WaterThat 24′ x 52″ Steel Frame Pool Kit Review: The Unfiltered Truth About This DIY Backyard Oasis

There’s a universal summer dream: stepping out your back door into the shimmering, cool relief of your very own swimming pool. For years, my family and I pictured it—kids splashing, friends lounging, the sun dipping below the horizon as we float without a care. But the dream always collided with the harsh reality of cost. An in-ground pool felt like a financial Everest we weren’t prepared to climb. We started looking at above-ground options, wading through a sea of flimsy-looking inflatable rings and tube-frame pools that seemed more like temporary novelties than a permanent backyard fixture. We wanted the durability and presence of an in-ground pool without the five-figure price tag and excavated yard. The challenge was finding a kit that was robust, all-inclusive, and something a determined DIYer could actually build. That’s the exact promise that led us to the WaterThat 24′ x 52″ Steel Frame Pool Kit.

What to Know Before You Dive Into an Above-Ground Pool Purchase

An above-ground pool, especially a steel-walled one, is more than just a large backyard toy; it’s a significant upgrade to your home’s recreational space and a hub for family activity. It’s the key solution for families who crave the quintessential pool experience—swimming, playing, and cooling off during hot months—without the permanent commitment, complex construction, and high cost of an in-ground installation. The main benefits are affordability, the ability to assemble it yourself, and, in many cases, the option to disassemble and move it if you relocate. It transforms a simple lawn into a private resort.

The ideal customer for this type of product is a homeowner with a reasonably spacious and level yard, a DIY spirit, and the patience to follow a multi-step construction process. It’s perfect for families who want a large, durable swimming area for kids and adults alike. However, this might not be suitable for those who have a heavily sloped yard that would require extensive excavation, renters with restrictions, or individuals who want a plug-and-play solution with zero assembly effort. For those with smaller spaces or a desire for simpler setup, a smaller frame pool like the Intex or Bestway models might be a more fitting alternative.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: A 24-foot round pool is enormous. You don’t just need a 24-foot circle; you need at least 2-3 feet of clearance around the entire perimeter for assembly and safe movement. Before you even think about purchasing, measure your yard meticulously, accounting for any slopes, trees, or utility lines.
• Capacity/Performance: The heart of any pool is its filtration system. The WaterThat 24′ x 52″ Steel Frame Pool Kit includes a sand filter pump, which is a significant step up from the cheap cartridge filters included in many budget kits. A sand filter offers superior filtration, requires less frequent maintenance (backwashing vs. replacing cartridges), and keeps the massive volume of water clearer for longer.
• Materials & Durability: This is where steel-wall pools shine. Unlike tube-frame pools with a vinyl liner stretched between poles, a solid steel wall provides immense structural integrity against water pressure and external bumps. Look for galvanized, coated steel for corrosion resistance, as this pool has. The liner gauge (thickness) is also critical; 20 gauge is a common starting point, but be aware that thicker liners offer better puncture resistance.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: “Easy to assemble” is a relative term. A pool of this size is a major construction project that requires multiple people and at least a full day’s work. Long-term maintenance involves regular water testing, chemical balancing, skimming, and vacuuming, just like any other pool. Be prepared for this ongoing commitment.

Undertaking this project requires careful planning, but the reward is a permanent-feeling backyard feature for a fraction of the cost. It’s about making an informed decision before the giant, heavy boxes arrive at your curb.

While the WaterThat 24′ x 52″ Steel Frame Pool Kit is an excellent choice for many, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

Unboxing the WaterThat Kit: A Mountain of Parts Promises a Summer of Fun

The delivery of the WaterThat 24′ x 52″ Steel Frame Pool Kit is an event in itself. It arrives on a large pallet, a formidable collection of heavy boxes that immediately signals the seriousness of the project ahead. Unboxing revealed a dizzying array of components: the massive, coiled steel wall, stacks of steel uprights and top rails, the vinyl liner neatly folded, the sand filter and pump, the A-frame ladder parts, and countless bags of screws, bolts, and connectors. Our first impression was one of substance; the galvanized steel components felt solid and the Krystal Kote finish on the top rails looked durable and attractive. It felt a world away from the flimsy poles of cheaper pools we’d seen. However, sifting through the parts also revealed some of the potential challenges user reviews had warned us about. The ladder components felt noticeably lighter and less robust than the main pool structure, and the 20-gauge liner, while standard, didn’t feel exceptionally thick. It was clear that the core structure was the star of the show, but some accessories might be a compromise.

From the Ground Up: A Hands-On Analysis of the WaterThat 24′ x 52″ Pool Kit

A pool kit of this scale isn’t just a product; it’s a project. Our evaluation goes beyond the finished product to the entire experience, from laying the foundation to the first cannonball. We broke down our hands-on analysis into the three most critical stages: the build, the structural integrity, and the performance of its core systems.

The Assembly Gauntlet: A Test of Patience and Teamwork

Let’s be unequivocally clear: installing the WaterThat 24′ x 52″ Steel Frame Pool Kit is not a casual weekend task for one person. The instruction manual is your bible, and patience is your most valuable tool. The most critical, non-negotiable step happens before you even open a box: ground preparation. Your site must be perfectly level. We spent the better part of a day ensuring our chosen spot was flat, compacted, and free of any sharp objects, using sand to create a soft, level base. Skimping on this step is a recipe for disaster.

Assembling the bottom track was straightforward, creating the perfect 24-foot circle that would house the wall. The real challenge, as confirmed by numerous user reports, is wrangling the coiled steel wall. This is unequivocally a multi-person job. We had four people, and it was still a tense process of carefully uncoiling the wall and feeding it into the thin bottom track. The sheer size and tension of the steel demand respect and coordination. Once the wall was up and bolted together, a collective sigh of relief filled the air. This is the moment where reported manufacturing issues can surface. We were fortunate that our bolt holes lined up with some persuasion, but we echo the user feedback that warns of potential misalignments. One user was frustratingly told by support to “shake the shake” to fix it, which highlights the importance of being prepared to problem-solve on your own.

From there, as one user accurately noted, “everything else was pretty simple,” albeit time-consuming. Attaching the 17 vertical uprights and the top rails involves a marathon of screw-driving. It took our team of three the rest of the day, making for a total build time of about seven hours, not including ground prep. This aligns with the “10 am to 4 pm” experience of one happy customer, but we can easily see how misaligned holes or fewer hands could push this into a multi-day ordeal as others experienced. This is a challenging but ultimately rewarding build for a prepared team.

Built to Last? Deconstructing the All-Steel Frame and Liner

The primary reason to choose the WaterThat 24′ x 52″ Steel Frame Pool Kit over less expensive models is its all-steel construction, and in this area, it truly delivers. The galvanized steel wall is the hero component, providing the kind of rigid structure that inspires confidence. Once filled with over 12,000 gallons of water, the pool feels incredibly solid, with no unnerving flexing or bowing. The steel uprights and the 7-inch top rails, protected by a “Krystal Kote” finish, effectively lock everything together, creating a unified structure that feels built to withstand years of summer fun and harsh off-season weather.

However, the structural integrity is a tale of two components: the frame and the liner. The included 20-gauge overlap vinyl liner is, in our opinion, the kit’s most significant vulnerability. While 20-gauge is a common industry standard for bundled kits, it feels thin for a pool of this size and depth. During installation, we were extremely careful to avoid any punctures. We were troubled by one user’s report that their liner was “tearing in several places,” which validates our concerns. A small puncture can become a major headache. We strongly advise prospective buyers to consider the included liner as a potential short-term component and budget for a thicker, higher-quality 25-gauge or even 30-gauge replacement liner in the future to ensure true long-term durability. The strength of this pool is its frame; investing in a better liner unlocks its full potential.

The Heart of the Pool: Evaluating the Sand Filter and Included Accessories

A pool is only as good as its filtration system, and the inclusion of a sand filter pump is a standout feature of this kit. For a pool holding this much water, a standard cartridge filter would be a constant, costly chore. The sand filter is a workhorse. It effectively cycles the water, and we found it kept the pool sparkling clean with regular backwashing. It’s quieter than many pumps we’ve tested and has more than enough power for the job. This is a premium feature that adds immense value and saves on long-term maintenance hassles, a detail you can explore further on the product page.

Unfortunately, the quality of the accessories is a mixed bag. The thru-wall skimmer works perfectly, effectively pulling leaves and debris from the surface. The included hoses, however, presented a problem another user also faced: the fittings weren’t quite right. We had to make an unexpected trip to a local pool store for a different adapter to get a leak-proof seal, a frustrating delay on installation day. The biggest disappointment, by far, is the A-frame ladder. To put it bluntly, user comments describing it as “trash and unsafe” are not an exaggeration. It feels wobbly and unstable, especially for adults. We consider it a temporary placeholder at best and a genuine safety concern at worst. Our recommendation is firm: purchase a high-quality, sturdier aftermarket ladder at the same time you buy the pool. Don’t let a poor-quality accessory compromise the safety and enjoyment of your otherwise excellent pool.

What Other Users Are Saying

After our own extensive testing, we dug into a broad range of user feedback to see how our experience lined up with others. The sentiment is generally polarized, hinging almost entirely on the assembly experience. On one side, you have thrilled customers like the one who said, “So excited and happy with my purchase!” This user, who had prepared their ground in advance and had a team of five helpers, successfully built the pool in a single day and was delighted with the final product. Their story represents the best-case scenario: good preparation and enough manpower lead to a fantastic outcome.

On the other side, the frustrations are consistent and specific. Multiple users reported “holes on the sidewalls for assembly very difficult to get lined up,” with one even receiving dismissive customer support. This suggests a quality control lottery that can turn a one-day project into a three-day nightmare. The flimsy ladder is another point of universal agreement among negative reviews. Critiques like “the ladder is trash and unsafe” are common. Similarly, issues like ill-fitting hoses and a liner that is perceived as too thin highlight a pattern where the core structure is strong, but the supporting components can be a letdown.

How the WaterThat Pool Stacks Up Against the Competition

The WaterThat 24′ x 52″ Steel Frame Pool Kit occupies a specific niche, but several other options cater to different needs and budgets. We looked at three popular alternatives to see how they compare.

1. Bestway Steel Pro 10 Foot Round Pool Set

The Bestway Steel Pro is in a completely different league, designed for maximum simplicity and small spaces. At just 10 feet round and 30 inches deep, it’s a “starter” pool perfect for cooling off, or for families with very young children. Its tube-frame assembly is infinitely simpler and faster than the WaterThat’s steel wall. However, its durability, size, and filtration (a small cartridge pump) are no match for the WaterThat kit. This is the ideal choice for someone on a tight budget, with a tiny yard, or who is unwilling to tackle a major DIY project.

2. Aquarian Phoenix 15′ Steel-Frame Pool Kit

The Aquarian Phoenix is arguably the most direct, albeit smaller, competitor. It features the same durable steel-wall construction as the WaterThat pool, offering superior rigidity compared to tube-frame models. At 15 feet in diameter, it’s a fantastic mid-size option for those who want the permanence of a steel wall but don’t have the space for a 24-foot behemoth. It provides a similar long-term feel but is a more manageable construction project for a smaller yard. If the sheer scale of the WaterThat pool is intimidating, the Aquarian Phoenix is a compelling alternative.

3. Intex Prism Frame Oval Pool Set 20ft x 10ft x 48in

The Intex Prism Frame Oval offers a different approach to a large-capacity pool. Instead of a solid steel wall, it uses a robust steel tube frame with a durable 3-ply liner. The oval shape is appealing for narrower yards and can be better for swimming laps. While not as structurally rigid as the WaterThat’s solid wall, the setup is generally considered less intensive. This Intex kit is a strong contender for those who prioritize a large swimming area and a complete, well-regarded accessory package (often including a cover and ground cloth) over the fortress-like feel of a steel wall.

Our Final Verdict: Is the WaterThat 24′ x 52″ Steel Frame Pool Kit the Right Choice for You?

After countless hours of assembly, testing, and swimming, our verdict on the WaterThat 24′ x 52″ Steel Frame Pool Kit is one of conditional recommendation. The finished product is magnificent. It’s a massive, sturdy, and handsome pool with a powerful filtration system that provides a truly premium backyard swimming experience. The core components—the galvanized steel wall and coated frame—are built to last and represent excellent value. When the water is in and the sun is out, it’s everything we had hoped for.

However, the journey to that idyllic outcome can be challenging. Success hinges on your willingness to embrace a serious DIY project, the availability of several strong helpers, and a bit of luck with manufacturing quality control. We cannot overstate the need to immediately replace the included ladder for safety reasons. We recommend this pool to the patient, prepared DIY enthusiast who understands they are buying a fantastic pool structure that may require some troubleshooting and accessory upgrades to perfect. If you fit that description and have the space, the reward is a spectacular backyard oasis that your family will enjoy for many summers to come. If you’re ready to take the plunge on this rewarding project, you can check the latest price and secure your kit here.