How to Assemble a 26 Foot Above Ground Pool

Measure and mark where you want to install the pool using garden hoses or ropes. Once you have the 26-foot pool length and width marked, remove the sod covering this space. Additionally, remove sod to create a 3-foot perimeter along the straight sides of the pool as well. Take away any roots, rocks and other debris from the pool’s site.

Remove soil as necessary to level the marked area using a shovel. Do not add dirt to level. Use a straight edged board to help you level the ground. If you have a lot of soil to move, consider renting a skid steer loader.

Place paver blocks at grade level around the perimeter of the pool, spaced according to the manufacturer’s directions for your pool. Each block needs to be level front to back and side to side. Use a carpenter’s level to help with leveling.

Locate the strut components for your above-ground pool. Fasten the hold-down plate clip through the horizontal bar’s slots to the upright post with screws from the assembly kit. Fasten the U-bracket to the vertical post with nuts and bolts from the assembly kit. Set the vertical post in place in the U-bracket and tighten its bolts with an adjustable wrench. Connect the struts with bolts from the assembly kit attached to the hold-down plate clip and the side of the upright post.

Repeat for each strut included with your assembly kit. When you finish this step, you should have an even number of braced struts.

Attach straps from the assembly kit to each pair of struts using the nuts and bolts from the assembly kit. Set the strapped struts on the paver blocks so they face each other across the narrow portion of the swimming pool base. Each strap needs to be 29 inches apart and parallel to the one beside it.

Check the diagonal measurement of each adjacent strut. It should be exactly the same if the struts are set properly. If the measurements are off, move a strut slightly and measure again. Once the struts are evenly spaced, assemble the hold down plates to the base of the struts with nuts and bolts from the assembly kit. Once these plates are in place the struts maintain their proper spacing.

Assemble the bottom rail for the curved edges of the oval pool using the connectors in the assembly kit. Set the bottom rail in place along the pavers. Check that the bottom rails are level. Slide the ends of the bottom rail into the connectors on the hold down plates to complete the bottom frame of the oval pool.

Cover the inside of the pool area with a 2-inch layer of clean sand. Level the sand with a long board.

Set one end of the pool wall in the bottom rail. Unroll the pool wall as you set it in place in the bottom rail. When you make the complete circuit around the rail, connect the two ends with nuts and bolts from the assembly kit. Cover the fasteners on the inside of the wall with duct tape.

Place swimming pool cove pieces around the inside perimeter of the swimming pool. This cove material creates a 45-degree angle between the pool wall and the floor. Tamp the sand base firmly with a hand tamper to complete this step.

Set the uprights in place in the bottom rail around the curved area of the pool’s walls. Secure them with screws from the assembly kit.

Slide the pool’s liner into the pool area. Remove your shoes. Unfold the liner. Align the seam with the outer wall seam. Work out the wrinkles as you hang the top of the liner over the top of the pool wall and secure it with plastic clips from the assembly kit.

Add 1 inch of water to the pool. Check the liner for levelness. If necessary, pull back the edge of the liner and add or remove sand to level the floor. Re-hang the liner over the wall.

Attach the top stabilizer rail to the top of the pool wall. Roll excess liner and tuck it under the rail.

Place the top plates on the uprights and secure them with screws from the assembly kit. Fasten the rail covers that go on the straight sides of the pool over the top plates following manufacturer’s directions.

Follow manufacturer’s directions for installation of the pool’s pump and skimmer. This involves cutting a hole in the liner, so measure carefully before you make any cuts.