Many homeowners are choosing to install swimming pools instead of packing up towels and sunscreen for beach vacations. Splashing around in a backyard pool is convenient and ensures families will remain healthy by abiding by social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re not sure whether an above-ground or in-ground fixture is best for your space, the following are a few key differences to aid the decision-making process.

Above-Ground Swimming Pools Are Less Expensive

If cost is the deciding factor when choosing a swimming pool, above-ground models are generally less expensive than those placed in the earth. That’s because technicians don’t have to excavate, build a trench, and lower the installation into the hole. Instead, above-ground pools are often assembled onsite. As the fixtures aren’t flush with the ground, the extended walls eliminate anyone’s risk of falling in and getting injured. Fencing can be placed around decks and other platforms for added protection. Many people also put garden plants around above-ground pools to help them blend in with the landscape. With regular liner cleaning, chemical testing, and filtration system maintenance, the installation can last eight to 15 years. 

In-Ground Installations Blend With the Landscape

The labor involved with installation makes in-ground swimming pools more expensive than above-ground counterparts. However, people still opt for the in-ground fixtures, as they more closely resemble a natural body of water in the landscape. As the pool is like having a waterway in the yard, you’ll need to put up fencing along the perimeter to prevent children, pets, and non-swimmers from falling in. 

When it comes to durability, a pool installed in the ground will generally last longer than those resting on top of it. With resurfacing every 10 years, for example, concrete pools can last for several decades. Fiberglass installations are lauded for their strength and can last over 30 years if surfaces are cleaned with products made for fiberglass, the water level remains above the skimmer, and the filter is regularly run.

Whether your family wants to wade around in an above-ground swimming pool or dive into the deep end of an in-ground installation, the professionals at Aquarian Pools & Spas have you covered. The Loveland, OH-based store carries above-ground, vinyl liner, and fiberglass pools, which customers can browse in the 9,500-square-foot retail space. The designers can also customize the investment and provide ongoing pool maintenance to extend its life. See project photos online and check out videos from the showroom on Facebook. Call (513) 576-9771 to discuss installation in Hamilton, Clermont, and Warren counties.