Select the pool on the top right to turn your backyard into the ultimate summer retreat, offering relaxation, fun and style splashes. Whether you’re in Phoenix, Arizona, looking for a pool to relieve the desert heat of Orlando, Florida, creating an outdoor space for families, or designing a backyard oasis in Dallas, Texas, it’s perfect for your garden and lifestyle.
The above-ground pool is no longer a temporary summer fun, but has become a long-term centerpiece for outdoor living spaces. But choosing the right one means more than just looking at size and shape. To make wise decisions, you need to assess your garden, how you use the pool, and what is most important to you and your family. This is a step-by-step breakdown that will help you choose a ground pool that will suit your vision and last.
Think beyond the pool itself
Start by considering what experiences you want to support your pool. As James Sarver of Sarver Pools explains, “Did you and your family have been thinking about adding a new pool to your backyard? Maybe that’s something you want to do for a long time, but you don’t know where to start. You’re not alone.”
Salvar recommends starting with these questions:
What is the main purpose of the pool: Family fun, exercise, or relaxation? Are restrictions or HOA guidelines allowed that you need to navigate? What physical obstacles do your garden have, such as fences, patios, and grade changes? Need custom features like waterfalls, lighting, seats, slides, tanning shelves?
These answers will help you decide what type of pool you need, layout, size, and what the surrounding landscape should support.
Evaluate landscapes and drainage
Before filling the pool, assess the land you are sitting in. “Even a 10×10 pool produces enormous weight when filled with water,” says Three H. of Ponty’s landscape. “It is important to assess the topography of the property to explain drainage and the composition of the earth.” Failure to verify proper compression can lead to shifting or structural issues.
Justin Hoskins of JH Landscape adds, “the slopes, drainage, fencing and retaining walls all have a dramatic effect on the long term and how the pool will work in the long term.” This part of the process is more than just technical. That is the basis of a pool’s success.
Choose the pool that suits your goals
Once you’ve addressed the site and purpose, it’s time to decide on the type of pool. Sarver provides an overview of some common styles to consider.
Ground Pool – Affordable and easy to install, but may have customization restrictions. Semi-fiber pool – partially embed for a more integrated look. Hybrid Pool – combines both underground and above-ground features. Plunge pool – Suitable for relaxation and tight spaces. Vinyl Liner Pool – Customizable and soft feet, but the liner needs regular replacement. Fiberglass pool – durable, low maintenance, but often more expensive. Natural Pool – Uses plants and biofilters for environmentally friendly swimming. Concrete or Shotcrete Pool – Very customizable and long lasting, but usually the most expensive.
Not all styles are compatible with sanitary systems, terrain, or features. Therefore, it is essential to understand the trade-offs of each type from the beginning.
Choose the right hygiene system
Sanitizing the pool cannot be negotiated, but the way you choose will affect your long-term durability. Sarver explains that not all pools are compatible with all systems. Common options are:
Chlorine – Effective and widely used, but requires regular maintenance. Salt chlorination – gentle on the skin, but as Claynoman of Hydra Hot Tubs & Pools warns, “salt corrodes very much to the metal and ultimately damages the structure of the pool.” Ionizer or mineral system – using less chemicals, but requires supplemental disinfection. Natural Filtration – Perfect for eco-friendly builds, but not very common in ground pools.
Match your hygiene choice choices to a pool designed to handle it. Otherwise, you may face faster degradation or void warranty.
Avoid design mistakes that lead to expensive repairs
Norman also shares advice from his years of fieldwork. Avoid customizing your setup in a way that causes long-term maintenance issues. for example:
Don’t create a deep end. “We replace hundreds of liners each year. Most customers ask us to fill in deep areas as they are slippery and make games like volleyball more difficult.” Don’t build decks on top rails. “In the end, you will need to replace the liner. A fully decorated pool is much more difficult to use. Building a deck under the screws on the top cap and considering a half deck rather than a wraparound.”
These practical choices can save thousands of services and replacement costs.
Planning total experience
Pools are not just water features, they are lifestyle features. Sally H. from Ponty’s Landscapes emphasizes the importance of combining landscape with function. “The surrounding scenery must always be reinforced and reinforced by reflecting the function of the pool. While swimming spas may calm down and seek flower planting, family pools may benefit from open, rigid sashes and play.”
Don’t underestimate the costs surrounding the pool. Lighting, fencing, outdoor showers, drainage and collection areas all add to your experience and budget.
I’ll make the final call
It will become clear to choose from the many pools available on the ground: what do you want? What can your garden support? What are the realistic things about budget and maintenance plans?
As Sarver says, “If you’re not sure about the individual pool needs yet, we can help you with that.” Relying on a professional or planning a solo, don’t rush this decision. You’re not only investing in setting up a pool, but also in what your summer will look, feel and flow for years to come.
