Putting New Pool Where Old Pool Was

by Nancy
(Johnstown,NY)

We had an above ground pool, 33' round, that was up for 17 years. This past winter it leaked and the wall folded, so decided to put in a new pool that is the same size.

The old pool either sunk in the ground or dirt and sod built up around the pool, because when we took the old one down it was buried about 6 inches below the grass level. We now have to dig out a foot larger than the old pool in order to put up the new one. The ground beneath the old pool was fairly level and compacted, but even if we dig out a foot around the new pool it will be below the grass level still.

Do we have to dig out all the area around, raise up the existing area, or how can we do this without a major excavation project. Could we dig out a foot further than the pool and then back fill around the wall? Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks

Hi Nancy

I would dig out the extra foot around the pool area. Keep the pool level the same as the old pool. If you suspect the pool may have sank be sure to use blocks under all the uprights. When the new pool is full it is OK to backfill the area with dirt or granite. Mound the backfill a little high on the pool wall to be sure you have plenty of drainage. You don't want water sitting around the pool but packing dirt around it is no problem.

Above Ground Pool Install

by Amy
(Wisconsin )

We are in the process of re-installing our 21 foot round above ground pool. We took it down, had a professional come in with a bobcat and level the area, and started working on putting the blocks back in for the the uprights. It was going perfect until we got to the back area of the pool, where we discovered that it is off level by about 3", for about 8-9 feet long. My husbands idea was to use thicker blocks and dig them into the ground to the proper height at each upright, plus in between for support. It is tapered accordingly and the pool wall seems to be level. We have checked multiple times. My concern is whether this is safe once we put the liner in and fill it with water? We plan to put large 24"x 36" blocks around the area on the outside and thought about lining the outside of those blocks with rebar for added support. My other concern is the blocks on the inside touching the liner. We are putting 1/2" foam insulation down that we could use asa barrier along the blocks in the inside. Does this seem like it would be safe? Or is there a better alternative? Thank you for your help.

Hi Amy

The only way to do an above ground pool correctly is to have the ground perfectly level. You will find it very difficult to compensate for unlevel ground, and there is no reason to, just level the ground correctly to begin with.

I laser level the ground to within an inch before laying out the bottom rail. I then set all the footplates laser level perfect. At this point I can see if there are any highs and lows on the inside portion that need to be dealt with. With everything perfect is the only time to start bringing in the sand base and building the pool.

An unlevel base will cause the water to fill on one side of the pool before the other side, this causes wrinkles in the liner. It is just best of avoid this and take the extra time to do it right from the start.

Ground Prep

by Sean
(Canaba)

Awesome Site.. My problem is I leveled the ground using the 2x4 method and tamp. Now I am installing in the patio slabs leveling from center to slab and slab to slab. Only realize the ground is not as level as I thought. Not worried about the slabs, they are dead on level. My question is do I really need to level the inner section (dirt) as I'm planning to use sand and Styrofoam. I'm installing a 21' round pool. Thanks in advance.

Hi Sean I would take the time to level the inner area as best possible with dirt. It will make your end results so much better. If you don't level with the dirt you will have to with the sand. While sand is easier to work with, it does not pack as well which could result in more footprints where the sand is the deepest.

It is best to work with a very thin even level of sand if you are installing foam over it. The sand should be damp and well tamped before the foam goes in.

Installing a liner over a base that is anything but level will lead to wrinkles on the bottom, so one way or the other, make the base level before the liner goes in.

Unlevel Pool - How Much Is Okay

by Tim
(Carroll, OH)

We have recently installed an AGP ourselves. It is a 24' round. The only problem is the pool is unlevel by 3 inches. The rest of the structure, pool wall, uprights, etc. seem pretty round and structurally sound. The water reaches the skimmer sufficiently. The pool was installed on a concrete base with foam cove and foam insulation under the liner. Do you think this degree of unlevelness is acceptable?

Hi Tim

It sounds like you will be just fine. While the directions want you to be within an inch there are exceptions.

You are on concrete so there probably are not any drastic rises or drops, it should be all gradual. Also being on concrete means there will not be any shifting that would cause the level to get worse.

You have pool cove in place so there won't be any issues there. I would not be afraid to use and enjoy the pool.

Clay Ground Under Above Ground Pool

by Matt Fountain
(Shrewsbury, UK)

Hi, I am at the stage of ground preparation before I construct my steel walled pool above ground. There is quite a lot of clay in my soil and there is a patch (about 1ft wide and 3ft long) that is a bit 'squishy' when I walk over it...not much but my foot sinks very slightly and I am concerned about this.

Do I need to rectify this?...how would I do this by the way!!? Or can I build the pool anyway, as it is virtually firm...only about a 0.5cm movement.

Thanks, Matt.

Hi Matt It does not sound like a big problem, but if it concerns you I have a few suggestions. If the clay is wet and soggy, you might be able to firm it up by adding some concrete mix over it. Or you could dig some out and set patio pavers at ground level in that area. If it digs out easily you could replace the clay with crusher run, that would pack solid. Laying a large tarp, or heavy plastic, over the area might prevent it from being noticeable under the liner once the pool is full of water.