Bottom Rail on 24 Round Pool

by Becky
(Montrose Michigan)

We got our used pool from my mom. We bought new bottom rails and feet. We are trying to install the bottom rail but they are not forming a perfect circle.

We got it 12 ft all the way around but at the feet it does not look round, more like a small arch than flat, then small arch then flat at every foot base.

Is it supposed to do this? Hard to fit 2 curved pieces into a straight piece and make it curve. If we move them to make it curve all the way around the rail just keeps going into the middle and we end up with a smaller and smaller pool.

The pool is about 20 years old and we don't know the brand.

Desperate for help.

Hi Becky.

I have seen this happen before and it is nothing to be too concerned about. You want to go with your first option. Just make it 12' all the way around. That is the most important part. It should all work out as you continue to build the pool.

Bottom Rails On Buttress

by Ben
(Ridgeley WV)

Hi, I have this agp I bought from a friend with no instructions and he doesn't know the manufacturer. I'm not sure how the rails sit on the buttress, there are no brackets to attach it to. I have included some pics as to how I think it might be from reading all your other answers of other questions. I have included a couple pics to help.

There are brackets on the buttress itself but if the rails were placed in them the rail would not be sitting flush on the buttress. If this is the gist of it exactly how far do the rails need to sit on the buttress. Is this far enough or should they touch each other? One more question, can I use some sort of glue to hold them to the buttress as I think it will be difficult to install wall with them moving around. Thank You

Hi Ben

This page

Oval Installation

Shows the same kind of pool being installed. It might be of help to you.

The tab below the notch fits inside the rail. There should be just enough space below the tab to slide the rail in. It goes over the tab as far as it will go.

The rail inserting needs to be done as the braces are being set. The rails act as the proper spacing for the braces.

Bottom Rails Not Sitting Flush On The Ground

by Mandi
(Pennsylvania)

We are some of the crazy people who decided to install our own pool....We now have the bottom rails in and the pool wall up. As we were putting the wall up, we noticed the bottom rails weren't always on the ground, so we actually had to pull the rail up to make the wall sit in the grooves.

My husband is concerned that this could cause problems when we fill the pool.

Installing this pool has been a nightmare. Should we continue to install the pool or should we try to fix this problem.

Thanks!!!!!

Hi Mandi.

Installing an above ground pool can be a nightmare, I still remember my first few.

You need to pack some dirt under the rails, this is very important. Once the rails are lifted and the dirt has been packed in I like to cover them with a little more dirt. This helps the pool foundation, keeping everything in place.

As you fill the pool be sure to check the level several times. Measure from the top rails to the water level all the way around the pool. If you see you are way off level it is better to know this when you only have 6" of water in the pool. It is a lot easier to get rid of 6" than a full pool. Hopefully you won't have that problem to add to your nightmare, but it is something to watch out for.

Galvanized Steel Vs Resin Wall Tracks

by Anthony
(Montreal, Canada)

Hi there, I live in Quebec Canada and am looking for a 24' above ground round pool for my back yard. My choice is down to 2 major pool retailers.

Both pools are "hybrid" in that they are metal / resin, are salt-water friendly and almost the identical price. The only difference is with the pool wall tracks.

Company "a" has galvanized steel tracks and says never to consider company "b" because their resin tracks will dry and snap in our cold winters.

Company "b" says never to buy company "a"'s pools because galvanized steel will eventually rust and fail - also that ground movement from freeze/thaw will twist the metal. I could really use an impartial expert opinion.

Thanks in advance - Anthony

Hi Antony.

I have spent my career working in Arizona where freezes are seldom. I have seen a lot of rusted and corroded metal bottom rails. I have never seen a cracked resin bottom rail.

On the other hand, once the pool is full of water the bottom rails become useless, so it really doesn't matter, unless you move and reset the pool.

The rail is very important in order to keep the wall round while you are installing the pool. Once the pool is full the pressure pushing out on the wall is equal all the way around. The bottom rails are no longer needed.

I think both arguments are baloney and you could choose either and be just fine.