Look For The High Spots
Once youve moved your above groundpool, the next thing you should do is to get an idea of what parts of theground are elevated and which parts arent.
The easiest way to do this is to liea plank down on the ground and put a carpenters level on top of it. You canthen move the plank to various areas where you placed your pool. This will giveyou an idea of which parts of the ground are uneven.
To make things easier, you can use astake to mark these areas.
Fill Edges Of The Pool Wall & Level The Ground
Now fill the small spaces between the wall and the ground.
Filling spaces between the pool wall and ground Photo Credits: VIDEO BY CRAIG HEFFERNAN
Now level the swimming pool floor and compact the soil beneath it.
You need to make the site sturdy. After digging here and there, you must ensure that you compress the loose soil around.
Principally, using high-grade machinery is acceptable because they ensure the soil around is condensed appropriately.
Compacting the swimming pool floor Photo Credits: VIDEO BY CRAIG HEFFERNAN
Remember, when you compact the soil , youre basically establishing a strong foundation. This way, youll be sure that the site area is reliable, durable and most importantly secure.
Furthermore, it can withstand the weight of water and impact by swimmers.
Above Ground Pool Deck Ideas
First of all, the pool deck framing needs to be built level with the top of the pool coping. To provide a custom look, our contractor built a pool deck border around the pool using 2×12 boards angled over the top cap of the pool.The boards are miter cut to create angles that allow them to frame/border the above ground pool. Essentially, instead of seeing the plastic pool coping that comes with an above ground pool, you are covering it and creating your own wood coping. This instantly upgrades the design of your pool deck. It is also a cleaner look.
To conceal the white plastic pool coping from inside the pool, our contractor screwed 2×6 boards to the 2×12 pool deck border boards. Not only does it cover the coping from inside the pool, it provides more of an inground/built-in illusion.
I was able to take a photo of the process above. On the right side, you can see where the 2×6 board is attached and covering the pool coping. On the incomplete side , you can see the exposed pool coping. This small attention to detail makes a world of difference and doesnt cost much more to do.
Another factor to the success of us deceptively making our pool look inground is the natural grade of our yard. You seewe placed our pool where the yard naturally slopes down to a lower level. This way, there are no stairs to have to climb up when trying to access the above ground pool or deck. The deck is level with the upper grade of my backyard . As a result, everything appears level and seamless.
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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.
Assemble The Frames For The Above Ground Swimming Pool
This marks part of the final stages of constructing an above-ground pool. At this point it necessary to make sure that you follow the manufacturers guideline to the letter.
When assembling the frames, create a consistent spacing between the track connections. As you go on, always verify the roundedness and evenness of the facility.
Assembling above ground pool frame Photo Credits: VIDEO BY CRAIG HEFFERNAN
Arrange all the posts and rails left behind and those that were loosely attached initially and attach all of them accordingly.
And before tightening the bolts and the screws for the last time, make sure that you plump the posts as evenly as you can. Now fasten the bolts and screws entirely into the rails.
Fixing frame and rails with screws Photo Credits: VIDEO BY CRAIG HEFFERNAN
When doing this and any other tasks, you also need to make sure that you enhance your safety and that of any other person working on the pool.
Always wear protective gears where possible and use high-grade equipment that are easy to operate to avoid causing unnecessary injuries.
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Things To Prepare For Leveling An Above Ground Pool
The first thing to do when you fix your above ground pool leveling problems is to gather your tools. What exactly do you need for this job?
Heres a shortlist:
- Water source and garden hose
- Rake
All of these things can usually befound in any tool shed. If not, then you can easily find them in a hardwarestore. Dont worry too much about spending a little extra on your pool becausethese tools will be helpful in the event that the ground below your pool dropsagain.
With that out of the way, lets get to our guide on how to level ground for easy set pool.
What To Know Before Building A Pool
As a final takeaway, here’s what you need to know before building any type of swimming pool anywhere in your home.
At River Pools, we manufacture world-class fiberglass pools for customers across North America. If you think a fiberglass pool may be right for your home, feel free to browse our catalog of models, visit our educational video library, or try out our pool pricing calculator below. You can also request a custom quote here.
Want to see about how much that cost will be with all your favorite pool accessories?
Use our Design and Price Tool to walk through your options and approximate price!
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Level Land For Installation
The earth beneath your pool will need to be absolutely level before you begin to assemble your above ground pool. This is extremely important to the structural integrity of your pool. Lopsided pools tend to fall over and end up in an episode of Americas Funniest Home Videos! Dont be that guy. Instead, look for a relatively flat area to begin with. This will make your above ground pool site prep a bit easier.
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.
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Use A Leveling Device
To level out the ground, you will need a levelling device. Use two-by-four plank of wood and a long spirit level to measure the evenness of the surrounding area.
A simple and easy method is to lay down the two-by-four on the ground, and then place the spirit level on top of the wood, attaching it with a cable tie if need be. The levelling device will help indicate which areas will need additional attention throughout the ground preparation process.
How To Prep Ground For An Above
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Beating the summer heat in a cool pool is great fun, so long as the pool is properly installed. Preparing the area your new pool will call home is the most important part of the pool installation. Whether or not the pool stands firm will depend on how well you level and support the ground the pool will sit on. Proper preparation of your level foundation will yield many summers of fun in the sun.
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Preparing The Ground For An Above Ground Pool
First of all, you’ll have to decide where to install your pool. To make the right choice you’ll have to consider local regulations, the distance from your neighbours, the noise caused by pool games, the layout of your space and your ground surface. For example, you can’t have an inflatable pool near thorny bushes, gravel or on a slope.
No matter whether your pool is free-standing, has a steel frame or is inflatable, it will be bulky and heavy. As a reminder, one cubic metre of water weighs around one ton. This is a considerable weight which can cause your ground to sink over time or damage your pool if you don’t take the proper precautions.
If you plan on setting up your pool on concrete slabs, there isn’t a lot to consider. However, if you are going to be installing a pool on bare earth or on a lawn, you will have to prepare the ground very carefully. We’ll walk you through the various steps to properly preparing the ground for an above pool installation.
Simply Contact A Swimming Pool Contractor For Design Ideas
In many cases, they often have a lot of them since that is their area of specialization. The contractor will at the same time give you the appropriate plan and drawing for the impending construction.
A kidney shaped above ground swimming pool Photo Credits:WALLS INTERIOR
This is obviously based on several factors that they need to consider before ultimately arriving at a decision.
So, in other words, contractors have a way of coming up with a design plan for above ground swimming pool. This will depend on the outcome of the evaluation of the construction site.
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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.
Here Are Some Chosen Ways To Make It Look In
So, below you will find some of the proven ways to make your Swimming Pool alternative look inground. As said before, we have personally tried some of these before, and you can choose one depending upon the design of your home and garden. Some methods will work correctly for you, while some may not work at all. Do let us know which one you tried and what are the end results.
So, lets begin.
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Drain Equipment And Plug The Pipes
You need to drain the water from all of your pool equipment. This includes your pump, filter, heater, and all other equipment that holds water. If you dont, that water will sit in the equipment for months, and if it freezes, the expanding water could destroy it.
Once thoroughly drained, you will need to plug the pipes with drain plugs or caps. This keeps the pipes protected during the winter and ensures that water doesnt seep back into the equipment.
Installing A Pool With A Sand Base And Foam Cove
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 a 3 sand base, attach the pool cove by simply removing the adhesive backing and sticking it to the metal pool wall directly on top of the sand .
Step 3
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.
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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.
Why Is A Level Above Ground Pool So Important
There are a lot of reasons why you need to know the best way to level an above ground pool before you get started installing one. The obvious reason is to maintain an even water level but its actually a little more complicated than that.
If an above ground pool is uneven, the first thing that goes wrong is that water starts to overflow from one side when people start splashing around in the pool. This might not seem like a big deal at first but as time goes on, that side of the pool wall begins to lose its integrity. First, it will lean and spill more water. Then, it starts to lean even more until, eventually, the entire wall gives out and the pool is no longer usable. This is not only a waste of money but its also a risk for injury and significant property damage.
You can see why knowing the best way to level above ground pools is important. So, how do you do it?
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Prepare The Site Where To Install An Above Ground Pool
Of all the phases for installing the above-ground pool, this seems to be the most involving in regards to labor intensiveness.
And surprisingly, you got to do it perfectly. It is what significantly determines the overall outcome of the pool. If you do it right from the start, be sure of having a great finish and vice versa.
So what does site preparation entails?
Lets quickly have a look:
Build The Bottom Ring:
Follow the instructions that come with your above ground pool package as each type, brand and size of pool have different instructions. In general, you will be using your plates, stabilizers and rails. Here are some tips to identify each piece:
- Your plates will be made of metal or resin
- The bottom stabilizer should be crimped on one side. It has smaller rails
- The bottom rail is straighter and larger than the stabilizer.
- Lay out the pieces and assemble as instructed. Generally, you will be sliding the bottom rail into the bottom plate up to the dimple on the plate.
- Remember to measure the bottom track in several locations to ensure that the pool is truly round and the correct size. If the size is correct, stake the ring into position. If not, contact Pool Supplies Canada immediately.On oval pools make sure diagonal measurements match . Double and triple check the diagonal measurements and keep doing this over and over.
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Above Ground Pool Installation Items
The following are links to various sections on our website ThePoolFactory.com where you can select pool liner installation items based off your above ground pool size.
Pool Cove is foam that easily peels and sticks to the inside base of the pool wall. The foam pool cove is 3-3/4 inches high and must be installed on top of 3 inches of sand. This will give you a total height of about 7 inches, the recommended height to support the liner and eliminate stress at the seam of the pool liner.
When To Winterize Your Above Ground Pool
Depending on where you live, your closing times will vary. But as a rule, if temperatures typically drop, and stay, below 65°F during the off season, wait until the temperature falls below that point to close.
Why? Algae, like orchids or William Faulkner novels, need heat to thrive, and cold temps help keep your water clear of infestation. Plus, leaving your pool open until the mercury drops gives you plenty of time to clean, test, and balance your pool before closing.
If you live in an area where the temperatures occasionally rise above 65°F for a few days during the winter, you can take advantage of the warm spell to test and balance the water chemistry. These tweaks will help you keep your water clean and clear until spring returns.
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