How To Prep For Above Ground Pool

What To Put Under An Inflatable Pool On Concrete

Concrete is a great material to put your inflatable pool on since it is usually 100% level. You will however need to put a material under your inflatable pool to protect the bottom of the pool from abrasions such as a tarp or flooring underlayment.

Concrete is also a very hard surface and will feel much nice on your feet if you use something with padding such as carpet underlay or foam.

Fix The Bumps And Holes

Id recommend digging into the ground to get it level, its actually better to remove the bumps in the dirt as opposed to adding more, as it helps create a more stable base.

Dont be afraid to dig down, its a good rule of thumb to sink your pool at least two inches down into the soil, as youll be topping it off with sand once youve got the base flat.

Installing Electrical System Of The Above

You need electricity in your pool for two major reasons:

• Pumping water
• Lighting the poolside

It is something that you can mostly do as long as you know the basics.

However, it would great if you also consider services of a professional electrician. But the truth of the matter is that electricity is scary when done inappropriately.

At times, it can lead to loss of life or serious injuries.

Swimming pool electrical system Photo Credits: KB ELECTRIC LLC

Either way, here are a few things that you got to have in mind when installing electricity in your pool:

• Total Amperage Your Pool Needs

You must understand how many amps would be suitable for the pool before even starting the wiring process.

The essence of this is to allow you to understand the specific size breaker required at the electric box.

• Size of Wires for Electric Connections

You must know the size of wire that would be enough to run to the pump.

Ordinarily, an ideal above-ground swimming pool would require at least a 20-amp breaker. It will also efficiently deliver electricity using 12-gauge wire.

Recommended Reading: Does The Venetian Have A Pool

Make Sure The Ph Is Perfect

Your pools pH level is a measure of how acidic or basic the water is. The lower the level, the more acidic the water is. The higher it is, the more basic the water is.

If your water is acidic, add a base to lower the acidity. If your waters too basic, add a pH increaser to bring it into proper balance.

Remember, youre shooting for a pH in the range of 7.4 to 7.6. And as with alkalinity, a higher level is better when youre winterizing.

What You Need To Level The Ground For Your Swimming Pool

The task at hand isnt too tricky. It can be tedious, but with the right tools on hand, the job will be made a lot easier and quicker.To level out the ground for your new swimming pool you will need:- A sod cutter/sod removing tool – this will remove a partition of grass and a thin layer of dirt- A long two-by-four plank of wood – A spirit level- A wide shovel- A wide rake- A lawn Roller – if you dont own one or cant borrow one you may need to hire a professional- Sand

Also Check: Aria Vegas Pool

Shock The Pool Before You Close

Sure, you could whisper a dark secret into the filter or perform the lambada, but thats not the kind of shock youre after. Add pool shock to power up your sanitizer for the winter. Consult the directions for each to make sure youre adding the right amount for your pools capacity.

Since youre closing the pool, you can use a fast-dissolving shock before you put the cover on instead of using a typical calcium hypochlorite shock that takes anywhere from 8 to 24 hours to work.

Tip: If youd rather use regular shock, just make sure you add it to the pool the night before you want to close it so the shock has time to work its magic.

Above Ground Pool Installation Steps

• Excavation and leveling

• Preparing the bottom of the pool with sand or a hard bottom

• Laying out the bottom track of the pool

• Setting the wall of the pool

• Installing the liner and securing to the wall with the top track

• Attaching the pool posts to secure the wall and liner

• Attaching the top caps to cover the connection points of the liner, top track, wall and posts

• Using a vacuum to remove any air between the wall and liner

• Begin filling the pool

• Cutting out the skimmer and installing the skimmer plate

• Install and connect the pump/filter system

• Final steps to be completed by homeowner once pool is full, discussed below

Don’t Miss: Deepest Intex Pool

Use Sand To Smooth It Out

The amount of sand required will naturally depend on the size of your above-ground swimming pool. You will want enough to create at least a 2-inch thick foundation for your pool.

The sand provides a compact foundation that will support your swimming pool and pose as a barrier against grass, weeds and sharp objects.

Use a rake to evenly spread the sand across the site. Once the sand has been smoothed over, you can then water it and leave it to dry overnight.

Buying Process & Reputable Retailers

Once youve made the decision to purchase an above ground pool, the process becomes fairly easy even something that can be accomplished without ever visiting the store if you prefer.

Your sales associate, whether in person, via email, or via phone, will walk through any last questions you may have and then will simply get the information from you regarding the pool model and size you would like and any accessories or upgrades you would like to add on with the initial purchase.

They will get information from you concerning your location and site for installation so they can add in installation costs and estimated excavation costs , assuming you choose to have the pool installed by one of their installation crews.

From this point, the next person you will most likely hear from is the individual responsible for scheduling the pool installation they will either be calling to set up an installation date/time or to confirm the installation time if one was set at the time of your pool purchase.

Now you are in the hands of the installation crew. While that crew is on site doing the installation, they will walk through the pool and the steps you need to complete once the pool is full, and you can ask any questions that you may have.

Watch the video below to learn about our free consult and a bit about our showroom:

Also Check: Building Your Own Swimming Pool

Getting Level Ground For An Above Ground Pool

I cant overemphasize how important it is to have a level pool. An uneven pool will not only get you teased by everyone who notices it, but it also puts unnecessary stress on the side that gets the extra weight. It also makes it harder to keep the precise level in the pool for the skimmer to work properly, and could result in winter pool damage.

While digging out the grass, you should begin to do any leveling work that is required. Even though it may look level, it may not be. This step is very important to ensure that your new above ground pool wont be lopsided. A laser level or a transit is the easiest and most accurate way to accomplish this. But if you dont have that available, a couple of stakes, a ball of twine and a line level will do the trick just as well. Heres how to use string to check level.

How To Level An Above Ground Pool The General Solution

Before we show you the different solutions you can use when leveling your above ground pool, we need to ensure that you are familiar with the general leveling procedure:

If the chosen spot has sod, you will need to clear it first by following the steps below:

You May Like: Aria Pool Hours

Your Winterizing Worries Are A Thing Of The Past

Your pool is cleaner than Mr. Monks kitchen. Your water is balanced, pristine, and sanitary. Your hardware is safe, dry, and secure. And your pool is snuggled up with a pillow and blankie. Well, yknow, kinda. Congratulations, grasshopperthe arcane secrets of how to winterize an above ground pool are now yours to command.

Therell be many more years of fun in the sun ahead. But for now, you can rest easy, knowing your pool is prepared for even the worst winter can throw at it.

Happy Closing!

Top 5 Mistakes Installing An Above Ground Pool

Avoid these common mistakes when building your above ground pool.

Mistake 1: Building up the low areas with dirt taken from the higher areas.

This is probably the top mistake we see people make. If you are pushing the dirt around to level out the site for the pool, eventually the dirt will settle and your pool will no longer be level. This might happen right away when you fill the pool, or shortly down the road, one thing is for sure, it will happen. Pool Pros always digs out to the lowest spot so the entire pool is sitting on virgin soil.

Mistake 2: Using too much mason sand.

The ground should be dug level on virgin soil always. The sand is simply a buffer from the pool liner to the ground. The purpose of the sand is not to level your pool. If you are using sand to level things out you will have nothing but problems.

Mistake 3: Setting the track on sand.

The sand should be inside the pool track, never under the track. If the track of the pool is set on sand, it will wash out and the pool will settle or sink, reducing the longevity of your pool.

Mistake 4: Not compacting or troweling the sand.

First the sand should be compacted with a plate compactor, and then hand troweled to a smooth finish. If this is not done, the first time you get into the pool, your feet will sink into the sand creating divots in the sand which could lead to wrinkles in your liner, and ultimately shorten the lifespan of your liner.

Mistake 5: Placing patio blocks under your uprights.

Also Check: What Is Pristine Blue Pool Chemicals

Smooth It Out With Sand

After leveling the ground, you need a truckload of sand. The sand creates a base, protecting not only the liner of your pool but to provide a buffer against grass and weeds, or any other sharp objects you may have missed in the dirt.

Getting sand delivered is as easy as a phone call to a landscaping supply company or your local garden center. Ask for enough to create at least a 2-inch thick layer of sand across the entire area of your pool site, though if you end up with 6-inches or more this is totally fine.

Once its been delivered, use a rake to spread the sand evenly, then give everything a good water, and leave it to dry. Id leave it overnight to flatten and dry out.

Clearing The Air On Above Ground Pools

Our goal is to be the most educational company regarding traditional above ground pools. We have over 20 years of professional experience with above ground pools and a lot of information to share! We have found that in-ground pools have quite a bit of discussion online surrounding them, but no one has really gone in depth on above ground pools. We hope to clear the air on above ground pools, and answer any and all questions you might have. In this guide and on our website we will be as transparent as possible explaining the industry in general, how it applies to our product selection. And, why we have chosen the product line-up we have.

Read Also: How To Clean Plaster Pool

Installing A Pool With A Sand Base Foam Cove And Liner Floor Pad

Step 1

Using fine sand , lay a 3 thick bed of sand across the entire inside of the pool this will form your base.

Step 2

After installing the 3 sand base, lay the liner floor pad on top. Please note your liner floor pad is pre-cut to fit your pools exact dimensions.

Step 3

Attach the pool cove directly on top of the liner floor pad by removing the adhesive backing and sticking it to the metal pool wall .

Step 4

This is the completed above ground pool liner installation. The vinyl pool liner should be completely supported by the pool base to avoid any stress or damage to it or the metal pool wall.

Connect Each Bottom Rail

The next step is to connect each rail to its bottom plate. Metal, resin, and resin bottom cuffs connect to the bottom rails in the same manner. Once youve connected the rails to the bottom plates, measure the diameter in several areas to make sure the base is truly round. Once satisfied, you can stake the ring into position.

Quick Tip: For easier installation, lay your bottom rails and bottom plates down along the perimeter of the installation area before connecting them.

Don’t Miss: Can Lice Live In Chlorine Pools

Setting The Stake And Leveling Arm

The stake was driven into the center mark with a sledge. We fine-tuned the surface with taps on the corners to bring it level. It’s probably best to partially insert the center pin and check it for vertical level, since this is the point of rotation.

Place a washer above and below the arm while feeding in the pin. We tapped this in the last little bit with the sledge that was still handy. Somewhere around the middle of the arm, place the level and secure it in place. I used electrical tape since it was handy, but zip ties would be a good substitute. If yours has the option, place the level so that the bubble on the edge is facing up so that it’s easier to view while standing.

Maintain Your Pool Regularly

Getting your swimming pool up and running is not enough it is also equally important to maintain it regularly otherwise, your pool would soon revert to the same bad condition that you had originally found it in! As part of your above-ground pool maintenance work, you should be doing the following kinds of maintenance on your pool at least once per week:

• Brush both your pool as well as the pool deck thoroughly
• Get rid of any and all the debris and junk you find in the pool and clean it well using a vacuum cleaner
• Use chemicals to cleanse the water of its impurities
• Regularly empty both the skimmer as well as the pump baskets
• Make sure your pool filters remain clean
• Check the strainer basket often for leaks and cracks as leaks in it can permit debris to get through it, etc.
• If possible, buy an automatic above ground pool cleaner believe us, it will save you a lot of the time you spend on pool maintenance, and the money you invest in it is worth every penny!
• You need to get rid of stale water regularly and refill your pool with fresh water. Do this as often as possible the more often you do it, the longer your pool would last!

Recommended Reading: Is The Mandalay Bay Pool Open

Tips For Preparing The Ground:

• If the ground is clay use a floor pad for the installation
• Oval buttress free pools require additional room at the sides for the ungrounded leg supports
• You can not install an oval pool on concrete
• Dont install a floor pad on a dished pool because the floor pad is designed to lay flat
• You can not dish an oval pool if it has strapping
• The pool must be level across the perimeter
• For areas with severe weather or cold, a 6 inch base is recommended rather than a 2 inch base

Installing An Above Ground Pool On Sand: The Best Solution

Sand helps to stabilise the ground and allows you to fill in most ground imperfections. However, you will have to follow a few basic rules. Firstly, you should avoid laying a thick layer of sand on the ground itself if you want to avoid finding sand anywhere and everywhere including where you least expect it. What’s more, cats can come by in the night time and use the sand as their own personal litter tray which can lead to some pretty terrible smells.

You May Like: Target Pool Vacuum