Which above-ground pool is better - steel... stainless steel... panel or aluminum?

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Here are some opinions:

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• I am not a pro, but I would think the stainless steel would be the ideal. Usually, the best and easiest way to determine is by looking at the prices: The higher the price, the better the pool.
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• First, have you ever seen what chlorine can do to a stainless-steel sink? It causes pitting -- even though this does take a while and needs a large amount of chlorine.
  
  
  
  Second, please tell me who makes a stainless-steel pool and could you afford it? Most above-ground pools are galvanized or galvalume (zinc oxide and aluminum oxide). And do not be fooled: ALL STEEL will rust. Choose the aluminum!
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• Be very careful of "aluminum pools" that are offered at what seems like a great price. I am no expert, although I did grow up in the aluminum business.
  
  
  
  Not all aluminum pools are alike. Aluminum by nature is very soft, unless it is an "alloy," which would make it too rigid for above-ground pool construction. Above-ground pools need a certain amount of flexibility to accommodate water movement (the kids of the entire neighborhood moving to one side all at once) and temperature changes.
  
  
  
  In addition, aluminum is an expensive metal to produce. Most of the raw materials are brought to the US from Australia and/or produced overseas as a raw product and transported to the US for final production.
  
  
  
  Does aluminum make a good pool-construction material? I would not have anything less! Steel will rust; wood will rot (all wood); and stainless steel will rust... yes, it will.
  
  
  
  Suppose you knock or chip the paint on your steel (mainly galvanized) pool, what will happen in a few short years or months if you live in the South as I do? What will happen to your aluminum pool? Nothing but a slight discoloration! Not bad for a few dollars more, wouldn't you agree?
  
  
  
  Most important is to make sure of the gauge of the walls! If the walls are not of at least 30 gauge, and have a deep corrugation (ridges in the wall) -- save your money. As a professional pool-installer for over 20 years, I personally have seen too many good people spend far too much money by "saving" too much the first time.

First answer by Scott Caskie. Last edit by Inyopools. Contributor trust: 0 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 316 [recommend question]