Installing an above ground pool allows you to save money compared to a traditional inground pool. At a lower cost, you enjoy the same pleasures of summer swimming! Among a wide choice, most buyers turn to the wooden pool (rigid) or the PVC tubular pool. If you’re hesitating between the two, here are the pros and cons of each. Budget, solidity, durability, installation,… We tell you everything.
Tubular above ground pool
From one season to another, the success of the tubular pool is undeniable. The reasons ? This champion has kept it simple, adapting to all terrains and all budgets. Intermediate range between the inflatable pool and the panel pool, this frame pool offers a quality-price ratio that appeals to many buyers.
Its advantages: simplicity and low cost
- Simple and quick to assemble. As its name suggests, this pool consists of a tubular metal frame and a liner. The tubes fit together or clip together very easily. For a medium-sized pool, the assembly takes two hours to assemble.
- Solid and stable. With its metal structure, this type of pool is undeniably solid. The tubular frame guarantees its stability on the ground, which is a significant safety asset. As for the liner, it is made of a reinforced PVC fabric, the resistance of which depends on the thickness (which has an impact on the total cost). For better durability, the canvas is generally anti-UV and anti-fungal treated.
- Cheap ! The minimum budget is around 100 euros for a small tube (and even less than 50 euros for a children’s swimming pool). A larger pool is around 1500 euros. For a very large swimming pool, the price approaches a rigid structure and becomes less interesting. At 10,000 euros, you can upgrade to a wooden swimming pool… When the summer heat makes children want to swim, its low price allows parents to indulge without breaking the bank.
- All shapes and sizes. From very small to very large, rectangular, round, oval or hexagonal, there is a wide variety. The size of your tubular pool depends on the space you have and your needs. With its thin and straight walls, it still offers more swimming space than an inflatable pool. To do your lengths, opt for a large rectangular pool, up to 10 meters long. Round pools can be 6 m in diameter, with a depth of 1.50 m. Small models are more suitable for children’s games; these are also the best-selling ones.
- Removable. Easy to assemble, the tubular pool can be dismantled at the end of the season. You can store it in the dry and install it again the following year. Well maintained, it will give you a few beautiful summers. The advantage is that it takes up little space once disassembled; a small corner of the garage will suffice to store it.
- Available in complete kit. Many models are offered with all the elements included: ladder, groundsheet, filtration and protective cover. These economical formulas prevent you from buying additional accessories.
Its disadvantages: not very resistant and… a little ugly
- Tastes and colors, it is not discussed! With a little imagination, we can love the tubular swimming pool for its underwater saucer look taken from the pages of Jules Vernes… But let’s face it, aesthetics is not its first quality. And the bigger the pool, the bigger the tubes that carry it… But the manufacturers are making an effort; the most recent models have gained in allure.
- Solid, but not very durable. If the structure is sturdy, the weak point is the PVC liner. The thinner the fabric, the more likely it is to tear or puncture. A tubular pool remains more resistant than an inflatable one. But it is better to choose a fairly thick canvas when buying if you want to keep it for several years. And impose some precautions for use: no shoes in the pool, no animals with claws or beaks, no hard and sharp objects…
- Repeated disassembly wears it out. By dint of assembling and dismantling it, the pool becomes fragile. In the end, it only lasts two or three seasons (four if you are very careful).
- Installation precautions. To avoid any risk of piercing the canvas, the installation must be done on flat, clean ground, free of any stones or roots. The friction of the pebbles could be fatal to him! In addition, it must be placed on a floor mat, especially if it is large enough. Once mounted, it remains to fill it with a few centimeters of water (no more than 5 cm) to smooth the bottom from the middle. By removing the folds from the bottom in this way, you limit the risk of bending, pinching, and therefore drilling.
Above-ground wooden swimming pool
This type of high-end pool falls into the category of rigid pools. It appeals to buyers with its natural charm and durability, although its purchase price is higher. It consists of wooden panels to be assembled and a liner.
Its advantages: elegance and robustness
- Aesthetic side, the wooden swimming pool knows how to blend into a landscape. This quality is appreciated near a beautiful residence or in the context of a garden… We appreciate its natural side, whether the outline of the pool is autoclave (pine, larch, acacia) or exotic (teak, ipe, doussie…). The wood remains warm while acquiring a patina over time.
- Strong and durable. Wooden pools are designed to last for years. Provided you maintain the wood regularly, which is rather easy, this material guarantees your pool a certain durability. The quality of the wood is nevertheless important; to cope with bad weather, it must be class 4 or 5 autoclave treated. Exotic woods are naturally resistant, but more expensive.
- Still in place. Unlike tubular pools, wooden pools cannot be dismantled. They remain available all year round, which simplifies your life. If necessary, you can still disassemble it, but it will be more difficult to reassemble it due to the expansion of the wood.
- Various models. Depending on your tastes, your location and your budget, you can choose a square, rectangular, octagonal, round or oval wooden pool. If we add the variety of liner colors, you are sure to find a model in harmony with your garden. The icing on the cake, it often comes in a ready-to-assemble kit, including a liner, a ladder, a cover and a filtration unit.
- Functional and scalable. This durable pool can be supplemented with equipment that will make it more comfortable and safe. You can add a terrace, stairs, filtration systems, a cover, etc. It’s up to you to make it evolve according to your needs.
- No administrative procedure. Despite its permanent influence, a wooden swimming pool has no impact on your taxation (no development tax or declaration of work to be expected) as long as the surface of the swimming pool does not exceed 10 m2. Beyond that, consult your town hall for more information. Do not forget to provide a system of child safetymandatory for pools installed year-round.
Its disadvantages: cost and installation
- More expensive. A wooden pool is necessarily more expensive than a tubular one. That being said, the first prices are below 1000 €, which remains advantageous for a swimming pool designed to last several years. Depending on the size of the pool, the price range extends from 800 to 15,000 €. On the budget side, it remains much less expensive than a classic inground pool.
- More difficult to install. To build a wooden swimming pool, it is better to have a little time in front of you. Even if the assembly is relatively simple, count all the same two days of work with two people. If you want a large pool, you can also entrust the installation to a professional.
- Smaller than an in-ground pool. The wooden pool always has a flat bottom and limited dimensions, both in length and in depth. If you really want to swim, add a counter-current system.
- Administrative authorizations and taxation to be provided if the surface of the wooden pool exceeds 10 m2.
- Location constraints. If the installation does not present great difficulties, the choice of location must meet certain requirements. Choose flat, stabilized and non-flooding ground. Make sure that no water, gas or electricity connections pass under the pool. And for your comfort: in the sun, sheltered from the wind and far from the trees.
And if you dream of a swimming pool combining the warmth and solidity of wood, but without the maintenance obligations, you can now turn to a wood-polymer composite material. Not very green, but not very expensive and easier to maintain.