Partially or Completely Above Ground Fibreglass Pools
Maxi Rib Technology
We go where others can’t. Sloping site? Limited access? No flat ground? With Maxi Rib, a Compass pool can be installed almost anywhere: hillsides, rooftops, raised decks and beyond.
A Pool for Every Site, Not Just the Easy Ones
For decades, owners of sloping, challenging or elevated sites were told their only option was an expensive engineered concrete pool, or major earthworks to prepare for a standard fibreglass pool.
Compass changed that. Maxi Rib technology lets a full-size Compass pool be installed partly or completely above ground on almost any site, without retaining walls or complex engineering, and without giving up the quality, colour or self-cleaning of an inground pool.
In most cases a Maxi Rib installation costs significantly less than the concrete alternative, and far less than the earthworks a difficult site would need for a standard inground pool.
Three Ways to Install Your Compass Pool
Every site is different. Your local dealer will recommend the right approach for your backyard.
Fully Inground
The most popular option for flat or gently sloping sites, installed completely below ground for a clean, integrated look.
Inground pools
Partially Above Ground
For sloping sites, matching a deck height or creating an infinity edge. No retaining walls and no major earthworks.
Partly above ground poolsFully Above Ground
The pool sits entirely above natural ground, ideal for rooftops, raised platforms or sites where earthworks aren’t possible.
Above ground poolsMaxi Rib: The Technology That Changed Everything
One of the great breakthroughs in Australian pool manufacturing, pioneered by Compass.
- 1
External Rib Structure
Structural ribs on the outside of the shell give the walls the support to hold water pressure without being buried in soil.
- 2
Freestanding Capability
The ribs are filled with concrete on site, creating a monolithic structure that stands on its own with no retaining walls.
- 3
Design Freedom
Infinity edges, waterfalls and raised deck integration become straightforward, on any Compass shape.
- 4
A Compass Innovation
Compass pioneered Maxi Rib for full-size fibreglass pools, so a complete pool can stand where standard shells can’t.
Express Pools: A Faster Above Ground Option
Express pools are flat-bottom Compass fibreglass pools designed for partly or fully above ground installation. They are engineered for fast, straightforward delivery and set-up, without the site works a standard Maxi Rib installation needs.
Every Express pool has the same full fibreglass construction, Ceramic Core and Bi-Luminite or Vivid colours, with Vantage self-cleaning available. They are a smarter, more durable alternative to shipping container pools: no steel, no wood and no rust or rot.
Why Express Beats a Container Pool
- Full fibreglass, no steel, rust or rot
- Lighter and easier to crane and transport
- All Compass colours and self-cleaning available
- Same Ceramic Core and warranty
- Can be swimming on the day it arrives
Above Ground Pool Installations
Real Maxi Rib installations on challenging and complex sites.
Infinity Pools Made Possible by Maxi Rib
An infinity edge creates the illusion of water merging into the landscape. Thanks to Maxi Rib, a fibreglass infinity pool is a realistic, cost-effective option where previously only concrete was possible.
The shell is manufactured with a drop in the coping along the infinity edge, and Maxi Rib provides the freestanding support to raise that edge above ground, without costly concrete engineering.
Infinity edges, acrylic windows, waterfalls and deck integration, all with the durability, colour and self-cleaning of a standard Compass pool.
Every Compass Pool, Wherever It’s Installed
Above ground or inground, every Compass pool has the same technology and quality.
Vantage self-cleaning
In-floor jets push debris to one canister. No vacuuming, no robotic cleaner, fewer chemicals and no cold spots.
Discover VantageTriple Warranty
Structural, cosmetic and hydrostatic cover in one package, transferable to new owners for up to 25 years.
See the Triple WarrantyCeramic Core
A proprietary structural layer of vinyl ester resin and ceramic microspheres. Standard in every Compass pool.
About Ceramic CoreHydroPro™ valve
Our patented valve releases groundwater pressure five times faster than the standard industry valve.
About HydroProBi-Luminite colours
Nine exclusive colours built from two colour layers and large reflective chips for real 3D depth.
See Bi-LuminiteCustomisations
Spas, waders, beach zones, Sunpods, infinity edges and lighting, built into the shell at the factory.
See the optionsFrequently Asked Questions About Above Ground Pools
What to know before deciding whether an above ground installation suits your site.
What is Maxi Rib technology?
Maxi Rib is a Compass system that attaches structural ribs to the outside of the pool shell during manufacturing. Filled with concrete on site, the ribs let the pool stand independently above ground without retaining walls or extensive earthworks. Compass pioneered it for full-sized fibreglass pools.
How much does a Maxi Rib above ground pool cost?
Maxi Rib pools typically cost between $12,000 and $25,000 more than a standard inground installation, depending on the site. In most cases that is significantly less than the concrete alternative, and far less than the earthworks needed to prepare a challenging site for an inground pool. Your dealer can give a site-specific estimate after a free site visit.
Can any Compass pool shape be installed above ground?
Yes. Any Compass shape, from plunge pools to large family pools and Fastlane lap pools, can be manufactured with Maxi Rib for partly or fully above ground installation. You do not have to compromise on size, shape or features.
What is an Express pool?
Express pools are fully freestanding Compass pools that sit on a reinforced concrete slab, with no excavation required. They are made entirely of fibreglass, with no steel or wood, so there is no risk of rust or rot. They can arrive pre-plumbed so you could be swimming on delivery day, with the same colour and self-cleaning options as any Compass pool.
Can I have an infinity pool on a sloping site?
Yes. Sloping sites are often ideal for an infinity edge. Maxi Rib provides the freestanding support needed to raise one edge above ground and create the vanishing effect. Compass has built fibreglass infinity pools on sloping sites for more than 20 years.
Do above ground Compass pools have the same features as inground pools?
Yes. Above ground Compass pools have the same Ceramic Core, the same Bi-Luminite and Vivid colours, the same Vantage self-cleaning option and the same warranty as any inground Compass pool.
How do I know which installation method is right for my site?
Book a free site visit with your local authorised dealer. They will assess the slope, soil, access and your goals, then recommend the right approach. There is no cost and no obligation.
How does a Maxi Rib pool stand without retaining walls?
The external ribs on a Maxi Rib shell are filled with concrete on site, creating a monolithic structure that stands independently, so no retaining walls are required.
Not Sure Which Option Suits Your Site?
A free site visit is the fastest way to a definitive answer. Your local dealer will assess the slope, access and conditions and tell you exactly what is possible.
Book a Free Site Visit
Not sure if your site suits an above ground pool? A local dealer will assess it for free, with no obligation and no pressure, and tell you what is possible and what it will cost.
- Free, no-obligation site assessment
- Authorised local dealer visits your home
- Maxi Rib, Express and inground options explained
- Site-specific cost estimate
Get a Pool Quote
Accurate pricing with a site inspection, or a ballpark range to start.
Get a Pool QuoteBook a Free Site Visit
Your local dealer visits, measures your space and brings real colour samples.
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A question about a new pool or your existing Compass pool.
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