Above Ground Swimming Pool Basic Installation Guide

Sod Removal From Affected Area

• All sod is to be dug up from the area beneath the pool and, additionally, in accordance with all local building, fencing, and barrier code requirements, all the way around the pool wall to make your assembly task easier and less prone to accidental wall damage occurrences, such as dents and scratches, etc.
  

• Certain areas of the country require up to 6' of clear area cut all the way around the pool. Check local codes.

Leveling of the Site

• Once sod is removed, the higher ground must always be brought down to match the height of the lowest grade level within the un-sod area. Dig out the high side!   <--- RECOMMENDED
  
• The only exception which would allow for a lower area to be raised up is if you supply a method for retaining the build up of the loose fill and properly compact the fill areas with machinery.
  
• Hand tamping of raised fill areas will not be sufficient to prevent settling of the pool frame due to the tons of water soon to be on the area.
  
• At your expense and discretion, use of a dense, heavy, drainable, and compactable material (such as crushed stone or stone dust) can be used as a sub-base fill in these situations where ground conditions warrant its use. It must be retained around the perimeter, either by using the excavated sod material as a berm mound or with retainer wall structures, also at your expense and discretion.
  
• Due to the extreme weight of the water on the ground, there exists an outward reaching pressure dispersal "cone" or "pyramid" that extends downward through the ground which provides the needed support for the immense weight of the water above the ground.
  
• This weight is dispersed at approximately 45 degree angles from the sides of the pool wall structure downward and into the adjacent soil below. Too sharp a drop off when building up a low area will result in that side giving way to the pressure being exerted on it. The pool will settle or sink noticeably to that side of the installation over time. 
  
• The minimum safe distance away from the pool wall you need to be in order to adequately retain the raised fill is dependent upon the height of the fill and its composition, the type of material used as fill, and the slope of the ground adjacent to the pool site and raised area.
  
• All of these things make it difficult to recommend the action of raising a site rather than digging it out. There is a risk involved! Your pool is relying on you to use your best judgment given the site conditions you will encounter.
  
• We advise you to consult with your town construction zoning officials, professionals, and installation contractors when planning such work.
  This information has been provided with the intention of making these critical concerns aware to all involved in the construction of all brands of above ground swimming pools.

Site Drainage Considerations

• You should also consider making provisions for additional site drainage from the areas around the perimeter of your new pool whenever the conditions warrant it.
• Sometimes, a new pool will act as dam. It prevents the water from following its previous or natural path of drainage through your yard.
• A dry yard could suddenly become swampy as a result, and many people mistakenly believe their pool is leaking when in reality it is not.
• At your expense and discretion, some sites will need to have water channeled away from one side of the pool around to a lower side or area through a drainage ditch with a perforated drain pipe or "drain tile".
• If the site is nestled in a valley area of the yard, water flows towards it from all sides, more extensive work would be required. Handle this with the aid of professionals.
• Most sites have a natural slope with adequate drainage.

Frame Foundation and Site Leveling Block

Just as important to leveling the pool site is completely countersinking each post support block into the "virgin soil" or the fully retained dense sub base material. This is especially true when blocks are located on raised fill in order to avoid erosion and washout later.


• All manufacturer's instructions call for the use of full sized patio stones or blocks as levelers beneath the pool frame posts and buttresses. Jagged half blocks tend to induce settling.
• Only the top of the patio block should be exposed and visible after you have completed setting the block in place. Leaving block sides exposed leads to erosion from under pool.
  

• All blocks should be leveled side to side and from front to back to ensure that the base plates, track, and pool frame rest firmly and evenly on the block.
  

• All blocks should also be no more than 1/16" out of level from one block to the next and no more than 1" from one side or end of the pool to the other. Using a site leveling transit, it is possible to set each block at exactly the same level in the ground around the perimeter. What you see through the scope is exactly what you get when taking your measurements. This assumes that the scope is level, so confirm this as you take readings.
  
• Out of level, from block to block, leads to out of round or "square". This leads to buckling of the wall above the wall channel, or bottom track, at or behind the upright posts. This is observed when adjoining blocks are only off from one another by 1/8".
  
• It is for these reasons that a pool be built upon a solid and secure foundation and be as level as possible.
  
• After you determine the actual position in the ground that the block needs to be placed, be sure all posts will rest squarely and evenly on them.
  
• Follow the manufacturer's instruction guidelines on when and how many blocks need to be positioned. Keep checking and re-checking this critical frame positioning as you lay the block, after you have put up the wall, after you have spread the sand base, after you have beveled the sand cove area, and prior to installing the liner.
  
• You can't fail if you build it level, square, and round!
  
• Although the frame of a properly installed pool has more pressure exerted against it than it has down on it, the positioning of the posts on the leveling point blocks should still be important to you. You will perceive the positioning upon the block to be a problem, so avoid extra work and take the added time and care to position the frame squarely on each block the first time.

Pool Liner Support Base Material

• The smooth, debris free masonry sand beneath the liner will act as a necessary buffer between the harsh terrain of the pool site and the thin vinyl water tight membrane we call a pool liner.
  
• All manufacturer's instruction booklets call for enough material to supply a uniform 2" layer of washed, mason's, or yellow sand or a clean soft sand / clay mixture. You will typically use that which is most convenient to you or your area.
  
• A good base will help to absorb rock, stone, animal, insect, or root movement caused by nature or seasonal freeze / thaw ground conditions that occur in many parts of the country.
• After the bottom track is in place and the wall is up, you should place a nut grass killer liberally on top of the sand, wet it down thoroughly and then tamp the sand firmly beginning at the outside edge of the pool and working your ways towards the middle of the pool. 

Pool Wall Assembly

• Again, level and round your walls, and you're halfway there! The most crucial aspect to wall assembly is to continually check and re-check that the pool is perfectly round or "square" if it is an oval pool.
  
• This is to ensure that the pool posts will not lean in or out noticeably as well as to make sure that the liner will fit properly.
  
  
• If a pool is out of round, the liner will be stretched in ways it was not intended to be, and wrinkles will form that can not be removed because they are caused by the stretching of the material itself.
  
• Dishing the bottom of your pool also causes these wrinkles and is another reason to be sure your pool is perfectly in round.
  
  
• The wall simply gets set in place, into the track, as you slowly unwind the wall around the perimeter of the pool.  Many hands make this a much easier task.  Having assistance will also help prevent the wind from blowing the wall down.
  
  
• Connect wall using nuts and bolts provided. After tightening bolts, cover screws and seam with Duct tape as shown. The size of the bolts varies with the type of pool you have

Pool Base Beveled Cove

• With this base material, you must also build around the inside perimeter of your pool wall an even height, uniform beveled cove to avoid contact between the edges and parts of the metal pool framework and the thin water tight membrane or pool liner.
  
• Bevel the sand at a 45 degree angle with the top of the cove a minimum of 6" high, as measured from the base of the pool wall and framework to the top of the angled cove. Pack the sand with a 2 liter bottle pre-filled with water to help form the cove.
  
• Taper the cove material downward and inward and blend it into the deep layer of base material that you have laid down previously on top of the undisturbed soil of the site.
  
• If the cove is not made uniformly around the pool, the fit of your liner will be affected.( A highly suggestible alternative to this is using Styrofoam Pool Cove as shown in this picture.)
  
• Visually, you will notice when effort is given or not given to this step of the installation.
  
• This base material as well as the cove area should be tamped as firmly and as evenly as possible to minimize the occurrence of large depressions from walking around inside the pool during the liner installation process.

A permanent Styrofoam Pool Cove material is an available option if you desire to use it. Pool Coves come in Peel & Stick and Clip & Stick varieties.

Liner Installation

• The expectation today is for an installation that is as wrinkle free as possible, but you can not overly stress a liner in an attempt to accomplish this feat of having absolutely no wrinkles.
  
  
• Some wrinkling is to be expected and is considered normal and an acceptable standard.
  
  
• Massive amounts of fold over wrinkles are not acceptable as they are not good for liners.
  
  
• Simply give it your best effort. To avoid wrinkles with overlap liners, remove excess material as water is added. With beaded liners, smooth the material out to the sides.
  
  
• Proper fit and installation of a liner requires patience and diligence on your behalf.
  
  
• These pictures shown are with a beaded liner and also with a Gorilla Bottom
  
  

Frame Assembly

• In accordance with the manufacturer's instruction booklet, and beginning with the uniform spacing between the track connections and continual verification of the relative roundness and levelness of the pool, the final assembly of your pool's framework should be smooth as all of the pieces are uniform in shape and dimension.



• Assemble all remaining posts, rails, etc. loosely at first until all are attached.



• Plumb the posts as squarely as possible before tightening the screws and bolts completely.



• Tighten screws and bolts to rails.



• Attach the cover caps and decorative trim-work as applies.

Safety Decals & Warranty Information

• It is generally required that you attach to the pool the safety and warning decals and signs supplied by the manufacturer in accordance with the locations outlined within the manufacturer's instruction manual.
  
• Be certain to save all manuals, instruction booklets, and product or warranty information for your pool and its associated products. You will need them in the future.