Choosing a pool is all about balancing your available space, your budget, and how you plan to use it. At Sunshine Pools, we specialise in high-quality above ground swimming pools from top brands like Intex and Bestway.

• Space & Planning: Always measure your intended area twice! You’ll need a bit of "buffer" space around the pool for the ladder and pump.
• Oval Framed Pools: Perfect for narrow gardens. They offer a great swimming length without taking up the full width of a round pool.
• Rectangular Framed Pools: The gold standard for those who actually want to swim laps. They are incredibly sturdy, snap together without tools, and utilise your garden space very efficiently.
• Round Pools: The classic "splash about" choice, ideal for families with younger kids who want to play.

Remember to check the footprint of your pool as the dimensions stated are the top of the frame, not the overall size required. The legs will stick out taking up more space. The total footprint required can be found in the images of each pool.

Because our pools are self-assembly items, we cannot accept returns once the pool has been unpacked and assembled. We really recommend marking out the dimensions in your garden with a piece of string or a garden hose before you buy. This gives you a "real-life" feel for how much space it will take up and helps avoid any post-purchase regret!

For more information see our returns policy.

This depends on your local water pressure and the pool's capacity. On average, a standard UK garden hose delivers about 9 gallons per minute (approx. 540 gallons per hour).

• Example: A 5,000-gallon pool will take roughly 9 to 10 hours to fill.
• Pro Tip: If you have a large pool, plan to start the fill early in the morning so you can monitor the "leveling" process (the first inch of water is the most important!).

Yes, absolutely. This is the most important step of the setup. If your pool is on even a slight slope, the weight of the water (which is several tons!) will push against the "downhill" side, causing the liner to bulge and potentially leading to a collapse.

• Preparation: Remove all sharp stones and twigs.
• Levelling: If your lawn is uneven, use a layer of fine sand to create a level base.
• Protection: Always use a ground sheet or floor protectors to protect your liner from the earth and keep the bottom of the pool clean.

To keep your water safe and crystal clear, you do need a santisation system. Without it, bacteria and algae will quickly take over.

• Starter Kits: We offer comprehensive pool chemical starter kits that include everything you need: Stabilised Chlorine Granules (to kill bacteria), pH Plus/Minus (to balance the water so it doesn't sting eyes), Algaecide (to prevent green water), and Test Strips.
• Testing: We recommend testing your water at least twice a week (more often in hot weather or heavy use).

Yes! Many of our customers prefer Saltwater Systems. Instead of adding "bottled" chlorine, you add special pool salt to the water. The system uses an electrolytic cell to turn that salt into a natural, swimmer-safe sanitiser.

• Benefits: It’s much gentler on the skin and eyes, doesn't have that "chemical" smell, and is more eco-friendly. While the initial setup costs more, you save money in the long run on chemicals.

Green water is caused by algae. This usually happens if the chlorine levels have dropped too low or the pH is out of balance.

1. Test: Use a test strip to see what's wrong.
2. Shock: Use "Shock Chlorine" to give the pool a massive boost of sanitiser.
3. Circulate: Keep your filter pump running 24/7 until the water clears.
4. Algaecide: Add a dose of algaecide to kill off any remaining spores.

Yes, a pump is the "heart" of your pool. It circulates the water, preventing it from becoming stagnant, and traps physical debris (hair, insects, dust).

• Cartridge Filters: Common in smaller pools; the paper filters need cleaning every few days and replacing every 2 weeks.
• Sand Filters: Much more powerful and efficient. They use special filter sand (or glass media) which only needs replacing every 5 years.

We have two main options depending on your pool size and budget:

• Elecro Engineering Heaters: They are incredibly reliable and range from single-phase 3kw (plug-in) up to 3-phase 18kw (which requires a qualified electrician to hard-wire).
• Poolex Heat Pumps: Coming soon.

It’s not just a "bubble wrap" sheet! A solar cover acts as a giant magnifying glass, transferring the sun's energy into the water.

• Heat Retention: It prevents evaporation, which is responsible for about 75% of a pool's heat loss.
• Which way up? Always place the bubbles facing down into the water. This traps the heat and keeps it in the pool.

For the best water quality, you should rinse your cartridge with a hose every few days. However, they should be replaced entirely every 1 to 2 weeks during the summer, as the fine fibers eventually become clogged with oils and microscopic debris that a hose can't reach.

The media (sand) in a domestic filter should be changed approximately every 5 years to ensure effective filtration, although it can be cleaned with chemicals in this time to prolong its efficiency. It can also now be replaced with a crushed, treated glass media which does not need to be changed so frequently.

We offer free next working day delivery to most of the UK.

• Surcharges: Some remote areas (Scottish Highlands, Northern Ireland, etc) do incur a delivery surcharge which is calculated automatically at checkout. See our shipping policy for surcharge information.
• Timing: Orders placed before our daily cut-off are processed the same day.

We can also offer Saturday and Same Day delivery at a surcharge - please contact us for a quote.

Don't worry, we'll get it sorted. If you see damage to the box, please accept the delivery but make sure the driver notes the damage on their system. Then, take photos and email us at sales@sunshinepools.co.uk within 24 hours. Refusing the delivery actually makes the process much slower, as we have to wait for the item to return to our warehouse before we can ship a replacement.

All our pools come with a manufacturer's warranty. If you think you have a manufacturing fault (like a leaking seam), email us with your order number, a description of the issue, and photos. We work closely with our suppliers to resolve warranty claims as quickly as possible.

To keep our prices as competitive as possible, we are an online-only retailer. While we don't have a physical showroom, our UK-based team knows these products inside out. You can call us on 01342 835 542 for honest, expert advice on which pool will work best for your family.