As president of Real Pool Deals, I'm often asked about my own personal swimming pool setup. I'll give you the skinny on what I've got -- and why I made that particular pool choice:

Our Pool: A 27' round swimming pool
We evaluated our site, took measurements, checked local laws and eventually decided on a round swimming pool for our square backyard. Because we have two kids and tons of family and friends, the 27' round pool made the most sense – it fit into our backyard and our lifestyle.

Steel Or Plastic? We Chose a Steel Pool
Plastic "resin" swimming pools may seem to be the logical choice, but the jury is still out on how well they hold up to the sun over the years. We chose the "Jamaica" North American steel swimming pool because like many other steel pools, it has an excellent rust-proof coating and it's proven to hold up well over time. We'll wait and see how well resin swimming pools survive.

Ian's Pool Liner of Choice
I really prefer the "J Hook" or unibead pool liner. It can work with a bead receiver kit or simply by itself.

Imagine a series of upside down "J's" hanging on the pool wall, the liner draped over the pool in the middle. This liner is a standard 25 mil thickness, and while it's the most expensive of the three types of liners we carry, it is by far the easiest to install.

And yes - this liner graces my family swimming pool. I'm a big fan of keeping things simple and easy, so I upgraded my own swimming pool liner to the "Rolling Rock" which is a type of J-Hook pool liner. My first experience with a J-Hook pool liner occurred while I was installing a swimming pool during an on-again, off-again rainstorm in Champaign, IL a few years ago. I was amazed at the time I saved by using this swimming pool liner...the pool was installed and being filled before dinnertime and from then on, I was "J-hooked".

My Favorite Pool Liner Accessories
Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Here are a few of my favorites, and one accessory I think you can live without:

* The "Gorilla" pool floor pad: Made out of the same material they use in landfills to protect the landfill liner from rips or punctures, the "Gorilla" is one tough pool floor pad. It's sewn (rather than taped like the old-fashioned foam floor pads) and is pre-cut to size for easy installation.

* A pool liner cove: A triangular dense piece of foam that measures about 4" wide at the base and 4" high, the pool liner cove turns the harsh 90 degree base-to-wall angle into a gentle 45 degree slope. Installing it is a snap: simply peel back the backing paper to expose the adhesive on the back of the strips, then affix the cover to wall and the floor after you've installed your pool floor pad.

* Wall foam: Yes, wall foam is available, and yes, some people like it, but I'm not one of them. Spend your money on a beach ball or set of pool rings instead.

The Ultra Package: My Package Pick

The Ultra Package has everything you need – for now and years into the future. You'll save yourself time and money by getting the very best up front – remember what I said about an ounce of prevention?

Our Ultra Package includes:

* Ultra Package
* Sta-Rite 21" Modular Media Filter System w/ 1 ½ HP Pump
* Barracuda Ranger Automatic Pool Cleaner
* Wedding Cake Pool Step
* Artic Armor Winter Cover
* 8-Mil Solar Blanket
* 3-Piece Telepole
* 3-Way Water Test Strips
* Vinyl Vacuum Head
* 1 ¼" x 30' Vacuum Hose
* Nylon Wall Brush
* Premium Chrome Thermometer
* Premium Aluminum Leaf Skimmer

The Modula Media Filter is My Favorite
The pump and filter are the "heart and lungs" of your pool. That's why we only use Sta-Rite pumps and filters (except in our Economy package). Sta-Rite products provide superior water turnover rates that are very important to good water quality and the effective use of pool chemicals. The Sta-Right pumps and filters effectively minimize your water maintenance tasks.

I not only recommend the Modular Media filter (in the Ultra package) -- I own it. Because I enjoy swimming in my pool much more than maintaining it, the rinse and replace feature of the Sta-Rite Modular Media filter works perfectly for me. This filters very small particles and features a washable filter that'll go a long way toward reducing your long-term pool maintenance expenses, as traditional filters must be replaced once they get dirty.

The Pool Chemical Kit I Use
North American Blue Wave. ONLY North American Blue Wave. I believe in it so much, it's the only kind I use AND the only kind we sell. In our opinion, there are no better pool chemicals than Blue Wave pool chemicals--they're the Rolex of pool chemicals. Used together with our Sta-Rite equipment, these chemicals help ensure you're not spending a lot of time maintaining your pool.

Conclusion
Ian's words of wisdom – first consult with a pool expert on what pool and accessories will best match your needs and your budget.

Need More Help?
Of course, we're here to help answer questions about any of our packages or equipment. Contact one of our pool professionals at 800.768.0356, and let us help you select the pool and package that's just right for you.