How To Set Up Above Ground Pool

Tips For Filling Your Pool

If you have any questions, concerns or need assistance contact Pool Supplies Canada to speak directly to one of our pool installation experts.

With these steps you are now ready to install your own Above Ground Pools

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How To Install A Round Above Ground Pool

An Above Ground Pool is a great option for any homeowner. Whether you are looking for a large pool for the entire family to enjoy, or peaceful floating relaxation, we’ve got you covered! But before you purchase a pool online, we recommend understanding the installation basics.

Installing an Above Ground Pool can be done quickly if youre prepared beforehand. Below we have provided the steps to walk you through the process of installing a round above ground pool.

Smoothing Out The Sand

Now grab your tamp and punch down the cover you built-in the 9th step. Make sure you dont scratch the surface of the walls. Smooth the sand or pool base using a rake. It should look like a carpet. Now wet the sand will a spray hose. Dont use a simple garden hose. Now tamp the sand. It will help in providing an even bottom and eliminating the footprints from the sand.

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Install The Vinyl Liner

This step will walk you through installing the pool liner. If you are using the stabilizers to help hold the wall up, then you will need to take them off while installing the liner. Do not place the liner wall seam directly over the skimmer or skimmer return cutouts.

We recommend removing your shoes for this part of the installation. Place the liner at the center of the pool with the flap from the seams facing down. Spread the liner so that the bottom seam of the circumference is resting on the cove evenly around the pool. The seam should not be upon the wall or shifted to one side. These conditions will create tightness or stretching of the liner when the pool is being filled.

Quick tip: Lay the liner in the sun before installation to make it easier to manage.

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Measuring The Pool Site

To measure the pool site, you will need a reference point for marking the center point. A wall nearby to the installation site will serve as a reference point for this measurement. Measure from the wall and mark the ground from where you want the outside wall of the pool. You can use chalk or spray paint for marking. Now you have to measure half of the width or the radius of the pool. To do this, measure the distance equal to the pools radius from the outside wall mark and stake the tape measure at that point.

It will be the center point of the pool. Both these marks must be parallel to each other. Now pull the tape measure equal to the radius measurement of the pool and add one extra foot. This extra foot will help you avoid any errors you may make later on in the installation process. For example, if your pools total size is 24 feet, pull out the tape measure to 13 feet. Now mark a circle all the way around with spray paint on the 13 feet mark from the center point of the pool.

You have successfully marked the pool installation place, and you have also given yourself some extra room to work. To check the level of your site, you can use a transit. You can rent the transit from a local equipment rental outlet. If you cant find a transit, you can use a long straight board with a carpenters level to measure the grounds flatness. You will be using this equipment time and again during the installation process.

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Start Your Pump And Filter

Fire it up! Make sure the system starts, and check for any leaks or drips. Dont forget to make sure the ground wires are properly connected to the pump.

If you find your system is running dry, you may need to prime the pool pump. You can do this by shutting off your filter system, removing the pump lid, and adding water from your garden hose or a bucket of pool water.

This will give the pump the boost it needs to start pulling water. Put the pump lid back on, tighten it up, and restart the system.

Whether your filter uses sand or the tiny fossilized organisms known as diatomaceous earth , backwash it after you start your filter system up. The differences in technique between how to backwash a sand filter and how to backwash a DE filter are small but important. The biggest difference is adding DE after you backwash filters that use it.

Always follow your manufacturers instructions when backwashing any filter.

Tips To Install The Pool Liner:

• Be careful not to tear the liner during installation.
• You must install the liner on a warm, sunny day and check to ensure the evening temperature doesnt dip too low.
• Lay the liner in the sun for a few hours before you start so it is easier to lay out. Liners are usually slightly smaller than the pools support structure and it will stretch more easily when it is warm out. You should not install a liner on a cold day or fill the pool with very cold water once the liner has just been installed.
• Wet the sand and then rake it before putting the liner in the pool. This will ensure a level base
• Do not step on the liner with your shoes on. Install it either barefoot or in socks.
• Make sure you dont track any rocks into the pool with you while you are walking on the liner towork the wrinkles out.
• Work all the wrinkles to the outside of the pool.
• Once the stabilizer rails are installed you can take down the landscaping stakes.
• This is the last chance you have to ensure the bottom of your pool is level and free of debris
• Do not trim off the excess liner. If the liner ever needs to be removed, trimming the liner willmake re-installation very difficult. Instead, roll up any excess liner and tape it in place near the top of the pool wall.

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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. Its 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 its easier to view while standing.

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Reinstall Your Deck Equipment

This might seem like a page from How to Open an Above Ground Pool 101, but youll need to reinstall your deck gear to use your pool. This includes ladders, steps, or lifts.

Double-check each component for rust or other damage. If anything seems flimsy, damaged, or worn out, nows the perfect time to replace it.

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Above Ground Pool Prices

When estimating your costs, the size will be the most significant factor for new pools. Bigger pools cost more upfront, and installation takes longer. Also, the manufacturer selected and quality of pool will influence your price. Doughboy and Kayak Pools are a couple of the best brands out there, and most expensive as well, but you get what you pay for.

Water Care & General Maintenance

You will want to test your water at least weekly. There are a variety of different test kits available. They include strips that you simply dunk in the water to get your water readings, drop kits, and even completely automated systems that will continuously monitor your water and alert you if anything needs to be added. Some pool retailers will have a water lab that can test your water for you as well.

You will want to watch the following 3 readings weekly: pH, alkalinity and chlorine. For a chlorine-based pool, youll want to maintain your pH reading between 7.2 and 7.8, your alkalinity between 80 120 and your chlorine level at 1.5 3. These levels will ensure proper sanitization of your water and should keep it clear and clean.

On a monthly basis, you will want to test copper , water hardness and cyanuric acid levels, and ensure these are within the appropriate range.

The most common water issues with above ground pools are green water and/or cloudy water.

Green pool water indicates algae, and generally requires the water to be shocked with a high dose of sanitizer .

Cloudy water can be caused by many factors commonly we see it after shocking a pool. The dead algae that is not caught by the filter tends to hang out in the water. In these cases, you will want to floc the pool. This process causes the algae or other contaminants that are in suspension in the pool water to sink to the bottom, allowing you the ability to vacuum them out.

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Inground Vs Above Ground Pool

Inground or built-in pools are more expensive to install but do last longer than above-ground pools. Bear in mind, inground pools might negatively affect the resale of your home, and not everyone is okay with the required maintenance and expense of owning a pool. Above-ground pools are easier to remove.

• Sizes Above-ground pools can be as large as an inground pool. Most above-ground pools have a uniform depth rather than having a deep end and shallow end in the pool.
• Maintenance Inground and above-ground pools require about the same maintenance. It is more difficult to clean an above-ground pool if it does not have a deck.
• Longevity The average above-ground pool will last 7 to 15 years and above-ground pool liners last about six years. The durability of an inground pool depends upon the type of pool. Inground pools last at least 10 years, and some will last over 20 years.

Ensure The Ground Is Level And Prepare It For Construction

Part of proper pool planning includes choosing the area for your pool and obtaining the permits to install your pool. Once that has been completed the next step is to ensure the ground is level. This is a critical step to ensure your pool is structurally sound and safe.

To make sure your ground is level you can either:

Once the ground is level you need to take measurements before starting construction:

Find the center point . Use an existing object and measure the area and mark where the edges of the pool will go. Measure half the width of the pool from the marked edges. This is your center point. Mark the center.

Use a soft measuring tape to measure around the perimeter of the pool. Measure the outline of your pool using the radius mentioned above so you have a guideline for construction. Add one foot to the measurement and then mark the ground around your center point, following the pool shape and measurements given in the instructions.Use stakes to mark the ground.

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How Much Does An Above

• National average cost: $2,693
• Typical price range: $1,698 to $5,969
• High end: $13,400

The costs listed above are all national averages, and they should help you estimate how much installing an above-ground pool will cost you. Homeowners across the U.S. typically pay between $1,698 to $5,969 for an installed above-ground pool, with most homeowners paying $2,693.

Most above-ground pools are sold as DIY kits. If the instructions are easy to follow, you can set the pool up yourself without a professionals help. Costs for above-ground pool kits range between $1,463 to $6,150, varying significantly based on the pools size and quality. For the most affordable options, head to Walmart, Amazon, or Lowes, where you can find some above-ground pool kits for under $100.

To have your above-ground pool kit set up by a professional, you can expect to pay an additional cost between $823 to $3,233.

For a high-end pool project, installation and materials can cost upward of $13,400. For a small above-ground pool that only needs to last the season and fit a few swimmers, some homeowners might pay as little as $475 for the pool and installation fees.

How To Set Up An Above Ground Pool On Grass

Avoid these common mistakes when building your above ground pool.Begin installing the wall into the bottom rails.Build a sand cover or.Building up the low areas with dirt taken from the higher areas.

Consider using grass killer even after you have removed all turf.Do a visual inspection to check for any spots that are higher or lower than the rest.Free from roots and debrisFriends and family all can rejoice now that youve opened your pool for the season and the parties begin in full.

I always have an above ground pool in my yard in the summer for my kids, so i wanted to know can i put a swimming pool on artificial grass.If the ground is not leveled you need to take away 1 off the top for the floor to level.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.If you have an above ground pool with solid walls, youll need to:

If your child has an accident in the pool, you can disinfect the pool with soapy water or household bleach.It is also important to note that placing tens of thousands of pounds on almost any surface for an extended period of time has the potential of causing a.It may result in significant amounts of water being sloshed out of the pool.It rolls along the ground and drags a blade that moves forward & backwards cutting just below the surface of the grass.

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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

Above Ground Pool Prices Installed

Above ground pools typically come in round, oval, or rectangular shapes. The shape of the pool selected doesn’t affect your final cost. However, the height of your pool, ranging from 48″ to 54″, will affect your final price with taller pools costing more.

Above Ground Pool Prices Installed

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How Much Will It Cost To Install An Above Ground Pool

The installation price varies between different styles and sizes if youre installing it yourself, the average cost is $750 and upwards. But if you decide to have your pool professionally installed, the costs can start anywhere from $3,000.

I hope that you are now feeling confident about installing your own above ground pool and what tools, costs, and installation processes are involved. But if you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

If you need to uninstall your old pool, read my article on how to take down an above ground pool. And if you havent pulled the trigger on a new pool yet, check out my recommendations in my best above ground swimming pools article.

Installing A Pool With A Sand Base And Sand 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

Build a sand cove against the pool wall by creating a 4 angle of sand sand base giving you a total sand cove height of 7 inches where the base meets the metal pool wall.

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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