P/N 95-0108 3/00

Above Ground Pool Assembly & Installation

ROUND POOL INSTRUCTIONS
WA R N I N G :

THIS POOL IS NOT DESIGNED FOR DIVING OR JUMPING. DANGEROUS INJURY CAN RESULT-SHALLOW WATER!!!
Your pool is designed for years of pleasurable, safe family fun. But, when used incorrectly, a swimming pool can be dangerous. To insure your pool is used safely you must observe the following safety precautions: Do not dive!-Do not jump!- No rough play!- No running or pushing! Do not walk on the top rail. It can be slippery and is not a walkway. Be sure to install all safety labels provided with your pool according to the instructions. Keep a safety rope 1/4 by 50 with a flotation buoy with an outside diameter of 15. Have accessible in a prominent area by your pool. Post near all entrances to pool area; a list of telephone numbers of the: Nearest available police Nearest ambulance service Nearest available fire department Nearest available hospital Nearest available rescue unit Nearest available physician 911 emergency number if available Provide fencing or enclosure which is independent of the house as a closure around the entire pool area. The fencing must be made of durable material, a minimum of 4 in height from ground level and with closures with self-latching locks, to make pool inaccessible to toddlers and uninvited guests. Make sure gate is always closed. Be sure to follow local building code requirements for load capacity and fencing if using an aftermarket or homebuilt deck. Check with your local town for any special laws in your locale. Never drink alcoholic beverages or use any intoxicants which could hinder your judgment and reflexes. Never use pool alone. All children must be supervised continuously. Do not use pool if bottom is not clearly visible: At night, sufficient lighting must be available. It is the pool owners sole responsibility to provide adequate lighting for pool bottom, safety signs and walkways, which exceeds minimum standards of the IES of North America. Do not climb, stand or sit on any pool structure or the filter system. Components such as the filtration system, pumps and heater must be positioned so as to prevent their being used as a means of access to the pool by young children. Be sure that all toys, chairs and tables or similar objects that a young child could climb on be at least four feet (4) from pool. Do not use pool during electrical or rain storms. See available National Spa and Pool Institute (NSPI), publications for more tips on pool safety.

IMPORTANT NOTICE! READ BEFORE INSTALLATION

WA R N I N G :
THIS POOL IS NOT DESIGNED FOR DIVING OR JUMPING. DANGEROUS INJURY CAN RESULT! SHALLOW WATER!!!

ENCLOSED IN FRAME CARTON IS SAFETY ENVELOPE. THE SAFETY STICKERS MUST BE INSTALLED AS PER FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS. FAILURE TO PROPERLY INSTALL WARNING LABELS WILL VOID WARRANTY. FAILURE TO MOUNT THESE SAFETY LABELS MAY SUBJECT YOU TO SUBSTANTIAL LIABILITY IN CASE OF INJURY. THESE WARNINGS ARE NOT TO BE REMOVED UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES! IF THEY BECOME DISCOLORED OR FALL OFF, PLEASE REQUEST REPLACEMENTS WHICH WILL BE SENT AT NO CHARGE. SIGN MUST BE PLACED ON WALL NEXT TO ENTRY TO POOL

SIGN TO BE PLACED ON LINER ABOVE WATER LINE OPPOSITE ENTRY TO POOL

ROUND POOL INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

POOL AREA DIMENSIONS (POOL RADIUS PLUS ONE FOOT) STEP 1: POOL LOCATION
Do not locate pool over underground lines, septic tanks, or under electrical lines. It is essential that the area selected for your pool has a level and firm base. Do not assemble your pool on asphalt, tar or oil base surfaces. Avoid areas with sharp objects, or ground treated with weed killer or other chemicals. Also avoid areas where nut grass, Bermuda grass or bamboo grass grows, as they can grow through your liner. Grass must be removed. Do not place components such as filters, pumps, and heaters in a way that they can be used as a means of access to pool by young children. Be sure to follow all local building codes and obtain all building permits required for your area. *BE SURE TO AVOID: -All electrical wires -All gas lines -Septic tanks -Cesspools -Dry wells -Tree roots/stumps -buried debris(trees, building material, etc.) -sudden slopes within 6 of pool area

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12 ROUND POOL

15 ROUND POOL

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18 ROUND POOL

20 ROUND POOL

24 ROUND POOL

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STEP 2: TO PREPARE THE POOL SITE

Determine the pool circumference by putting a stake in the ground at the center of the location desired, and with a line equal in length to the radius of the pool area (1/2 the pool size plus 12), mark off the circumference with a sharp object, lawn edger or white powder. After all of the sod has been removed, you must make the pool area absolutely level as measured by a level or a transit, not simply to the naked eye. Find the lowest spot within the pool area and level the ground to that lowest spot. Do not add dirt to the low areas. It is the high areas that must be dug away. The footing (perimeter) of the pool must be a solid foundation to prevent the pool from settling into dirt that is loosened by rain and water splashing over the side. Once again, clean the area of all sharp objects, including roots that later effect your swimming pool. For leveling, we recommend that you use a long straight edge board and a carpenters level or transit.

28 ROUND POOL

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LEVEL POOL AREA (Pool Dia. + 12)

33 ROUND POOL

Remove soil and grass to this level. Remove grass only.

STEP 3: BOTTOM RING ASSEMBLY

Use your pool parts breakdown sheet to separate all pool components, becoming familiar with each part. Take the curved bottom rails and place them in a circle along the circumference of the pool area. Assemble the rails by using the bottom plates to join them together. Rails should be inserted into the bottom plates up to, but not exceeding, the stops on the plate. Rail can be squeezed between thumb and forefinger to facilitate insertion into plates. Check the roundness of your circle by measuring diameter across in several locations. Since the rails do not automatically form a true circle, DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP! Otherwise, you might end up with a slightly oval shape, which can cause problems later on. Once you have formed a true circle, stake the bottom rails at every other rail with a screwdriver, being careful not to scratch the rails.

* Adjust rails in or out as necessary to form a true circle.

FOR 8, 12, 15, 18, 20, & 28 POOLS: Measure from bottom plate to center of opposite bottom rail at every other bottom plate. When true, stake into position.

FOR 24 POOLS: Measure from bottom plate to opposite bottom plate at every other plate. When true, stake into position.

STEP 4: PATIO BLOCK INSTALLATION

Once the frame is in position, begin centering bottom plates on 2x8x16 patio blocks. Sink patio block into ground under bottom plate, making sure that the block is level in all directions (side to side as well as front to back). Repeat this step around the frame making the tops of all blocks level with the ground. Do not install blocks or rails on loose sifted soil or sand. There must be no space between the ground and the bottom of the rails. All patio blocks must be flush with the ground, solid and level with each other in all directions. You may remove a bottom rail at this time to cart in sand or sifted soil for the cove (box 9) as long as your pool ring remains staked in position. Make sure you replace the bottom rail in its proper position.

Position patio blocks like this, leaving only an inch inside the pool.

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Make sure pool is level from block to block.

Check for levelness in all directions.

STEP 5: PRE-ASSEMBLY
This is a good time to start the pre-assembly of the uprights. It is easiest to line all uprights up next to each other in a line. It helps to lean them against a fence or some other sturdy object. On most models the top of the upright can be identified by either an extra hole in the middle, or by an extra one on each side (depending on which pool you have) for the decorator caps. If your model pool has deco- strips they need to go on first. This is done by using the double sided tape provided. Stick one piece on each upright first, then match the holes on the deco-strip up to those on the upright. Now you place the top plate on the upright making sure the holes line up and the hooked part is facing the open end of the upright (the side that goes against the pool wall). Now put a #10 screw in only the center hole. Do not install screws in the two side holes until later. This will make things easier and more efficient later down the line. Now would be the time to install the fence brackets onto the uprights if your pool has a fence. If not, or when that is complete, you should line the uprights around the pool for convenience later on.
Top Plate

STEP 6: WALL INSTALLATION

In this step, you will use the wall carton as a base to unravel the pool wall. Locate the area that you wish to put the skimmer and return so that you can start the wall behind the appropriate upright. Unravel the wall a little at a time, inserting into the bottom rails as you go. Do not unravel the entire wall at once, for this makes installation much more difficult. As you unravel the wall you will need something to hold it up. We recommend placing landscaping stakes around the outside of the pool and clipping the wall to the stakes as you go. If you cannot get landscaping stakes the other option is to temporarily install stabilizer rails and uprights to keep the wall in place. If the side wall seems too long or too short, make the bottom ring larger or smaller by equally sliding the bottom rails in or out of the bottom plates. If the ground is uneven, the wall may jump out of the bottom track. Correct this condition by rechecking the level.
Metal coping installed to support wall temporarily

Cardboard Base

Put front screw of top plate in loosly

Make sure skimmer and skimmer return holes are unobstructed by uprights.
Upright

Check neon wall label for the right end up

You may hide wall joint behind upright Use stakes to support wall

STEP 7: WALL JOINT ASSEMBLY

IMPORTANT- This operation must be done carefully! When joining the sidewall, make sure that the pre-attached aluminum strips do not touch each other. One bar must be inside the pool (the bolts will touch this bar) and one bar must be outside the pool (the nuts will touch this bar). Insert the bolts with the bolt head to the inside and the nuts to the outside of the pool. Do not tighten until all bolts have been inserted. If your screwdriver slips and scratches the head of the bolt, file the scratch smooth so that it cannot puncture the liner. It is recommended that you cover the heads of the bolts, on the inside of the wall, with three layers of duct tape. If the insertion of the wall in the bottom rail is tight at the point where the wall is joined together, insert a screwdriver and twist to make enough room, again being sure not to scratch the wall or the bottom rail.

REMEMBER: ALL HOLES AND BOLTS MUST BE USED ON 52 POOLS! 48 POOLS MAY HAVE A FEW LEFT OVER. ALL NUTS SHOULD BE AS TIGHT AS POSSIBLE USING HAND TOOLS. BARS MUST NOT TOUCH EACH OTHER. IF THIS IS DONE INCORRECTLY YOUR POOL WILL BREAK!

STEP 8: UPRIGHT INSTALLATION If you have not done so already, install uprights to the bottom plates. This will take two or three #10 screws for each upright, depending on which model pool you have. The top plates can remain unsecured for now, but they should be temporarily clipped over the wall to prevent them from falling backward. Check pool for roundness again, making sure the diameter is the same in all directions. If your pool has a resin boot for the uprights secure them to the uprights now using two # 10 screws for each.

Upright #10 Screw

#10 Screw

Bottom Plate Upright

Note: Skimmer and skimmer return hole locations.

* Wall joint is hidden behind the upright. This assures that the skimmer and the skimmer return holes are not obstructed.

STEP 9: PREPARING THE COVE

Using neutral alkalinity sifted earth, or fine sand without pebbles, build a 2 base over the entire pool area to protect the liner. DO NOT USE ANY SUBSTANCE WITH HIGH ALKALINE OR ACID CONTENT, ESPECIALLY PEAT MOSS, AS IT WILL CORRODE METAL PARTS! Next, using the sifted earth or fine sand, build a pool cove 6 to 8 high inside the metal wall along the entire circumference. This will prevent the liner from creeping under the wall, and it will also protect the liner from any metal edges of the pool framework. THIS STEP IS NOT OPTIONAL- IT MUST BE DONE! Since earth containing chemicals can cause discoloration or corrosion, it is suggested that you place polyethylene plastic sheeting under the cove around the perimeter of the wall, so no earth comes in contact with the metal. Since the presence of such chemicals is beyond the control of the manufacturer, such damage is not covered by the warranty. After the cove and the base are in place, rake and tamp the entire pool area. Make sure that no sand is allowed to remain on the wall above the cove. This could cause pinholes in your liner.

STEP 10: LINER PREPERATION

Before installing the liner, punch out skimmer and skimmer return holes using a hammer and a screwdriver. Be careful not to rough up the edges too much. If you do you can file them down to be safe from further damage to your pool (Be careful not to allow filings to land inside of the pool wall). If you want to you can duct tape the raw edges of the metal at the skimmer and return cut outs to protect the raw edges against corrosion. Next, locate your safety envelope, take out the double sided vinyl gasket and install skimmer and return gaskets as shown on included instruction sheet. THIS MUST BE DONE! You must also periodically inspect the gaskets for leaks to validate the warranty.

STEP 11: LINER INSTALLATION

If you opted to use the stabilizers to help hold the wall up, then you will need to take them off while installing the liner. Do not place the liner wall seem directly over the skimmer or skimmer return cutouts. Place the liner at the center of the pool with the flap from the seams facing down. (For print liners, leave the print side facing up.) Spread the liner so that the bottom seam of the circumference is resting on the cove evenly around the pool. The seam should not be upon the wall or shifted to one side. These conditions will cause tightness or stretching of the liner when the pool is being filled.
POOL WALL

COVE COVE

CORRECT LINER SEAM Resting evenly on the cove of the pool.

*SEE ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED IN YOUR SAFETY ENVELOPE

INCORRECT LINER SEAM Shifted up wall. This should not be done. Correct this situation if it occurs.

STEP 12: HANGING LINER + COPING INSTALLATION

Starting at the liner wall seam, hang the liner over the wall making sure that the seam is straight up and down, perpendicular to the floor. This will assure you that the liner begins going over the wall straight. As you put the liner over the wall you can secure it by using the plastic coping strips to keep it in place. If you end up with excess material, continue around the pool, pulling excess liner evenly, and distribute over the wall until the excess is gone.
Liner wall seam straight up and down

Plastic coping Outside pool wall Liner overlap

Liner overlapping pool wall Plastic coping installed at this time to hold liner in place

STEP 13: LINER ADJUSTMENT Once the liner is held securely in place by coping, temporarily pull wrinkles in the floor towards the side wall evenly, leaving the wrinkles at the cove. When the liner is correctly positioned, there must be no air space between the liner and the ground or side wall. Remove wrinkles at the cove by adjusting the amount of material over the wall. Do not pull too tight- leave the slack on the sides. When a liner is properly installed there is no downward pressure on the liner. The liner could pull in if it is hung too tightly. Start filling the pool. When the water is no more than 1 deep, check for levelness. If water runs to one side, pull back the liner and make the ground level. When level, continue to fill and adjust the liner. Do not cut the skimmer and skimmer return holes in the liner until fully adjusted and the pool is 1/3 filled.

CORRECT NO AIR SPACE BETWEEN LINER AND POOL - SLACK ON SIDES.

INCORRECT! DO NOT LEAVE A GAP BETWEEN LINER AND COVE. THIS WILL CAUSE DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE LINER. CORRECT THIS CONDITION IF IT OCCURS.

STEP 14: INNER STABILIZER ADJUSTMENT When the liner is completely adjusted and the plastic coping is secured, push the first inner stabilizer rail over the plastic coping so that it fits snugly (starting at the wall bolts is usually a good idea). Be sure to leave one end of the stabilizer slightly raised so that the next stabilizer can interlock as shown below. As they are progressively installed around the circumference of the pool, note that the tapered end of the stabilizer easily telescopes into the un-tapered end of the following stabilizer. The tapered end should be inserted approximately 1 into the adjacent stabilizer. This allows room for adjustment either in or out. In this way, the last stabilizer may be fitted into place by adjusting the other rails as needed.
Inner Stabilizer Rail

Plastic Coping

Liner *Roll liner up inward to hide excess underneath top rail. (Rolling inward will prevent water from collecting in flap.) Do not trim excess - this may cause liner to pull in!

STEP 15: SECURE UPRIGHTS At this point you can now pull the front of the top plate (the hooked part) over the stabilizer and, after you are positive that the upright is level, you can now add the final two screws necessary to secure the uprights to the pool. If the uprights are not level it will be very difficult to get the top rails to fit together.
Top Plate Lift back of top plate up slightly to snap over the stabilizer rail

STEP 16: TOP RAIL INSTALLATION

You should have two people while installing the top rails. If a top rail falls in the pool it can cut the liner. Secure all top rails using #10x1/2 screws into the corresponding holes in the top plates. When installing the top rails, do not tighten screws until all of the top rails have been installed. Attach all top rails before the water is more than 12 deep, because if the pool is slightly out of round, you may have a problem getting the last rail on.
TOP RAIL TOP PLATE

Put front screw of top plate in loosly

DO NOT TIGHTEN UNTIL ALL OF THE TOP RAILS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED.
Pool Wall

Upright

*USE TWO PEOPLE FOR INSTALLATION. IF A TOP RAIL FALLS INTO THE POOL, IT CAN CUT THE LINER.

STEP 17: TOP COVER INSTALLATION

After all top rails have been installed, tighten all screws and attach the top covers as shown in the appropriate diagram for your pool.
2 PC RESIN TOP COVER: Center small half over hole in the top plate as shown and attach with a #12 screw. Slide the large half over the small half and secure using two #10 screws. #12 #2 TWO PIECE RESIN WITH ANGLE SUPPORT ATTACHMENTS ON THE SIDES: 1) Hook large half of cover under inside lip of top rail. Swivel cover down flat, centered over the upright. 2) Take angle support (small half) and position underneath top half, securing angle support to upright with 2 #10 screws on the sides (leave loose for adjustment). Then, take a #12 screw and connect angle support to top cover. A small space will occur- this is designed to take up expansion & contraction in manufacturing tolerances in the top rails.
TOP COVER TOP COVER

TWO PIECE RESIN WITH ANGLE SUPPORT ATTACHMENT IN THE FRONT: 1) Hook large half of cover under inside lip of top rail. Swivel cover down flat, centered over the upright. 2) Take angle support (small half) and position underneath top half, securing angle support to upright with a #10 screw in the front. Then, take a #12 screw and connect angle support to top cover. A small space will occur- this is designed to take up expansion & contraction in manufacturing tolerances in the top rails.

#10

ONE PIECE RESIN CLIP-ON COVER: This installation requires no hardware. Simply hook the back end of the top cover into place, and use your fingers or a screwdriver to gently flex the front tabs enough to hook the cover in place. Make sure that the top cover is centered over the upright when installing.

SCREW EMBOSS

USE #12 SCREW

INSIDE LIP SCREW EMBOSS ANGLE SUPPORT USE #12 SCREW INSIDE LIP

Side view of top cover and top rail Hook this end first.

Swing this end around and gently flex tab into place.

ANGLE SUPPORT

*Bullnose rail is used for the illustration, but installation is the same for all 1 pc. clip-on resin covers.

USE #10 SCREW USE #10 SCREW TO ATTACH TO UPRIGHT