What Do You Need To Install An Above Ground Pool

How To Install An Above

• Written by Bipasha Bhatia on Aug 12, 2010To ensure our content is always up-to-date with current information, best practices, and professional advice, articles are routinely reviewed by industry experts with years of hands-on experience.Reviewed by

An above-ground pool heater makes it possible to enjoy your pool for longer than just two hot months during the summer. The amount of difficulty involved really depends on the type of heater. There are gas heaters, electric heaters, and solar heaters. Normally a solar heater will have much lower energy costs but the actual pool heating may be inconsistent. Determine which works best for your pool and weather. Even if the weather is hot out, this does not ensure that the water will be warm.

Step 1 – Pick a Location

The area where the heater will be placed should be level. It is also not a good idea to place the heater directly on the ground. A cement slab is best but stone patio blocks will also work well. If the heater is powered by gas then it should be placed near the gas supply or gas line. Solar heaters will not require a connection to the house and can be placed anywhere, though a sunny spot is best.

Step 2 – Check the Water Connection

Step 3 – Install an Electrical Line

Check to see if you can install the electrical line yourself or if a professional electrician is needed. This will vary depending on your towns laws. An electrical line will need to be run from the heater to the breaker box.

Step 4 – Install a Gas Line

Choose The Size And Shape Of Above

The size and shape of the pool are important since these factors affect the cost of the pool and its maintenance, as well as its ability to fit well within your yard.

The size of the available space helps to determine the eventual size of the pool. The cost of water should be figured in, too, since treated water comes at a cost for all municipal users.

Above-ground swimming pools range from small wading pools to large round, oval, or rectangular pools.

Based on 2021 findings from Home Guide.

A Concrete Pool Bottom Is Nicer Than An Earth Bottom

If you only read the headlines of this blog post, then go back and read the beginning. I am an artist at making an earth or sand bottom clean and smooth and flat, but even I am no match for concrete. Concrete starts out like liquid and then slowly gets harder and harder. This is why you can get it really flat and smooth.

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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.

Common Pool Cove Materials

The most common materials used for a swimming pool cove are:

• foam forms
• sifted earth
• sand

We do not recommend using sand as it does not stay put very well or for very long. Also, once the sand moves around a bit, it could expose your liner to the bottom rail of your pool which could cause major damage to not just your liner but your pool as well.

Sifted earth is a better option over sand as long as it is packed firmly, but as it can still lose its structural shape over time, we recommend foam forms.

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How To Put An Above

How you do this process makes a difference in how well the end result turns out. The key is making sure you follow each step to a tee.

Heres how you go about doing this:

Well talk specifics below.

Above Ground Pool Installation Guide

Installing an above ground pool is an easy weekend project for 2-3 people. Why pay some company more than the cost of the pool to install your aboveground pool? If you work out their hourly rate, youre being charged over $300 per hour for above ground pool installers. Do it Yourself and install your own pool!

With just 1-2 helpers, and some simple hand tools and a drill, you can have an above ground pool installed and filling with water from the hose in 1 day. If you have a sloping hillside or drainage issues or are sinking a pool into the ground, itll take 2 days of work. One day to cut and grade the earth, and the following day for pool assembly.

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What To Place Under Your Above Ground Pool On Grass

If youre setting up your above ground pool on your back lawn, youll want to place something between your pool and the grass to ensure an even surface and to prevent grass from growing up through the pool liner.

Simply placing your pool on the grass can lead to problems of shifting, pin holes, and sinking.

Some of the common options for installing your above ground pool on grass include:

Electrical Service For Above Ground Pools

Electricians charge $500.00 $1500.00 to wire up an above-ground pool. Included in the cost should be all supplies.

You will need an 18-inch deep trench to run the service from the breaker-box to the pool area. Not included in the electrician fees quoted above is the electrical-trench. Then, you need to know who is backfilling the electrical-trench after running the wires. Note* Your pool pump and filter equipment need to be placed at least 5 feet from the pool wall to meet safety code.

Supplies & Service List

• Bonding of the pool
• #8 Solid copper bonding wire
• Skimmer plate for water Bonding contact
• Proper outdoor plug socket
• Replacing the plug cord on a pump if needed
• Clean, neat installation through your home, through the wall and out to the pool
• Trench
• Backfill trench

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Risk Of Installing Directly On Grass

You can easily install your above ground pool on top of the grass, but if you are not careful it might lead to disappointing outcomes.

After choosing the location and ensuring that the surface is level and even enough, you will first need to:

• Give it a cut with your lawnmower.
• Remove any problematic debris and stones.
• Use your leaf rake and your yard brush to clear up the chosen area.
• Place a long-lasting groundsheet on top of the grass and install your pool.

Note the following: The grass, subdued by the weight of your above ground pool, will dry and die away. Hence, you will need to resow the empty patch, after preparing the soil, if you remove your pool in the future.

Build Stone Dust Base

Once you have a clean surface that is mostly level, you can start to bring in stone dust.

Lay down at least 2 inches of the stone around where the pool wall will sit. Be sure to read the specification of your pool make and model, since every manufacturer has slight differences.

Pro Tip: If you wanted to build up your pool, you can increase the thinkness of the stone dust in the lower areas. But don’t go over 8 inches.

The Circle should be at least 1 foot wide, with the exact circomference of the pool being in the center.

Your first round of leveling should be within 1/4 inch . We have this tool we use on the crew at Campbell Pools which allows us to set it down on the base and with the transit, we look at the measurements on the tool. You can do the same with a ruler, but it will be pretty low.

Using a rake, make sure your level everything around the base, ensuring that the area where the wall will sit is the most accurate.

When you are within 1/4 inch all around, bring in the compacter. Do use a garden hose to lightly spray the stone dust to prevent dust and to improve the effects of compacting.

But it doesn’t stop there, that was round one.

Now that everything is compacted, you need to measure again. Go around the pool and this time, bring everything within 1/8 inch . and you measure absolutely every area where the wall will sit. This will ensure your pool will be level and stable.

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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.

What To Put Under Above Ground Pool On Grass: A Sand Bed

You can use sand to stabilize the ground or grass, smoothing out uneven parts of the surface. There is a critical thing that you will need to follow to ensure that it turns out as intended. Thats, you will need to place a lot of sand on the grass or surface.

Without a doubt, there is a risk of getting sand all over the grass, but dont fret it will come in handy to mask the nasty smell from those offering of your neighbors cat.

Then, sprinkle water on top of the sand bed while rolling or tamping. Finally, place your groundsheet on top of the bed to prevent the growth of grass. Roll out this sheet to fit your above ground pool.

After that, you can position or inflate the pool itself.

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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, you’ll 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.

Do Above Ground Pools Need A Permit

So, you have finally taken the plunge and decided to install an above ground pool! Although you have made the decision to go ahead, you should also know that you may need to acquire building permits to legally install a swimming pool on your property. Professionals are often asked, Do above ground pools need a permit? The State of Virginia requires all pools, above ground and in ground, that are larger than 150 square feet, hold more than 5000 gallons of water or are more than 2 feet deep, to have a building permit. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to apply for gas and electricity permits for your pool as well.

In the article below, we will review the basics of pool permits so that you are aware of the facts if your above ground pool does end up requiring a permit.

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You Only Need To Buy The Right Materials And Be Handy Enough To Accomplish This

How to build steps into above ground pool. These are for above grounds with decks. The making process is easy to follow, and with a few woodworking tools, you can complete the project effortlessly. Apply two 90 degrees angle joint at the top of the stairs and set aside.

If adding built in concrete steps to an already built pool, the first step is to rip out the old liner. For any type of swimming pool, but particularly for above ground pools, one of the most important things that you can invest in is a set of steps. Most pools can be divided into one of two categories:

Now you can follow the following steps to create your above ground pool steps: After the liner is gone the forms for where the steps will go. It will protect the wood from water, rot, mildew and prolong the life of your stairs.

Diy pvc pool stairs you can develop So youve finally decided to build your new pool. Attach the step stringers to the base.

Diy above ground pool ladder stairs 100 things 2 do. The liner companies solved this by having an option to have tread built into the step liner section. This has a lot to do with the comfort.

It should have a tall back. Because the diy pool ladder steps and frame were made from building lumber, it was important to add an exterior stain to the stairs. It must rest on the ground and the floor of the pool.

With an average weight limit of 300 pounds, this can accommodate both kids and adult users.

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

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How To Install & Set Up An Above Ground Pool

Even before it arrives, you can get to work on setting up your above ground pool. Whether youve got a sturdy, semi-permanent walled above ground pool or an inflatable easy-set pool, youll benefit from getting your backyard prepped.

A cleared and leveled area for your above ground pool will ensure its safe and help it last much longer. This guide will help you level the ground for an above ground pool and cover some general set up tips for a few popular types of pools.

Tips For Different Types Of Liners:

• Snap Bead liners snap into a separate track around the pool and are installed on top of the pool wall.
• V-Bead liners require no coping. The stabilizer rails will hold this liner in place.
• Unibead liners can be used as either a Snap Bead or a V-Bead liner. It comes as a V-Bead but you can remove the top portion to make it a Snap Bead liner.
• Overlap liners are hung over the pool wall. These are securing using plastic coping strips.

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