Intex Metal Frame Pool Review

There are only so many practical ways to build an above-ground pool. Inflatable designs, like the Intex Easy and Bestway Fast ranges, have the advantage of being incredibly easy to erect. However, this comes at the cost of being pretty flimsy, especially on ground that isn’t completely level.

This Intex Metal Frame series trades a slightly more difficult assembly process for greater stability and sturdiness. It’s a big difference, and definitely worth the (relatively little) extra money.

Sturdy Pool Structure

The pool is supported by a structure of metal pipes, and the pressure of the water inside helps the pool to keep its shape. Vertical poles rest on plastic feet and hold up a ring from which the PVC plastic liner hangs. A support belt near the bottom of the circumference prevents the poles from splaying outwards.

It’s simple, really. This construction takes some of the load off the liner, makes the pool much more likely to tolerate the occasional bump, and can be expected to last significantly longer.

Putting up Your Intex Metal Frame Pool

If your chosen site doesn’t at least seem level to the eye, you may want to think twice about placing a pool there. The bigger the angle at which it lies, the more sideways force the frame has to contend with on the downhill side and the more likely it is that your pool will fail. One side will also be noticeably shallower than the other.

Other than that, if you’ve ever assembled a piece of Ikea furniture without breaking it or having parts left over, setting up an Intex Metal Frame pool shouldn’t present you with too much of a challenge. All you really need to do is thread the horizontal supports through the pool lining, then push them as well as the posts into the supplied T-pieces.

It really isn’t a huge chore to assemble a pool like this:

The snap-on pipes are held together with retaining pins. Unfortunately, these are made of plastic and are way too easy to break and prone to popping out while you’re working on the next section. You can easily replace these with something from a hardware store, though.

Taking the pool down at the end of summer is easy. When the time comes, a drain plug lets you attach a hose to direct waste water somewhere where it won’t do any harm to foundations or flowerbeds.

The collapsed pool is easy enough to transport when heading on vacation, but the steel frame does add a lot of weight compared to an inflatable pool. All told, the 10-foot version of this pool weighs a manageable 45 pounds, but the 18-footer tops out at nearly 200 lbs.

Weather-Resistant But Not Indestructible

The frame pipes are steel but effectively waterproof for at least a couple of years due to a durable exterior powder coating. They’re bound to rust eventually, though, and you have no warranty to fall back on if this should happen more quickly than you hoped for.

The rugged PVC fabric that holds the water hangs in loops over the horizontal bars that form the rim of the pool, and it’s also linked to the vertical supports with a strap.

Regrettably, the part of the pool that’s under the most pressure, namely the base, still rests directly on the ground. Placing a pool like this on a rough surface like unfinished concrete or rocky soil is therefore not recommended.

The Care and Feeding of Intex Metal Frame Pools

Since you cannot fill the pool right to the very brim, the actual water depth you can expect is about 6 inches less than the height of the pool (i.e. a 48″ pool will be approximately 42 inches deep). That’s still a lot of water, though.

As with most above-ground pools, the pump and filter seem to be a little underpowered for one that’s only supposed to be run for a few hours at a time. Filter cartridges have to be replaced at least once a month. You can extend their lifespan by rinsing them off using a hose, pressure washer, or even a bucket of water. It’s also important to test your pool water frequently and use enough but not too much cleaning chemicals.

You may have to cut the liner to accommodate a larger fitting if you choose to install a bigger pump. If your kids insist on tracking mud into the pool or you’ve had problems with algae growth in the past, a sand filter may be worth the extra expense. The pool material is also compatible with a salt water system. Considering how much less money (and mental energy) a saltwater system forces you to spend on pool maintenance, this can easily end up paying for itself, especially if you’ve never owned a pool before.

The pump uses a T-piece to connect to dual suction openings for improved waterflow and filtration. The water expelled from the filter is infused with air bubbles, which improves filtration efficiency and leaves your pool looking noticeably clearer.

Intex calles it Hydro Aeration Technology:

Note that you have to prime the pump in order to get it to run smoothly or even at all; the user manual gives instructions for doing so.

Size Considerations

30 inches is about the maximum height for a pool you can comfortably step into – small children will still require assistance, which is probably not a bad thing from a water safety perspective.

Both the 48″-high versions, namely the 15-foot and 18-foot diameter models, include a removable but reasonably sturdy ladder (300 lbs weight capacity), as well as a ground cloth and cover to keep wind-blown leaves out of the water. The latter cinches closed with a drawstring.

It’s highly recommended that you get a ground sheet of some kind if you choose to go for one of the smaller, 30-inch high versions. The bottom is where punctures are most likely to start, even though the base material is much tougher and thicker than the walls.

It may be worth your while to lay down some plywood or plastic padding underneath your pool to prevent any rocks or weeds from borrowing into it from below. This can help to solve any leveling problems, too.