Where Do I Start?

[notsure]

Hello, not sure if anyone can offer some assistance...not quite sure if we can afford the inground pool b/c of all the additional landscaping/stone work. We are also considering a semi inground pool that can be landscaped in a way that looks pleasing. Are there certain brands to be avoided? thank you so much.

[notsure]

wow 19 views but no one wants to talk-lol? anything? anyone? help!

[dottieD]

Hi-just joined today. I had at one time looked into Doughboy semi inground. The dealer in my area wasn't familiar with the inground installation and gave me their installers number. He said he could do anything I wanted-above, semi or totally inground. The cost was only about 8,ooo less than an IG and didn't include any walk around decking so we went with a true IG.

Esther Williams is advertising a semi-inground pool with a nice deck, but I don't know if that is extra. EW is an aluminum pool which is best for IG. I do not know if Doughboy is aluminum. I don't think it is. Doughboy, at the time, had very specific instructions on their semi-inground installations to not void the warranty.

Doughboy can have a deep end up to 7ft(not a diving pool). I believe EW is 4 ft. Their websites have info on each.

There is also a semi inground pool sold mainly in Canada but I think there might be a dealer in Texas. www.technican.ca Click on Champlain pools. www.propools.com also carries the Champlain for DIY installation. Click on onground pools on their site.

if you do a search for "onground" pools a few other will come up. I don't remember what they are off hand.

Good luck. It took us years to finally decide what to do.

[notsure]

thank you. My dh really feels that it is still expensive and probably is worth it to spend the extra and get a true inground. how did you decide on shape, size, landscaping?

[dottieD]

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We wanted a more natural looking pool, so we got a lagoon type shape-we have a vinyl pool. Size-we wanted a diving pool and 32ft. length is the minimum for that. We have friends and relatives with IG pools and most have 36 ft and that seemed right so we got 18x36. The pool is fenced. I have ornamental grasses planted about every 3-4 feet around on the outside of the fence. On the inside I have dwarf grasses, daylillies and hosta. There is about 18 inches of river rock on each side of the fence and the plants are in that area-little maintenance and no grass clippings or dirt in the pool.

Can pictures be posted on this site? If so, I'll try to send one.

[notsure]

thank you so much, I would to love to see a pic. this is such a big decision with so many chocies!

[PoolNewbies]

Try here.

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/pools/