How To Install A Round Above Ground Swimming Pool

Your pool is only as good or as bad as its installation quality. You must follow the instructions in the manual properly before installing your swimming pool.

While most of the pools do have a detailed instruction manual or a DVD enabled with it, few pools don’t have very clear instructions. Regardless of the clarity of the instructions in the set, you need to follow a certain set of instructions while installing your above-ground swimming pool.

This article will explain to you the tools that you need for installing the pool, the detailed step-by-step instructions for the same, and some important points that you need to remember at each stage.

1. What Do You Need for the Installation of a Pool?

You may have a thorough idea about installing a pool; you may also have instructions readily available before you, but what good are these if you don’t have the required tools for the same? So, the first step in installing your pool is to collect all the tools that you need and have them close to you, so that it becomes easy to use them whenever necessary. Some of the tools that you would most commonly need are the following:

• Head Screwdriver (ensure that you use one that belongs to a good company)
• Duct Tape
• Shovel
• Sand for filling the filters
• Tape for measuring
• Filter
• Skimmer
• Wrench
• Rake
• Level
• Patio Blocks
• Box Cutter

While you are collecting and organizing your tools, you need to be careful to keep all the sizes of nuts, screws, wrenches, etc. separately. If you mix these items, it becomes very difficult for you to pick them up for the right stage.

2. Deciding the Location for Installation for Your Round Above Ground Swimming Pool

Before moving on to the process of installation, you need to decide on the location of installation. This is a very important decision because the place you choose should be free from debris and dust. If you have a big garden of trees in your place, you need to be careful to install your pool at a distance of at least 10 feet away from the trees. This will prevent the accumulation of twigs, leaves, and debris in your pool. The place that you install should be on a plain surface as that will guarantee you stability while using the pool. Check with your local government once for the rules and regulations regarding swimming pool installation, so that you don’t get into any trouble in the future. Now, let’s move on to the detailed processes of the installation of the pool.

3. Have You Chosen the Area on Level Ground?

These are the important steps that you have to follow in this process:

• If you want to make sure that your swimming pool is placed on a level surface, you have to make use of some of the tools that we mentioned above. Using a carpenter’s level is a good idea. With a straight board and a high-quality level, you can ascertain the nature of the level of your pool’s ground.
• Once you have ascertained the ground’s levelness, you should now move on to deciding the middle point of your pool. For this, you need to choose an object such as a fence to measure the length of the edge of the pool to the center, so that you can calculate the radius. Use the duct tape to measure the lengths from the edge to the radius.
• Most people first calculate the outline before proceeding to analyze the middle point. However, that’s the wrong process. Once you have analyzed the center point, you will then proceed to calculate the outline. With this as the base, you can get a clear idea about the wall of the pool that you need to build.
• With the outline and center point measurements in hand, you will know exactly the framework on the ground that needs to be worked upon, for constructing the pool. You should then proceed to keep the soil in this frame free from grass and sod. Use a sod remover or grass remover equipment to keep the soil clean and grass-free. This will give more stability and balance to your pool while you install it.
• With the grass remover equipment, you may not be able to remove 100% grass. Also, this equipment is not very effective in capturing rocks, finer grass blades, and other debris. This is why it becomes important for you to rake the area completely. Use a rake to clean the area thoroughly so that it is free from all dust particles and fine debris as well.
• After you have done with all these processes, check the area for one last time before you proceed to construct the pool. Is the area level enough for your pool? Are there any uneven or high areas that can be dug further? Are there any fine dust particles that need cleaning? Think along these lines to get a clean, leveled area.

Once you are sure you are done with these checks, move on to the next step of constructing the pool.

4. How to Construct the Pool?

In this process, you have to follow a series of sequential steps that will involve setting up the base, inserting the patio blocks for support, filling the pool with sand, and constructing the walls, liner, and top rails. Let us learn more about these processes in detail in the following section:

• First, you need to set up the bottom ring carefully using the plates, stabilizers, and rails. Layout the plates carefully and place the stabilizer on one side of the same. Then lay the rails along the side of the base. Slide the rail into the plate after checking if the pool is round. Once you are convinced about the shape of the pool, stake the rings to give a proper base to your pool.
• The next step is to make your base stronger by giving support to them in the form of patio blocks. These blocks are placed beneath the plates and in a leveled position. At this stage, you should fill the pool area with sand. Carefully remove a bottom rail to bring in the sand and place the rail back in its original position once the pool is filled with sand. When you are filling the pool area with sand, ensure that you evenly spread the sand all along the area.
• The next stage is where you need to install the pool walls. Insert the walls on the bottom plates and use landscaping stakes (if needed) around your pool to lend more stability to the walls while installing them. Carefully place the wall into the track of the bottom plates and adjust the rails accordingly to accommodate the walls’ perfect fit.
• Now that the raw material for the pool walls is ready, you may proceed to mold these materials together to make a perfect wall for your pools. Use the necessary nuts, bolts, screwdrivers, duct tape, etc. for this process. The wall panels will have holes in them; use your screwdriver to securely tighten the nuts and bolts in these holes, so that the walls stand durable for many years. Cover these bolt heads with duct tape to secure them from rusting. Then, you may proceed to build a cove along the pool wall carefully, so that you don’t damage the walls.
• Next, is the process of installing the liners. This is a very important process because when you don’t install them properly, they tear off easily, causing damage to your pool and pool waters. Before installing the liner, you need to lay it out in the sun for some time. Clean and rake the entire pool area to create a level and stable base for your pool. Each type of liner (overlap, beaded, Snap-bead, etc.) requires a different type of installation. Regardless of the type you use, you need to be careful wrinkles not forming on the liners.
• The base, walls, and liners are ready. What next? The top part of the pool, of course! Now, you need to insert the top rails, plates, and covers. All of the top pieces neatly get inserted into each other, if you have installed all other parts of the pool correctly, as explained in these steps. However, it is prudent to constantly check for the levelness of the sides and top portion at the time of installation. Tighten the top rails and covers with screws and nuts to lend more stability and durability to your pools.

Once you have completed all these steps, you will see your swimming pool almost installed in your backyard. Well, the job is not done, yet! You still have to fill it, to enjoy it. This is what we will see in the next step.

5. How to Fill Your Pool?

You cannot start filling your pool right away after installing it. You need first to spread out your liner well so that there are no wrinkles in it and then proceed to fill your pool. Here are the steps that you have to follow in this process:

• Walk barefoot on the liners to get a feel of them and check if they are flat enough for your pool. If your liners have wrinkles, they lead to misalignment of your pool floor, thereby causing you disturbances while using the pool. Check for the liner quality, lack of wrinkle, and the presence of debris while walking on these liners. Once you are convinced that your liners are doing a good job, you may proceed to the next step.
• With a hose, fill your pool easily. However, be careful that you don’t fill it up completely. You still need to install accessories such as a filter, pump, heater, skimmer, etc. in the pool waters. These accessories should be installed only when the pool is half-full. After filling your pool halfway, install these systems as per the instruction manual. You must get professional help if you are unsure about installing these accessories.
• Does the brand of your pool that you own have a specific safety system that needs to be installed? If yes, ensure that you don’t ignore these safety warnings. Stick the manufacturer’s labels on the inside and outside (as instructed in the manual) to qualify for warranty-period offers on services and checks.

With these steps, you have completed the installation of your swimming pool. All you need to do is to get into it with your family and friends to enjoy a whale of a time together. In the following section, give you a sneak peek into some of the common mistakes that you need to avoid while installing an above-ground pool.

6. Mistakes to Avoid While Installing an Above-Ground Pool

• Never depend only on the sand to level your pool out. Yes, we did see in one of the first steps here that you need to fill the pool area with sand, but that is only for providing a secondary source of support for your pool. The first and foremost reason that will give stability to your pool is the level of the ground. So, work on leveling the land as much as possible if you want your pool to last for many years.
• When digging, you should be careful not to transfer the dust and debris from high to low-areas. When you are digging the high areas, you need to completely move away from the debris to an area that is outside your pool. Simply moving them to the low areas will only make these particles settle down in your pool and create an imbalance.
• We did talk about using patio blocks while installing. There is an important point that you have to remember here. You should never use these blocks if you are living in an area that experiences bone-chilling winters. During the freezing climate, these blocks tend to move, and they eventually tear the pool liner.

Follow these simple tips to install your round above-ground swimming pool easily and have an enjoyable swimming session with your friends and family.