Resin And Hybrid Above Ground Pools
When shopping for an above ground swimming pool, you often hear of "resin" or "hybrid" pools. And if you are like most people these terms may be a bit confusing, so we are going to clear up what exactly these terms mean then discuss the pros and cons of resin. With this knowledge you can make an informed decision whether to investment in resin or hybrid pool for your next purchase.
What Are Resin Pools?
The term resin is simply a fancy name for plastic. A resin pool will not be made entirely from plastic but many non-structural parts can be. Pool parts made from resin have a distinct advantage over steel or aluminum pool parts as they cannot rust or corrode. This means longer life for many parts and may also mean better wear and tear for others. Top rails are know for being the first parts to rust or get dented and damaged by children climbing on them. These are often the first parts to be made from resin. Other pieces can be made of the same material, but the more resin parts a pool has, the more that pool will cost. Other pieces may include upright posts, frame rails, base plates and more. However, pool walls are most always made from metals such as steel or aluminum because they can withstand the pressures put on them by thousands of gallons of water.
What Are Hybrid Pools?
Hybrid is a term most commonly used to describe a pool made of both resin and metal components as opposed to an all metal swimming pool. But some may also refer to a pool made from aluminum or a combination of metals as hybrid. The price of a true hybrid or resin pool is typically hundreds of dollars more than the traditional all metal above ground pool. Believe it or not, the injection molded plastic parts are more expensive to produce than the common steel stampings and there is the reason for the added expense.
Are Resin Pools A Worthy Investment?
Today most American made hard wall or steel above ground swimming pools will last 15+ real world years. The imported or Chinese pool models are a bad investment and may only last a couple of years regardless of warranty claims. The primary cause of the short life span is thin untreated or unprotected metal components that rapidly corrode in a wet swimming environment. Sadly they are priced about the same as their American counterparts, and this is why you should always ask where the pool is manufactured prior to purchase. Now that I got that out of the way, lets move onto the resin pools. Are they worth the extra cost? The short answer is "yes" if you can swing the additional expense do it. The primary reason is because most pools get climbed on and are out in direct sunlight the majority of the time. Resin resists denting, warping and rusting much better than metal parts do. For resin pool examples click here.
Conclusion
In the end a resin or hybrid pool will look better longer and likely will need less replacement parts down the road. If you cannot afford the full monte of resin pool parts, try to swing the resin top rail or top ledges. These are by far take the majority of the abuse and are the first parts in need of replacement. For additional information on "what to look for when buying an above ground pool", please read our blog post.
