Above ground pools

[FridayForever]

We're about to move into a house with a large garden. It's close to some of my kids' friends and we'd love to make the garden somewhere they can have their friends over and enjoy together.

I'm thinking an above ground pool might be the draw we need to get them to choose our garden rather than other friends' gardens, and I'd quite enjoy a dip every now and then in the summer.

Can anyone advise if this is a good idea or not? Is it lots more work than I am anticipating? Any advice on brands to buy or avoid? I'm thinking of spending around £500.

Also keen for advice on other garden equipment that would make our garden the place to be for 8-12 year olds for the next couple of summers.

My parents had one when DD was younger 12ft and 4ft deep. It was a Bestwa and lasted several years.

It added £8 a year on to my parents water bill and was up from May half term to October halfterm. It wasn't heated although a bubble wrap cover did wonders and children don't care how cold it is as you soon adapt. It was great floating around in a rubber ring reading a book.

Obviously takes awhile to fill and you have to empty it carefully, preferably directly into the drain system as you flood your garden (and neighbours) otherwise.

It was very well used over the years however you need to be on top of algaecide or it goes green, hoovering bits out of it, chlorinating it, having a decent pump. Not to mention supervising children when ever in the garden, all of the time which is a huge responsibility.

Ladders can be removed. But also chairs, boxes etc also need removing. It really depends how curious a child is!

A zip wire, a sprinkler, a trampoline, a track and some remote control cars to race, a wigwam, a ping pong table, and endless ice lollies.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/4843830?clickPR=plp:19:20

What about one of these, with the frame? Teenagers would love swinging in privacy.

Or a shed done out with an Alexa, mini fridge etc then a covered sofa outside? Sprinklers to cool down with if it’s hot instead of a pool. The trampoline is a good idea too.

I had a 24ft above ground pool.

It was heated and covered. I thought I would swim in it every morning! Hahahaha

Did it once - was far too cold for me.

The kids were about 10 and 11 when I got it. We had it about 8 years.

Fucking nightmare to keep on top of keeping it clean and maintaining it.

Took 2 days to fill it, I wasn't on a water meter.

Kids had several pool parties with mates. Was amazing in heatwaves.

We had fencing and lockable gate all round it. You can never be too safe with pools.

Got rid of it 2 years ago. Would I buy one again knowing what I know now?

Yes I'd probably buy one but much much smaller!

For the cost of an above ground pool, a heater and all the gubbins and overhead to keep it clean I'd put in a large sun house shed type thing and some decking. Bean bags, fairy lights, an Alexa for music, sleepovers, add tents and a fire pit and you're away.

We have an above ground pool. A very large 5.5m on but the water is 1-1.20m deep maybe? You do have to supervise carefully, there's always an idiot child determined to throw themselves off the steps. It's a lot of work to keep clean, you have to cover it to retain heat so it has to be taken on and off and is v tricky to do solo. It's also got a couple of small leaks after 3 summers of use which will be a nightmare to use. Lastly, it's a sod to store and weighs a metric ton.

I wish someone would invent a pool that was big enough to actually swim in but could be put away for the winter.