We have a one acre yard and we would like to get a pool that will be enjoyed for many years. What size and shape would you recommend that we buy?
Here's a tip for you. Use google earth and find your house. Use the dimension tool to measure your house and property in the backyard. Then use a design or sketch app or graph paper and draw the back of your house and backyard, and make a bunch of copies if it's on paper. Include any big trees, flower beds, sheds and whatnots.
then sketch in different shapes and sizes of pools until you find fits nicely into your yard and what makes you happiest. This is important as a poorly designed pool that is considerably out of scale with the landscape or poorly placed can lower the market value of your house if you decide to sell it. Contrarily a well designed on just might make your place more desirable to a new buyer who wants a pool.
Keep in mind also if you intend to build a wooden deck around part or all of it. If you do, you might consider an oval or rectangle and just deck just one side of it. You can do that with a circle too, but if it's gonna be a good size deck its more labor and math intensive which will cost more money.
Or as some people do, they get a spool of rope and lay it out on the ground to mimick where the pool will be and about the size, then go on top of the house and see how it looks from above. Make any adjustments that you want. Repeat until you are happy.
I say go with 100% resin or composite. It's a no brainer unless keeping cost down is a major factor.
google "above ground pools near me" for dealers in your area. Get at least 3 quotes, but to be consistent, ask each company to quote the same size pool with same equipment and include the installation. Don't worry about brands, makes and models, just consistent specs. And remember, just because a quote is the least expensive does not necessarily its the best value for your money.
Once you have that, everyone here at TFP will be chomping at the bit to help you tweak it until it's perfect.
