use out of the pool?

In a bubble, I personally would opt for the resin frame. The wider uprights will result in a stronger pool, the resin will help prevent the bottom track from rusting out and potentially causing premature catastrophic failure, and the resin top rails will likely look better longer.

But it’s not my $1000-$2000, and only you know what that means to your budget.

For me it was more about, the process of buying the pool and having it installed was a PITA — and I’m on board with anything that will hopefully make it last longer so I don’t have to do it again.

But - If paying another $2000 meant I couldn’t get the pool for awhile, or had to forego something else meaningful to pay the difference, I might feel differently.

 

[dugtoni]

How long do you expect to get use out of the pool?

In a bubble, I personally would opt for the resin frame. The wider uprights will result in a stronger pool, the resin will help prevent the bottom track from rusting out and potentially causing premature catastrophic failure, and the resin top rails will likely look better longer.

But it’s not my $1000-$2000, and only you know what that means to your budget.

For me it was more about, the process of buying the pool and having it installed was a PITA — and I’m on board with anything that will hopefully make it last longer so I don’t have to do it again.

But - If paying another $2000 meant I couldn’t get the pool for awhile, or had to forego something else meaningful to pay the difference, I might feel differently.

So did a bit of calling around today. Talked with someone who had a 21ft Optimum pool in stock. He said everything including installation would be $8500. This seems like a great deal, considering the Optimum pools seem to be great quality from what I have read.

 

[magiteck]

So did a bit of calling around today. Talked with someone who had a 21ft Optimum pool in stock. He said everything including installation would be $8500. This seems like a great deal, considering the Optimum pools seem to be great quality from what I have read.

I don’t have any experience with the Optimum pools, but it does seem like a great deal from what I’ve read they often cost.

 

[Newdude]

Optimum pools seem to be great quality from what I have read.

Same. Pricey, but good quality. In this situation, factoring the mega mondo PITA replacing an early failure pool would be, I would probably be fine overspending on a better product.

 

[dugtoni]

I don’t have any experience with the Optimum pools, but it does seem like a great deal from what I’ve read they often cost.

So it looks like they deal might have been too good to be true. The pool was in stock from last year, and when the guy found out what the pool prices went up to this year I haven’t heard back from him. My suspicion is he realized he was giving me too good of a deal and he’s now avoiding me . I’m considering buying a pool from pool factory and trying to find an independent installer. The saltwater aurora sounds intriguing. I’m guessing that one would last me a while? I’m trying to find one of really good quality that will last a long time. Also, do you have any tips on finding an independent installer? From some googling I did it’s hard to find someone who isn’t also selling the pools. Thanks again for your thoughts.

 

[magiteck]

So it looks like they deal might have been too good to be true. The pool was in stock from last year, and when the guy found out what the pool prices went up to this year I haven’t heard back from him. My suspicion is he realized he was giving me too good of a deal and he’s now avoiding me . I’m considering buying a pool from pool factory and trying to find an independent installer. The saltwater aurora sounds intriguing. I’m guessing that one would last me a while? I’m trying to find one of really good quality that will last a long time. Also, do you have any tips on finding an independent installer? From some googling I did it’s hard to find someone who isn’t also selling the pools. Thanks again for your thoughts.

The saltwater aurora is pretty new but members I’ve read who bought one have been happy with it. With the resin walls it should in theory last pretty much forever.

A lot of the stores at least in my area contract out their installs. I actually found my installer by reading reviews for one of the local pool stores, someone had commented the name of the company that installed theirs, and I reached out based on that.

I also see ads on Facebook marketplace from pool companies occasionally, and had found at least a couple of those that were willing to do an install only (even though they also sold pools).

You could also ask for recommendations on local groups on Facebook, Nextdoor, etc — although I always take stranger recommendations with a grain of salt.

If you’re ambitious, there’s enough knowledge here as well to guide you through a self-install; in that case you could just look to hire someone to dig/level the site.

Edit: Here’s one of our members @kellyfair who installed the Aurora-

Saltwater Aurora all-resin pool build thread!

I hadn’t checked in a while to see if the one I wanted was back in stock, and it is! I just ordered. Haven’t decided on pump/filter yet. Pool weather comes soon around here, and I want to get this thing installed before it gets too hot!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[stygz]

After my ordering of a pool in 2020 and install finally in 2021, I would try to work with a pool store that offers install. With labor problems I can see a person getting easily messed over on the install...if the install even happens. Working with a pool store at-least keeps you from being ghosted by the installer.

We bought a 18x36 Discovery Avantgarde Resin pool (for about $7300 plus install. From my research, look for a pool with canadian or USA made metal as they are higher quality. Look for longer warranties and salt water approved (even if you are not going salt) as they are better for corrosion resistance.