Category: From The Blog

Buying an above ground pool is a big decision, one of the first few things you need to consider after budget and location is the shape of your pool.

Your above ground swimming pool provider will be able to assess the size of your yard and show you how different shapes can work for you, they’ll also be able to advise you against the shapes that won’t work. They can show you a range of shapes and style you had probably never even thought of, they can also offer suggestions of decking and landscaping designs that could suit your pool.

Also Read This: Researching your above ground pool

In 2017 there are a huge range of pool shapes and designs –

• • Square – a square pool gives your yard a more formal look and feel – they can be added to by the addition of a water wall or a square shaped spa can be added and attached to your pool.
  • Rectangle – a classic shape that is still in fashion today, the straight lines give you a formal looking pool, and while you may think a long pool (especially a lap pool) is outdated you need to think again. An easy way to make a rectangular pool look less formal is to round the corners for a softer look.
  • Circle – round swimming pools offer a softer and less formal looking swimming pool and they can still make good use of your space. One trend with circular swimming pools is creating a perimeter over-flow pool which adds an infinity pool look, that can still be enhanced with the addition of a spa or water wall.
  • Oval – as with a round pool, oval shaped pools are less formal, are still a good use of space and can be enhanced by decking, a spa or landscaping.
  • Kidney – the kidney shaped pool is similar to the oval in design but with a curved indentation on one side. Kidney shaped pools not only look *more natural* they also provide you with the natural positioning for a deeper end.

• Freeform – think curves, freeform pools are fully customisable and can be designed around your yards natural elements, so they blend into nature. With indentations in place they are perfect for adding a spa, a water wall or some landscaping. Freeform pools are modern pools that let you have a completely different look to the rest of the pools in your area.
• Geometric – this style is an off-shoot of the freeform pool, it allows you to customise the different square or rectangular sections of your pool, for you own unique layout.
• Figure eight – you get the functionality of a lap pool, along the middle, but with rounded portions on both ends – that don’t have to be the same size, you can use your backyard space accordingly. One end can be shallower for children and the other end deeper.

Perhaps you are thinking of an above ground pool for your yard for next summer? Now, is a great time to start thinking about a new pool. Above ground pools are the perfect alternative to the costs involved with an in-ground pool, and they still give you all the same benefits!

Shopping for an above ground pool can be confusing with so many sizes and options available. If you are thinking about a new above ground pool here are some things to look at and consider.

• • SIZE – before you even start looking for an above ground pool, you need to get out the tape measure, there are a range of pool sizes available, and it helps if you know what size you are looking for. Is you yard suited to a round pool or would an oval pool fit in better? Oval shaped pools are great for a narrow yard but you have less volume and less swimming area. Oval size pools are also more expensive to buy and install, round pools offer better value for money. Once you know what size pool will fit – then you can find out what size pools are available for you.
  • WHAT IS THE POOL MADE OF? – above ground pools often come in 3 types, steel, aluminium and resin plastic. When searching for your pool you want the pool that fits your budget, so you need to compare what each pool is made of….. ALUMINIUM – while they won’t rust, over time they will corrode and oxidise, but the aluminium wall panels are softer and more flexible. STEEL – steel walls can hold up to the environment they are dipped and coated in protective layers so look for hot dipped Zinc, galvanised steel, the top uprights should also have this coating to maximise protection against corrosion. Steel is naturally tough and rigid which will give the pool great structural integrity. RESIN PLASTIC – Resin pools have their pros and cons… they need to have a good UV coating as they are outside but the top rails aren’t as hot to touch as aluminium and steel top rails are when sat in the sun.

• ABOVE GROUND POOL PACKAGES – unless you are replacing an existing pool, you would be looking at a pool package which includes a pump, filter, ladder, etc. Affordable Pools has a range of options, so choose the one that gives you best value for money. Always look at what comes with the pool, this is the way to choose the best value.

Pools and pool packages vary, so look for the best pool and the best package for your needs. The *off-season* is a great time to buy your pool, to take advantage of deals and specials and book an installation.

Today Affordable Pools is going to look at that age-old debate – which is better an above ground swimming pool or an inground swimming pool? There are 4 things to consider when weighing up between an above ground swimming pool or an inground swimming pool – they are:

• • 1. COST – in most cases your inground pool will be the most expensive choice, whether it is a vinyl pool or concrete or fibreglass. On top of the cost of the pool itself you need to consider all the extras – electrical hook-up for lights, landscaping around the pool, decking or concreting around the pool, extra costs including a cover, pool heating, filters etc. When buying an above ground pool there are 3 main costs involved – the price of the pool – or kit itself, the price of installation. And the price of any pool surroundings you may want to add – such as decking. Your above ground pool is the cheaper option and in some cases the pool is cheaper than the decking or landscaping you choose to put around it.

Also Read This: Swimming pool Vs a lap pool

• • 2. SIZE – As strange as you may think this sounds an above ground pool can be every bit as large – if not larger than an inground pool! However, with an above ground pool you are generally limited to one uniform depth. With an inground pool you get the choice of depths from shallow to deep which is perfect for anyone with a young family, children can move from depth to depth as they grow older and more confident.
  • 3. MAINTENANCE – when you compare the two styles of pool, there really isn’t a LOT of difference when it comes to maintenance. Although if you don’t have a deck around your above ground pool it can make it a lot harder to get around the pool to vacuum it properly. Both styles of pool need filters and water still must be tested and treated, surface water has to be skimmed of leaves and other debris. You need to care for both styles of pool in a similar way.
  • 4. LIFE SPAN – the average above ground pool, when cared for properly will last anywhere from 7 to 15 years before the structure of the pool gives out completely. Pool liners have a shorter life span – generally 5 to 9 years before you will need to replace them. When it comes to inground pools how long they last is often down to the type of pool. For example, a fibreglass pool should last well over 20 years, while a vinyl pool has a structure that lasts well, the liner will need to be replaced every 6 to 11 years on average. Concrete pools should last a long time, but even they need to be resurfaced every 9 to 13 years and that can become quite expensive.

Today Affordable Pools will compare the two styles of common backyard pools, the above ground *family* swimming pool and the lap pool. What is the difference?

Above ground swimming pools are defined by their size and their purpose. They are generally round in shape and sit on top of the ground. Above ground pools inject some FUN into your yard, they are used for recreation and are a great way to spend time with your family.

Also Read This: Choosing the colour of your pool

• Benefits include keeping your children active, social – inviting their friends around and safe supervised fun. These pools are also great for entertaining – pool parties, for a little exercise, for swimming, splashing around, playing games, cooling off or enjoying a relaxing dip.
• Features of this style include – they are not *permanent* and can actually be moved if you find the location is no longer convenient. If you move to a new house you can take the pool with you. Above ground pools are not *invasive* so if you are renting and have the landlord’s approval, you can have one and when you move minimal damage is done to the backyard. They are cheaper than having an in-ground pool installed.
• This is a classic style of pool, that a lot of aussie kids – now with families of their own, will remember splashing around in when they were younger. These pools are also a lot easier to care for these day, better filters, choices of salt water or chlorine, heaters and so much more.

Lap pools are typically inground pools and they are longer and thinner than above ground family swimming pools. A lap pool can measure 10 X 2.5 metres.

• The benefits of lap pools include – they are a great way to keep fit. These types of pools often take up a smaller area of your yard and the area where you swim laps is generally free from ladders and steps. The sides of a lap pool are straight and not angled which allows the swimmer to move their arms around freely when swimming into the sides.
• Features of lap pools include – extra underwater lighting – great for early morning or evening swims, heating so you can train all year round and water jets to help with resistance training.
• Some of the trends in lap pools include – extending the lap pool underneath bridge walkways or even into the home. Adding garden walls and rock features to remove the *starkness* – breaking up the length of the pool, making it a feature of the back yard. Buyers can often combine a lap pool with an outdoor spa, or even an above ground swimming pool to cater for all members of the family.

Pools are great for exercise and fun, it just depends which pool is right for you.

At one stage getting a pool was *easy* but today, with so many pool colours to choose from it can be a hard decision, what is the right pool colour for your backyard? Buying a pool for your backyard is a big investment and it is there for all to see, so you really want to get the look *right* and this includes choosing the right colour for your pool. One of the best ways to decide is to visit an Affordable Pools display centre and look at their range of above ground pools for yourself. Here you can see a range of not only the most popular pool colours, but also any upcoming trends. These colours may not be *cool* right now, but give it time…..

Also Read This: Choosing the right depth for your pool

There are a few things you should consider when choosing a colour for your above ground pool.

● What look and feel are you wanting to create in your backyard? Are you planning on a chic and cool place, a lagoon or resort style feel? A tropical oasis or a Tuscan haven? You should also consider the colour of your home, once you have decided on a theme for your backyard it will guide you towards colours to work with.

● Depending on the size of your swimming pool, you may be planning to place it right in the middle of your yard – creating a centre-piece. Of course, like any centrepiece it needs to compliment your yard while adding that *wow* factor.

● Other factors you should consider when choosing a pool colour are *the theme of your backyard * what will be surrounding your pool *water temperatures of a pool with a lighter colour can reflect the sun’s heat – this will result in cooler water *Reflection of the water – a lighter pool colour will draw your eyes to the bottom of the water making it look more inviting, but you will need to ensure you keep the bottom of the pool clean.

● Safety is another important factor – you need to consider how slippery any pool surrounds may be when they get wet, so perhaps select a pool surround that is textured.

● Dark pool surrounds can attract and retain heat, during summer, when it’s hot, surfaces like that may be too hot and uncomfortable to walk on

● Pool surrounds should be darker than the pool, if you have chosen a light-coloured pool, some good complimentary colours include – *Dark wooden decking *Bluestone, *Dark slate, *Sandstone with red, brown and orange earth tones, *Dark limestone, *Dark granite, Dark brick or * Travertine with chocolate and caramel tones.
If you try and keep these factors in mind when choosing a colour for your pool, you should be able to easily achieve the look and feel you are going for. Visit Affordable Pools today for more information and advice.

Installing, or having an above ground pool installed by Affordable Pools is one of the biggest decisions a homeowner can make. Pools are often the centre of attention of a home, great for both exercise and fun, pools also make a great investment as they can also affect the value of your property.

While above ground pools come in different shapes and sizes one of the most important decisions you’ll need to make is – how deep do you want, or need, your pool to be? If you have a young family, or you are planning on starting a family the answer to this question is extremely important.

Also Read This: What are the advantages of an above ground pool? – Affordable Pools

When buying an above ground pool – there are 5 things you should consider for your family. A pool is a big investment and you want to get it right.

1.What are you using/wanting the pool for? Do you want a pool for swimming laps, or for beach balls and having fun? Most pools bought for *fun* have a depth of three feet which is enough to accommodate both children and adults, and a maximum depth of four to five feet for safety. If you are looking for a pool you can swim laps in, you are looking at a pool at least 25 meters long and 5 feet deep.

2.What’s the best *safe* height for adults? Most pool owners are quite happy with the depths available in multi-depth pools. For example, starting at between 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet etc, but you should always keep the height of yourself and your spouse in mind. If a husband is 6 foot 3 and the wife is 4 foot 10 and they want a multi-depth pool, a good safe height would be 4 feet, not five. You need to determine the depth of a pool by the height of the shortest person.

3.Keeping your children safe – Unlike adults, children will quickly grow, so it’s extremely hard to pick a *safe height*. For young toddlers, a wading pool no more than 2 feet deep is ideal. After a few years the child will gradually grow in three feet depths and then 4 feet, so never buy a wading pool that’s too large.

4.Do you need a pool for diving? If you a looking at a pool for diving, you will need a pool that is at least 10 feet deep. Of course a pool of this depth will affect your pool budget.

5.What is your budget for a pool? For some it is tempting to splurge out on a diving pool, but you need to consider this fact – deeper pools need more water and more cleaning. Deep pools are not only more expensive, they need more upkeep. Over a number of years your deep pool will add an extra few thousand dollars thanks to additional water and cleaning expenses.

An above ground pool from Affordable pools is a perfect way to have fun with family and friends, especially during the long, hot Australian summer. Naturally it’s a good idea to *do your homework* first and decide which type of pool is right for you and the needs of your family. Why are above ground pools the perfect choice when it comes to swimming pools?

4 reasons why an above ground pool from Affordable Pools is the right choice for you –

1. Above ground pools are a LOT easier to install! This is one of the biggest benefits to installing an above ground pool in your yard. Unlike in ground pools you don’t need all the manpower and machinery to dig a hole in your yard before the pool can be installed. It takes a lot less time, and a lot less manpower to have an above ground pool installed. If you don’t want to get drawn into a long wait for approvals and work to start – an above ground pool is the perfect alternative.

Also Read This: What’s the lifespan of an above ground pool?

2. Above ground pools are more affordable than in ground swimming pools. When you are looking for the pool that’s perfect for your needs there are a few things to consider – #1 is your budget so look at the costs – from start to finish between an in ground and an above ground pool, you’ll find costs will vary and you can probably get the landscaping included and it will still work out cheaper than an in-ground pool. Above ground swimming pools are the cheaper option, most of the costs involved are just for the pool itself, inground pools also include charges for the hole to be dug, manpower and the pool itself.

3. An above ground pool will increase the value of your home. The installation of an above ground pool can increase the value of your property, this is because for those, looking to buy a home with a pool will see your home as a better investment, they won’t have to wait to have a pool installed, and they can start enjoying the pool as soon as summer arrives. When you are having an above ground pool installed try and install it with two things in mind – enjoyment and placement. You want it to look like a part of your yard and not just as a pool sitting right in the middle of the yard. When an above ground pool has been installed properly, with some good landscaping it improves the properties overall appearance and makes your home look more interesting to any potential buyers.

4. Flexibility – While some homeowners want and love having a pool others decide against it. You may be thinking of the future and the prospect of moving home, so why spend thousands of dollars on something you can’t take with you. With an above ground pool, you can pack it up and take it with you. Of course, if you want to leave it behind, it will increase the value of your home, and for a potential buyer who doesn’t want a pool at all, they know it can be easily taken down and removed.

Above ground pools from Affordable Pools are great for summer and those warmer months of the year, they provide entertainment that makes summer last longer. An above ground pool IS an investment though, it is designed to last a lot longer than just one summer. Of course, after your pool has been installed and properly landscaped, you really do want it to last a lifetime. Everyone will fall in love with those endless summer afternoons and evenings, just relaxing or having fun splashing around with the kids.

Unfortunately, above ground pools don’t last a lifetime.
You find that an above ground pool will have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, which in one way is *perfect* if you are having a pool installed for the kids, by then they will have moved out, moved away for uni, or just have a totally different and independent lifestyle. An above ground pools lifespan is down to a range of factors, the biggest being maintenance.

Also Read This: The SPASA expo was a great success

There is a fair amount of care that goes into protecting your pool and keeping it healthy, from pool owners who forget to treat their pools with chlorine when required, to those who add too much chlorine to make up for a missed treatment and are basically dooming their pool to bacterial infection and premature rusting. When the water levels are constantly unstable the pool water becomes *unsafe* to swim in, it can be cloudy or an odd colour this leads to irritation and discomfort for those who are using the pool.

When the pool is *finished* you need to drain all the water from it and dismantle it. Pool maintenance is a critical part of pool ownership, especially if you want to avoid having to take down your pool prematurely.

Despite what can seem like a short lifespan for an above ground pool there are pools that have lasted in people’s back-yards for 20 years or more. These above ground pools go above and beyond expectation and seem to be *indestructible*, the reason for this comes down to the very best of care and maintenance performed by the pool owner regularly.

Looking after an above ground pool properly from Affordable Pools helps to prevent any rust forming. Rust is the biggest *killer* of above ground pools. While a pool filter will help protect your pool from having to lose large amounts of water, if you find you have a leaking pool liner – it will need to be replaced immediately as the water that is seeping out of the main pool can damage the inside of the pool wall causing rust. Keeping rust at bay is the key factor in extending the life of an above ground pool.

The expo was a great success, acting as the perfect platform to connect us to many of our customers who are looking to get their pool organised in the near future. 

We loved the whole friendly vibe throughout the event and really look forward to following up with everyone we met over the two days. Over the next week or so we will be in touch with our expo guests and see if we can help get them up and swimming in one of our great Affordable Pools!!

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When you think of summer you think of trips away, time off school or work and being able to lay by the pool working on a safe tan. After all, there is no better place to be than relaxing in your above ground pool in your own backyard. Today we are spoilt for choice – there are so many wonderful pool accessories out there to help you get even more enjoyment from your above ground pool.

1. Floating wireless speakers – you can now enjoy all your favourite music streamed wirelessly to a floating speaker in your pool. Some floating speakers available also come with lights to illuminate your pool at night.
2. Portable wireless Bluetooth speakers – there are a range of tough outdoor Bluetooth speakers perfect for poolside, always look for a waterproof or water-resistant speaker depending on if you want music in the pool or just outside to listen to. These speakers are easy to carry and robust able to handle knocks and scrapes. Always look for the battery life – the longer lasting the battery – the longer your music will last.
3. Floating solar powered lights – these come in a variety of styles and colours and if you do a lot of afternoon/evening swimming or entertaining they provide light, while making your pool and water look pretty cool!
4. Inflatables – they just aren’t for kids. You can buy a range of inflatables for your pool, from innertubes to thongs, they are great for lounging just out of the water – catching some sun, reading a book or just relaxing to music. When buying inflatables always consider the size of the pool – you don’t want two or three massive inflatables taking up the whole space, consider who else may be using the pool at the same time – everyone needs space to splash about and have fun.
5. Games – for the kids there are lot of games that can be played in the pool, from underwater toys they must dive down to retrieve to inflatable games like naughts and crosses that can be played on the grass or in the pool, an inflatable games square and 5 X’s and O’s. This simple game can be played by all ages.
6. Pool Noodles, every backyard pools must have, you can use them for play fighting or just as a flotation device, you can wrap them around yourself and so much more.
7. Another really cool inflatable is a basketball ring. Kids are guaranteed to have hours of fun seeing who can score the most goals, swimming around the pool to get the ball, jumping in and out of the pool to retrieve a wayward ball, everyone will be getting fitter without even realising it.

With so much available to add to your pool, it’s gone from a place to stay cool to your very own mini fun park!