Above Ground Pools

Yes. Precast concrete pools like Plungie's are engineered specifically to work above ground, semi-recessed, or fully in-ground. Because the shell is a self-contained, steel-reinforced precast unit rather than concrete poured on-site into an excavation, it can be placed on a prepared base pad above existing grade and clad to match the surrounding architecture. Above-ground concrete pool installation is structurally identical to in-ground installation for a precast shell. Traditional gunite and shotcrete pools cannot be installed above ground because they rely on being poured into a supported excavation.

An engineered precast concrete pool has a lifespan of 50+ years when properly maintained. Plungie pools carry a 10-year structural warranty. This is significantly longer than kit-style above-ground pools with vinyl liners, which typically need liner replacement every 7 to 12 years and full replacement within 15 to 20 years. The precast shell itself is not affected by being above ground rather than below, because the structural integrity comes from the steel-reinforced concrete rather than the surrounding earth.

It depends on what kind of above-ground pool. Kit pools with vinyl liners and steel frames cost dramatically less than any in-ground pool, typically $500 to $5,000. Engineered precast concrete above-ground pools like Plungie's cost in a similar range to in-ground precast installations, typically $42,000 to $69,000 fully installed. Above-ground installs can save on excavation, but that saving is usually offset by cladding and surround work. The main cost advantage of above-ground with a precast pool is on sloped or difficult sites where in-ground excavation would require expensive earthworks and retaining structures.

A precast concrete above-ground pool can be lifted and relocated because the shell is a self-contained unit. The process involves draining the pool, disconnecting plumbing and equipment, and lifting the shell with a crane. Kit-style above-ground pools with steel frames and vinyl liners are also removable but generally aren't relocatable in a meaningful way because the components are dismantled rather than moved as a unit. In-ground concrete pools built on-site cannot be relocated.

Engineered above-ground concrete pools can add value to a home in warm-climate US markets, particularly when the pool is clad and finished to look like a permanent architectural feature rather than a temporary installation. According to the National Association of Realtors, an in-ground pool can add up to 8% to home resale value in warm-climate markets. Above-ground precast pools typically deliver a similar value uplift when installed as permanent features because the buyer's perception is closer to an in-ground pool than a kit pool. Kit-style above-ground pools with vinyl liners do not typically add resale value and are sometimes seen as a negative by buyers.

A precast concrete plunge pool is generally the best above-ground option for a sloped yard because the shell is engineered to sit on a prepared base pad without requiring full excavation of the slope. The uphill side of the pool sits closer to grade while the downhill side is fully above ground and can be clad to match the home. This approach avoids the extensive earthworks, retaining walls, and drainage engineering that in-ground installations require on sloped sites. The Plungie Original at 15' x 8' and the Studio at 12' x 7' work well on most residential slopes.

An above-ground precast pool can be installed on a rental property with the landlord's approval, and because the pool is a self-contained shell rather than a permanent excavation, it can be relocated when the tenancy ends. This makes precast above-ground pools uniquely suited to long-term rental situations, holiday properties, and homeowners who anticipate moving. Kit-style above ground pools are also installable on rental properties but have significantly shorter lifespans. Traditional in-ground pools are permanent and are rarely appropriate for rental property installations.

Above ground pools sit entirely above the existing ground level on a prepared base pad. Semi-inground (or partially inground) pools sit with part of the shell below ground and part above. Both are valid installation approaches for the same precast concrete pool shell. Above ground works best when excavation is impractical, or the exposed walls are wanted as a design feature. Semi-inground works well on moderately sloped yards where excavating one side is easier than raising the other. The pool itself is identical.

Yes. Ledge and Hot Tub are companion pieces that pair with any of our four base pools. Hot Tub can be installed above ground, semi-recessed, or in-ground, and Ledge sits alongside your pool with a spillover edge into the main pool. Both are on pre-sale now, with first shipments in January and limited production slots, so it pays to order early.