Bottom Rail Measurement for an Above Ground Pool

We have a 28 ft. above ground pool, what is the measurement of the bottom wall rail?



Hi. The measurement across a 28' above ground pool should be pretty close to 28'. The best way to measure the bottom rail is with a radius measurement.

I put a screw diver through the end opening of a long tape measure. I then find a center point. Once the ground is leveled I lay the bottom rail out and start connecting it. I use the method shown on this page.

Above Ground Swimming Pool Installation

I start by laying the bottom rail out on a 14' radius. Every rail is set at 14'. When I get to the end I usually have some adjustment to make. It might be several inches off from connecting, in either way; I might be too big or too small. I go back and reset all the bottom rails at a slightly different radius. It might be 14' 1" or it might be 13' 11", you just never know, every make and model is different.

The other thing to consider is the gap at the end of each bottom rail. The most common maker of a 28' pool is Doughboy and they are pretty uniform in their bottom rail gap. The rails should all be about an eighth of an inch. That is the small space between the end of the bottom rail and the stop tab in the footplate. If all of your rails are set with a small gap you should be able to connect the last bottom rail with a 14' radius, give or take just a touch.

The most important thing is that the radius is the same all the way around. If you install the wall, and you are off by a few inches, you must start over. It is so important that your gaps are all the same and that your radius is the same, this makes for a perfect pool. As long as it is perfectly level, that is.