Summer is approaching. Many families are relying on a simple above ground pool for hours of fun activities and exercises. There are professionals and companies who will complete the installation for us upon request, but we sometimes wonder if we can do it by ourselves and save a fine amount of cash. The answer is yes. It’s actually not too complicated if you know what to prepare and how to install an above ground pool. We’ll talk about it in detail in this article. Keep reading!
Install Above Ground Pool – What Tools Will You Need?
You should have these tools prepared before you get to work. If you don’t have them at home, ask a friend or rent from a hardware store. They are not hard to find at all!
Check your pool package according to the list of materials included. It rarely happens, but if something is missing, you would want to contact the provider and fix it right away. Also, we will try to sort the nuts or screws instead of letting them be and getting them mixed.
Install Above Ground Pool: Groundwork!
#Choose an area that is about 3 meters away from any tree. It goes without saying that the more even the ground is and the less obstruction hides underneath, the better. Depending on where you live, the local codes might vary, so make sure you are not violating them.
After having chosen an area for your pool, you will prepare the ground.
#Sod removal:
If your backyard isn’t green and lush with grass, it’s your luck. Because we can’t install a pool on a grassy base. A pool will stay with you for a long time, and the grass will rot. The remnants will damage your pool liner. Plus, grasses can also be the reason for bumpy and uneven ground, and we don’t want our pool to feel less than smooth.
In addition to removing the sod, you also need to make sure the area is clear from all obstruction and rake away all the rocks, roots, and debris.
#Keep the site leveled:
You can rent a transit to check if the area is leveled. Alternatively, use a long wooden board with a carpenter’s level on top to measure the levelness. If it’s not even yet, dig the higher spots out instead of piling up more soil on the hollow spots.
Why? If you fill the lower areas up, the fill will be kind of loose unless you have some machinery help to compact the soil firmly, since the force of your hands won’t be enough to ensure a tightly compacted ground against tons of water.
#Find the crucial points:
To put a structure up, you would want to map out the basics of it. Let’s start with where the edges of your pool would be, measure the width (or the radius), and divide it by two. Stake the tape measure at this center point you have determined.
After that, you will pull the tape measure to the edges mentioned above and mark them on the ground. Now, we have proper measurements, not accurate but approximate.
How even does it have to be? The entire area should have only one inch of overall difference at maximum.
How to Install An Above Ground Pool
#The bottom ring
The pool walls will sit inside of it. The bottom ring includes plates, stabilizers, and rails in general. However, different types, brands, and sizes of the pool might have minor points in their instruction you should pay attention to. We will learn how to identify these components first:
- Plates are made of metal or resin.
- Stabilizers have a crimped side and small rails.
- Rails are straighter and larger.
As instructed, lay these alongside the site and start assembling them. You will slip the rail into the plate up to the dimple. To have a precise assessment, evaluate several spots on the bottom track for round pools and diagonal lengths for oval pools. When you deem the size correct, stake the ring in place and proceed to the next step.
#Support the base
It’s an important step that keeps your pool base stable and level for a long time.
Each plate has to be within ½ inch of each other. It’s not a must, but you should use patio blocks under the bottom plates and make sure they are flush with the ground and level with others in every direction.
To bring in the sand, we will remove one bottom rail. Remember to mark them so you can put them in the correct position once you are done with the sand. You might need 1 – 6 yards of sand, depending on the size of your pool.
Spread the sand evenly and avoid spilling it over the bottom rails, or the wall won’t be steady.
#Install the pool wall
First of all, we will unroll the wall. While you are at it, place the top plates to provide support and position the skimmer cut on the upper portion of the wall. Put the wall in the central track of bottom plates and spread it around the ring.
In the unlucky case of the wall not perfectly lining up, don’t worry. Adjusting the bottom rails will solve the problem.
#Bolt the wall together
You should get several pairs of hands to help you out. They will also prevent the wall from being knocked over before you get to fixate it.
- Bars for single-row walls have rivets attached to them beforehand, and you will secure them using bolts and nuts. Each spot made for them needs a fill, or your wall will face the risk of breaking.
- Put the parts on the line in pairs (one inside and one outside of the pool) and use nuts and bolts to connect them.
- You mustn’t let the wall bars touch each other.
- Build a 6 – 8-inch cove on the inside of the wall and carefully pack it with the trowel. Try not to leave scratches on it!
- Use a few layers of duct tape to cover the heads of the bolts, and your liner won’t get holes.
What if the wall feels like it’s floating? You might have some dirt in the bottom track. Lifting the wall and cleaning the track with the shop vac should do the trick. However, if you can’t lift the wall, unfortunately, you need to disassemble the structure to do the cleaning.
The holes don’t align! Don’t try and drill new holes. First, check on the structure, then stick the screwdriver through a pair of holes to keep the wall’s ends lined up.
#Install the liner
Liners are quite vulnerable to physical damage, so you’d better be very careful. Before doing anything else, spread the liner under sunlight for several minutes to make it easier to lay out. We highly recommend doing the liner on a warm day. With that said, you shouldn’t pour cold water all over the liner right away either.
- Dampen the sand and tamp it before raking it evenly for a level base.
- Lay the liner out. You either wear socks or leave your feet bare. Don’t stomp on the liner with your shoes.
- Push the wrinkles and folds to the outside. We can’t possibly avoid all wrinkles, but do try your best to limit them.
- Install the stabilizer rails on top of the pool wall. After that, you can remove the landscaping stakes.
- You won’t have another convenient chance to level the ground of the pool and remove the debris. Keep your eyes opened and focused!
- If the liner is a bit larger in size than expected, you should roll the excess part up and fixate it with tape rather than trying to trim it. A trimmed liner is very difficult to re-install.
How about the different types of liners?
- Snap Bead liners, as the name says, snap into an exclusive ring around the pool. They are on top of the wall.
- V-Bead liners have the stabilizer rails to hold them in place, no coping needed.
- Unibead liners can be either of the two. It appears as a V-Bead, but if you remove the top portion, it can become a Snap Bead.
- Overlap liners are hung over the wall by plastic coping strips.
#Install plates, rails, and covers
You have done the hard part. If done correctly, these pieces will easily click into their rightful places. The only thing you need to mind is whether the top and the sides are leveled.
- Top plates above the uprights: You keep them tightened with screws and use a level to ensure they are straight.
- Top rails around the pool: Once the pieces are in place, tighten the screws all in one go.
- Top covers upon the uprights
#Fill the pool up
You can do this with a cup of your favorite drink and wait for the last steps to be done.
- Fill the pool halfway first, and start installing the skimmer and the filter as instructed.
- Add the safety warnings to preserve your warranty. If you don’t have these labels, contact the manufacturer for free new warnings.
- Fill the rest of the pool. The water should be 1/3 to ½ way up the skimmer.
Last Saying
And that’s how to install an above ground pool. It’s a lot of work. we must say, but it can be a great chance for family members and friends to bond while creating something big together. Use this guideline well and follow the manufacturer’s instructions closely, and you’re ready for a whole summer of endless fun. Thank you for stopping by Swim-City!