When it’s hot and the desire for the sea and relaxation grows, those who have an outdoor space always think of a beautiful pool. It is known that installing a real in-ground pool is a costly operation and not suitable for everyone. Those who want something smaller have, for many years, had available above-ground pools with rigid walls, a relatively economical and practical solution. However, indeed, the Intex inflatable pools were a real revolution!
Intex is a Milanese company that has monopolized the aboveground pool market thanks to its inflatable pools, which are characterized by being very practical to assemble and maintain, economical, and… great!
If until a few years ago with the term, ” inflatable pool ” identified the piscinetta-toy for children, today the panorama is very different: the inflatable swimming pools ” adult ” reach even five and a half meters in diameter 120 cm high, and are equipped with all the accessories of a modern swimming pool.
Intex Inflatable Pools: How They Are Made
The Intex inflatable pools can be divided into two categories: the first is that of pools similar to those of children, but larger; they can have a round, rectangular shape, and even seats. These are generally small; in particular, they have a low height, are designed to be inflated, and are suitable for use on the beach and during camping. Pretty, but I’m nothing revolutionary.
The most interesting line is that instead of the “Easy” round swimming pools with decidedly superior characteristics, designed to be installed at the beginning of the season and maintained throughout the summer. They do not have inflatable walls, but they are self-supporting: inflate the upper ring, and it’s ready. This guarantees greater durability and ease of use. The dimensions range from a minimum diameter of 183 cm to a maximum diameter of 549 cm.
The most centered ones, in our opinion, are the intermediate ones, approximately 3.5 meters. These models are equipped with a pump outlet, which serves both to inflate the edges and to create water recirculation. Always buy this essential accessory, or better yet, buy the complete kit.
Advice for installation
The measures vary depending on whether you intend to install the pool in a garden or on a terrace.
Installation on terraces and balconies
One of the most frequently asked questions about these pools is whether the owners of balconies and terraces will be able to hold their weight. The official installation recommendations do not take responsibility for the answer, and we provide it to you.
The answer is: it depends, we are at the limit. The floors of normal homes are generally tested to withstand at least loads of 250/300 kg/sqm. This translates to a maximum of 25/30 cm of water, which is suitable for pools designed to be used with at least 60 cm of water.
In truth, the loads that the slabs can bear are always much greater, but this depends on the construction characteristics, the state of maintenance, and, not a little, on the construction period of the building, as in the 70s it was often built with poor materials.
To ensure greater loads, place the pool in alignment with beams and columns or master walls, and never at the central point of a span. Another trick could be to create a platform (for example, with wooden boards) to distribute the weight over a larger surface.
In summary, having one of these pools on a terrace is possible, but you must orient yourself on the smaller models and avoid filling it to the maximum.
Installation in the garden
The primary defect of these inflatable pools is that they must be positioned on perfectly flat surfaces. For the terraces, the main obstacle is given by weight; in the garden, the enemy is the slope. A slightly sloping garden will create an asymmetric feel.
The edges will create a “belly” with tension, and you will need to overcome it by filling it with less water. You need to select the highest level and even area of your garden, or prepare it for this purpose.
What to put under
The Easy models do not have a soft bottom, but rather a simple cloth. Therefore, it will be beneficial to prepare the support surface with a special plastic sheet or perhaps synthetic grass. Never use cardboard or other moisture-sensitive materials, as they will rot.
If you place it in the garden on the lawn, the problem of hardness will be less than if you put it on a terrace or a concrete surface, but you will still need protection to avoid damaging the fabric.
Maintenance of water
To fill a pool 3.5 meters in diameter, it takes about 5,000 liters of water, which is equivalent to 5 cubic meters. It is a significant amount of water, and it takes hours to fill, at a cost of several tens of euros for tap water. It is easy to deduce that it is essential to minimize water changes as much as possible or to keep the water clean and sanitized at all times.
The supplied pump filters and circulates the water, but this is not enough. We recommend equipping yourself with a chlorine doser and some cleaning tools, such as a net. The covering cloth is essential to prevent dirt and insects from accumulating when not in use, especially at night. If you use it intensively, with many people and in areas where water tends to become contaminated easily, it may be a good idea to purchase a larger pump, as the standard ones are pretty small.
Another piece of advice we consider useful is to set up a basin for washing your feet before entering the water. The dirt in the garden would go into the water and clog the filter.
Benefits and Defects of Intex Inflatable Pools
We summarize the pros and cons of Intex inflatable swimming pools.
PROS :
- The very low price is even compared to rigid aboveground pools.
- The practicality of installation: only 15 minutes, and you should not even blow!
- Good build quality.
CONS :
- The duration is certainly not eternal, but evaluable on average in 3/4 years, more if you pay attention not to wear out the materials too much.
- There is a need to purchase some accessories not included (see the list at the end of the article).
- They must be installed flat.
Is it worth buying it?
But ultimately, buying one of these pools is advisable? Absolutely yes!! They are a fast and economical solution for having a swimming pool in the garden or on the terrace. If you have children, it will be the most apt purchase of the summer; adults will appreciate it equally, but for shorter periods.
Intex Easy
The best-selling line has various sizes and capacities: we can advise you to buy the largest according to where you have to put it and your wallet, but in reality, the most successful model as size and quality/price ratio according to us is the following, equipped pump and perfect for both adults and children, both in the garden and on the terrace.
Have you seen the price? We bet you thought they cost a lot more! And it is sent to your home with a right of withdrawal for a full 30 days. If you have a garden and want something bigger, here is the model for you:
With whirlpool
Take a look at this model, and you’ll fall in love… It’s a blend of a small pool and a luxurious outdoor Jacuzzi. In this case, the entire unit is inflatable and equipped with 120 nozzles for the whirlpool, a powerful pump, and features excellent build quality.
It also features a heater, allowing for its use even in warmer months. Given the size, it is also perfect on the terrace. It costs significantly more than the standard pools, but the quality is in a different category, and anyway, it is about 10 times less expensive than an outdoor whirlpool tub.
