Installing My Intex Pool

by Mo

We have an Intex 14' x 36" above ground round pool which I have installed but have not done a good job of it.(if only I had found this site before)

Now that I have read your information I am going to redo it. If you would let me know if the following information is correct it would be appreciated.

I will re-level the ground (it has about a 6" fall) using a proper laser level, digging an area wider than the pool (about 16'). I will put the metal frame together then lay 2" thick concrete pavers in a full circle of the pool ensuring the legs sit on a full paver.

I will make sure these are all at the same level. Then I will fill the area with sand to the same level as concrete pavers, wetting it and tamping it down. If the sand is the same level as the pavers would it matter if part of the pool liner sits on the pavers?

Thank you. Mo

Hi Mo. I think you have a great plan. The only thing I do not like is the liner sitting on the pavers. Since the bottom of the pool curves back in away from the supports it really shouldn't sit on them.

I think I would just make sure the blocks are pulled back far enough to the outside that they are away from the liner.

If that is not possible you could always lay a layer of plastic or something over them. Just about anything would work to give the pool a little protection from any possible sharp edges.

Intext Above Ground Off Level

by Rick
(Houston, TX)

My 18x48 Intex pool is up and ready to go. However the level is off by up to 3 inches on one side. Is that big or is that okay?

Hi Rick. Three inches out of level is something you will want to take care of at some point. Whether or not the pool is being stressed by it being out of level is not something I could say for sure without seeing it.

If the pool appears to be up straight it might be all right for the summer. I would sure take a close look at it. If the pool is leaning or appears to be bowed or stressed on one side I would drain it and re-level.

Two to three inches off level is in that gray area of being safe or not being safe. Many other factors involving the installation come into play. If you have any doubts about how the pool looks you are probably better off fixing it.

Intex Pool During The Winter

by Susan
(Oklahoma)

We have greatly enjoyed our 15'x48" round Intex steel framed pool, but are wondering what to do with it for the winter? I read the entire instruction manual and it does not address this issue. I have done on-line searches and have yet to see advice on this issue. We live in Oklahoma where it usually gets down to 0 degrees and sometimes with a wind-chill it can get 20 below 0.

Do we put the top on the filled pool with a beach ball underneath to make a pitch for run-off? Will the cold make the soft liner brittle and cause it to crack? Do we take the pool down and if so, does anyone have any suggestions as to how to dry out the huge liner and store it? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Hi Susan. If it were my pool I would take it down for the winter. You drain it with a garden hose and then towel dry the bottom. Store the pool out of the weather for the winter and it will probably last a lot longer.

Others may have other ideas about how to prep an Intex pool for the winter, if so, we would love to hear them.

Ground Prep For Intex Pool

I am installing a 16FT X 48" INTEX Ultra Metal Frame Above Ground Pool. This is my first time installing a pool. I would like to know how much sand is needed to put under the pool after ground has been leveled. Also, what is the best option to use for a base? One more thing, what type of tarp would you recommend to put under the pool?

Thanks in Advance

Hi. An Intex pool is not that much different than any other above ground pool. The ground needs to be perfectly level. The ground needs to be level and packed solid. Never assume the ground is level until you have used a leveling device on it. It is money well spent to rent a transit from you local rental company. Set it up and get that ground perfectly level.

After that you could cushion the area with a couple of inches of sand. That should be about two tons. The ground tarp could be landscaping plastic, a pool pad like gorilla pad or a plain old tarp. It may not even be needed if you have no grass or weeds to deal with. There is nothing wrong with setting the pool on a smooth base of mortar sand.

As far as pool base goes, start with solid packed and level dirt. You could also use crushed granite or crusher run, these both level easily and pack solid. On top of that add a couple inches of sand and set the pool up. You should be fine.

If the pool has support legs that need to be supported, as most frame pools do, use concrete or wood blocks under each one. I use my laser transit on each one of these so that they are all perfectly level. The result is a level pool with a soft bottom, free of lumps, bumps and rocks.

Soft Side Frame Pool Unlevel

by Sarah
(Coquitlam, BC, Canada)

We installed an above ground 18'x52" pool yesterday. When we prepared the ground it was level. After filling it with water it seems that the lower side that we raised is still lower.

The water on the low side is about 2-3 inches deeper than at the other end. Will this be okay??? Should I do something??

Hi Sarah. The pool will probably be just fine if it is not perfectly level. This is something I would probably fix during the off season when the pool is not being used. You would be a lot happier with a level pool, they look nicer and tend to be safer and last longer.

You may also want to check your pool instruction booklet and see how much variance in level they allow. If the pool warranty requires you be within certain limits you may want to fix it sooner.

Installing a Frame Pool on a Slightly Sloping Patio

I am looking at a 16' x 48" inch frame pool.
My Patio slopes away from the house at the rate of 1 inch per 8 feet, so I should be looking at 2 inches difference from one end to the other.

As I understand it, this still isn't good enough.

But what is the best way to level off on a brick patio surface?

Thanks, Paul

Hi Paul. If you mean a steel wall pool this would apply.

The easiest way I know of to level a concrete area is to set the rail and footplates on roofing shingles. The shingles can be added as needed to keep the rail level. They also do a great job of keeping the sand on the inside of the pool because they can be layered in such a way as to create a tight wall.

I would use a sand base on the inside of the pool because it would be easy to add more to the raised side of the pool. By adding more sand to this area you can hopefully keep the pool bottom level. Having a level base of sand will make installing the liner easier and probably make it look nicer. Wrinkles tend to develop in liners where one side of the pool fills before the other. Pools should fill from the center out, evenly in all directions.

A soft side pool is a whole different story. I think I would first try installing it on the patio without any changes. This just might work out fine.