Above-Ground, In-Ground or Partial In-Ground: Choosing a Pool for a Coulee Region Yard

Start with the yard, not the catalog. The Coulee Region is hilly country, and a lot in Holmen or La Crescent often looks nothing like a lot in Tomah or Sparta. Some yards are flat and open. Some slope toward the house. Some sit against a bluff with only a few feet of usable level ground. How your yard behaves decides which kind of pool makes sense, long before you pick a shape or a liner pattern.

The three kinds of Radiant pool

Radiant Pools, the line we sell at Quality Pool & Spa in Onalaska, comes three ways: above-ground, in-ground and partially in-ground. They share a lot of the same thinking, but they behave very differently once they are sitting in your yard.

An above-ground pool stands on a prepared base with its walls rising from the surface. It disturbs the property the least, and it can look far better than people expect, especially when it is built into a deck. Our gallery shows round pools set right into decking, and from the deck side they read as built-in pools.

An in-ground pool is dug into the yard. It is the most involved of the three because of the excavation, and it gives you the most freedom with shape and the cleanest look at the water's edge. Rectangular, freeform, kidney-shaped, whatever the yard asks for.

A partially in-ground pool splits the difference. Part of the wall sits below grade and part stands above it. On a sloped lot this can be the smartest option, because you dig where the ground is high and let the wall stand where the ground falls away. You end up with a pool that feels set into the yard without a full dig.

Read your slope, your soil and your sun

Walk the yard in the morning and again in the evening. Notice where water collects after a hard rain, where the snow melts last, and where the afternoon sun actually lands. A pool placed in a low spot fights drainage every spring. A pool tucked into a shady corner stays cooler and tends to grow more algae.

Hillside lots deserve a conversation before anything is ordered. A partial in-ground build is often the answer on a slope, but it depends on what is under the grass and how much room you have to work. Bring photos of the spot and we can talk through the options. Rules on fencing and permits vary from town to town, so ask your municipality early, before you fall in love with a plan.

Shapes, benches, steps and sundecks

Radiant offers unlimited sizes, shapes and customization options. That means the classic rectangle, a freeform shape that follows the landscaping, or nearly anything you can sketch on a napkin. You can add custom benches, steps, bar stools and sundecks, so the pool can be built around how your family actually uses water.

Shape is not only about looks. A round pool wastes less space in a small yard and is easy to wrap with a deck. A long rectangle suits swimming laps. A freeform pool with a shallow bench is where adults sit and talk while the kids splash nearby. Steps matter if anyone in the house would rather not climb a ladder every time.

Before you settle on a design, ask yourself a few plain questions.

• Who will use the pool most: young kids, teenagers, adults, or everyone?
• Do you want room to swim laps, or room to float and visit?
• Where will the deck or patio go, and where will the furniture sit?
• How much of the yard are you willing to give up, and what are you willing to move?

Insulated walls and a warranty worth reading

Radiant pool walls are insulated. In a part of the country where the water stays cold for much of the year and the swim season is short, insulation matters because it is designed to slow heat loss from the walls. Anything that helps a pool hold its warmth makes the season feel longer.

Radiant is proudly American-made and has over 60 years of manufacturing behind the line. The question customers ask us most is about the warranty. The pool walls come with a lifetime warranty, and Radiant describes it as comprehensive, never prorated, and fully transferable. Never prorated means the coverage does not shrink as the years pass. Fully transferable means that if you sell the house, the next owner keeps the warranty.

Look at pools that other yards already have

The easiest way to judge a design is to see one that is finished. Our gallery covers installs in Sparta, Black River Falls, Wonewoc, Blair, Elroy and French Island in Wisconsin, plus Monona and Waukon across the river in Iowa. They include above-ground pools, a partial in-ground pool and a 33-foot in-ground pool, so you can compare how each type sits in a real yard. The Radiant page on this site, at /radiant-swimming-pools, has more on the line.

When you are ready to talk, stop in at 1001 12th Ave South in Onalaska, next to Sam's Club and Harley Davidson, or call (608) 783-4477. Joe oversees most of our installations, and Holly runs the storefront. Bring photos of your yard, a rough idea of the size you have in mind, and your questions. We are a family business, and we would rather help you pick the right pool than the biggest one.