Installation of Fiberglass Pools

Select the pool site. Choose a level area elevated slightly higher than the ground around it.

Prepare for excavation. Consult the dig diagram provided by your pool manufacturer to determine the proper hole size for your pool. Use a mallet to pound grade stakes into the ground at the locations indicated on the diagram. Tie string between the stakes at the intended level of the top of your pool.

Dig out the area between the stakes. Make the actual excavation 2 to 4 inches deeper than the pool to allow for a support bed. Make the hole 1 foot longer and 1 foot deeper than the pool shell, providing a 6-inch margin for inserting the pool. Use a story pole to ensure that the hole you dig is the appropriate depth all the way across. Holding the pole upright in the pit and then sighting or measuring along the top bar can help you keep things even.

Create the sump. Dig out an area 4 to 6 feet long by 2 to 3 feet wide and about a foot deep in the middle of the deepest part of the excavation. Fill the bottom of the sump with gravel. Place a piece of 2-inch PVC pipe into the sump, leaving one end sticking up, and then backfill the rest of the hole with gravel. Attach a sump line to the pipe, and run that line along the bottom and side of the hole, leaving an open end at the top.

Prepare the hole for the pool. Fill the extra space at the bottom of the excavation with builder's sand. This provides drainage and cushioning for the pool. Set a grade stake at each corner of the hole, and mark the fill line for the sand to prevent overfilling. Compact the sand with your feet or a board, taking care not to allow clumps of dirt or sharp objects to fall into the excavation. Remove all stakes.

Place the pool. Use a crane or large backhoe to lower the pool into the excavation once it has been delivered. Leave all support bars on the outside of the pool until it has settled into the hole. Always lift and move the pool slowly to reduce the risk of accidents.

Level the shell. Stand on all four corners of the pool to settle the fiberglass shell into place. Use a story pole to measure the pool height. If the pool does not sit level, lift it back out of the hole, dig away high spots in the ground, and replace the pool. Once the pool is level, remove the ropes and straps, disconnecting it from the crane.

Fill and backfill the pool. Use a garden hose to fill the pool with one foot of water, anchoring it into the hole. Recheck all depth measurements. Add sand around the pool, filling all voids around the shell. Fill the pool with water to the same depth as the backfill as you add sand. Remove support bars from the pool once you have filled and backfilled a third of the pool's volume. This may cause the pool to deform briefly until you add more backfill. Continue adding sand and water until the pool and the area around it are almost full.

Hire a plumber to attach the sump, drain and pool pump using 1 1/2- to 2-inch PVC pipe, setting the lines around the pool into the sand backfill. Do not attempt to plumb the pool to its equipment yourself unless you have extensive prior experience. Test all plumbing thoroughly, checking for leaks, then finish backfilling the area around the pool.