P/ N 9 5 - 0 44 4 Above Ground Pool Assembly & Installation Buttress Free and Traditional Buttress WA R N I N G : THIS POOL IS NOT DESIGNED FOR DIVING OR JUMPING. Follow All Safety and Maintenance CAN Instructions RESULT-SHALLOW DANGEROUS INJURY WATER!!! Your pool is designed for years of pleasurable, safe family fun. But, when used incorrectly, a swimming pool can be dangerous.
INTRODUCTION: Congratulations on becoming the owner of a new above ground swimming pool. This is the instruction packet for installing your swimming pool. The following are some helpful hints that you should take into consideration before installing your pool. 1) Read through the entire instruction booklet before you begin. This will enable you to find out exactly what is involved with installing your swimming pool before you begin.
POOL%LOCATION: Do not locate pool over underground lines, septic tanks, under electrical lines, near hazardous structures, or out of local code restrictions. 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.
STEP%2%–%LEVELING: Once you have designated the space for installation, and have cleared away the sod in that area, you can begin to level the ground. The ideal tool for doing this is a transit. If you do not have access to a transit, use a long board (be sure that the board is perfectly straight) and a carpenters level, as shown in the diagram. The key to properly leveling the surface for an above ground swimming pool is to start at the lowest point and dig everything else down to that level.
STEP3%–%UNPACKING%THE%POOL: Hardware Change Notice The hardware supplied with your pool has been modified for an easier installation. The #12 screw supplied with your pool has been changed from a “sheet metal screw” to a “self-drilling screw”.As shown in the pictures. The self-drilling screw will make attaching the parts to the channel much easier (Fig.
STEP%4%F%PREFASSEMBLING%THE%STRAIGHT%SIDES%OF%A%TRADITIONAL%BUTTRESS%OVAL%POOL%ONLY: *** THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE FOR TRADITIONAL BUTTRESS OVAL POOLS ONLY! IF YOU HAVE A Slots A) Start by laying the strap end channels out on the ground so that the open ends face down. Notice the two slots on top of each of these channels. You will not be using these slots in the construction of the pool, but pay attention to where they are located in the diagrams. They indicate which way the channels are facing. See Fig.
ALTERNATE%STEP%4%F PREFASSEMBLING%THE%STRAIGHT%SIDES%OF%A%BUTTRESSFFREE%OVAL%POOL%ONLY: *** IF YOU HAVE A TRADITIONAL BUTTRESS OVAL, PLEASE REFER TO THE A)%Start%by%laying%out%the%under%box%channels%so%that%the%open %%%sides%of%each%under%box%channel%is%facing%up.%Then%slide%the %%%strap%end%channel%over%the%top%of%the%under%box%channels%so %%%that%they%form%a%tube.%Be%sure%that%the%holes%in%both%channels %%%are%aligned,%but%do%not%bolt%them%together%yet.%See%Fig.%11 52#3/8" 45#9/16" Fig.
ALTERNATE%STEP%5%–%STRAP%ASSEMBLY%FOR%BUTTRESSFFREE%OVAL%POOLS%ONLY: ***USE THIS STEP FOR TRADITIONAL BUTTRESS OVAL INSTALLATION ONLY! IF YOU HAVE A BUTTRESS-FREE OVAL, PLEASE SEE ALTERNATE STEP 5. Notice that there are two different sizes of strap packed with your pool. Each strap is stamped with a part number and a length. A) If your pool is 10' wide, each strap will be made up of three pieces. Two of the pieces will measure 27.25" long and one will measure 39.275" long.
ALTERNATE%STEP%5%–%STRAP%ASSEMBLY%FOR%BUTTRESSFFREE%OVAL%POOLS%ONLY: ***IF YOU HAVE A TRADITIONAL BUTTRESS OVAL, DO NOT USE THIS STEP FIVE. USE THE PREVIOUS STEP FIVE FOR YOUR POOL. When you separate the strap pieces, you will find that you have two different lengths. You will have three strap components per complete strap for 10' wide and 12' wide oval pools, and four strap components per complete strap for all pools 15' and 18' wide.
STEP%6%FATTACHING%STRAPS%TO%STRAP%END%CHANNELS%ON%A%TRADITIONAL%BUTTRESS%OVAL POOL%ONLY: *** USE THIS STEP FOR TRADITIONAL BUTTRESS OVAL INSTALLATION ONLY! IF YOU HAVE A BUTTRESS-FREE OVAL, PLEASE SEE ALTERNATE STEP 6. After you have completed the assembly of all of the strap sections, each end of the assembled straps need to be attached to a strap end channel.
ALTERNATE%STEP%6%FATTACHING%STRAPS%TO%STRAP%END%CHANNELS%FOR%A%BUTTRESSFFREE OVAL%POOL%ONLY: ***IF YOU HAVE A TRADITIONAL BUTTRESS OVAL, USE THE PREVIOUS STEP 6 FOR YOUR OVAL POOL. When the straps are completely assembled (as shown in Fig.21) attach each end of the straps, and an end channel cap (shown in Fig.22 and Fig.23) to a strap end channel using two 5/16" x ½" bolts and two 5/16" nuts at each point of connection.
STEP%7%F%STRAIGHT%SIDE%LAYOUT: After all of the straps have been fully assembled and attached to the strap end channels you can now start to set them up in their final positions. If your pool has an odd number of straps (for example a 12' X 24' pool has three straps) find the center point of the site you leveled earlier and put the first strap and straight side upright assembly there.
STEP%8%–%PRESSURE%PLATE%INSTALLATION: Place one 44" pressure plate on each strap end channel so that the center of the plate is even with the center of the channel. When installing these plates the corrugation bumps should be up and the flat surface should be down. One edge has a larger flat surface than the other. The larger flat surface should be closer to the center of the pool. (See diagram). The%pressure%plate%must%extend%past%the%end%of%the%channel%about%1"towards%the %center%of%your%pool.
STEP%9%F%BOTTOM%WALL%RIM%ASSEMBLY: %%%%When you unpacked the bottom wall rim you should have noticed the three different size rails (except if you have a 12' x 17' pool, in which case you only have two different sizes.) Some of the rails are 37 ½" long and some are 39" long. Reference the size chart in Step 10 for your exact pool. It is very important to separate the wall rims by size now. Metal Rim Inner Stabilizer 5/8" x 5/8". Used on top of the pool. Fig.%30 Fig.
STEP%10%F%IDENTIFYING%WALL%RIMS: When you un-pack the pool separate out the different wall rims that go in different parts of the pool. This is very important. Incorrect placement of the rims will result in a pool that needs to be re-installed. The rims that go on the bottom of the pool care called Bottom Rails. The Bottom Rails are 1” wide. The rims that go on the top of the pool wall are called Inner Stabilizers. The Inner Stabilizers are 5/8” wide.
STEP%11%–%SQUARING%THE%STRAIGHT%SIDES: Now that the bottom structure of the pool is fully assembled, make sure that the straight sides of the pool are perfectly in line with each other. We refer to this as "squaring" the pool. This is done by measuring from the outside of the first straight side upright on one side, to the outside of the last straight side upright on the opposite side (the two straight side uprights farthest from each other.
STEP%12%–%LEVELING%THE%STRAIGHT%SIDES: %%%The leveling of the straight sides is a very crucial part of a good installation. If this is not done accurately it will cause a lot of problems for you. The strap end channels are two inches deep. The top of the strap end channel needs to be level with the ground. The bottom plates or bottom cuffs on the curved sides also need to be level with the ground. One at a time we recommend digging the strap end channels into the ground.
STEP%13%–%WALL%INSTALLATION *** DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS STEP IN WINDY CONDITIONS, THE WALL IS VERY HEAVY AND EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO MANAGE ON A WINDY DAY. IF THE WIND DOES CATCH THE WALL DURING INSTALLATION, IT CAN CREATE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS AND/OR CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE POOL.
STEP%13%–%WALL%INSTALLATION%(Cont.) It is extremely important at this stage that the pool wall and the pool tracks form the proper pool size on the ground. Once the wall is installed go around the pool and re-check the shape of the pool on the ground. Pull / push any bottom tracks back into the proper pool shape. Make sure that the bottom tracks are not “trapped” and can easily move on the ground away from the water.
STEP%14:%WALL%JOINT%ASSEMBLY *** We%manufacture%two%different%kinds%of%wall%joint%assemblies.%One%has%a%simgle%row%of%bolts%with%wall %%%%bars,%and%the%other%is%a%staggered%double%row%pattern%with%wall%bars.%Please%check%which%design%your %%%%pool%has%and%follow%the%appropriate%instructions%below. Type #1 Single Row IMPORTANT-This operation must be done carefully! When joining the sidewall, make sure that the strips do not touch each other.
STEP%14:%WALL%JOINT%ASSEMBLY%(Cont.) Many pool walls come with a Wall Saver Panel. The Wall Saver Panel is a separate piece of the pool wall that has the skimmer and return openings in it. The Wall Saver Panel is joined to the pool wall at each end. Your pool will have 2 wall joints. On many size pools and many Wall Saver Panels this means that one (1) of the joints will be exposed and clearly visible on the outside of the pool instead of being behind a pool upright. This is normal. See Fig.
STEP%15%–%PREPARING%THE%COVE: Using neutral alkalinity sifted earth or fine sand without pebbles, build a 3" base over the entire pool area to protect the liner. Make sure that the straps and the pressure plates are covered entirely. If the base does not fully cover the metal components, they will show through and will damage the liner. If using vermiculite or foam base, you must have at least two inches of soil or sand on top of the straps and pressure plates.
STEP%16%–CURVED%END%ASSEMBLY%(Cont.) TYPE#1%F%BOTTOM%PLATE%POOLS: - Models with metal or resin bottom plates will require one, two, or three #10 x 1/2" screws for each upright, depending on which model you have. Upright - The top plates can remain unsecured for now, but they should be temporarily clipped over the wall to prevent them from falling backward.
STEP%16%–CURVED%END%ASSEMBLY%(Cont.) ACCENT%CLIP%INSTALLATION%(Not%applicable%to%all%models%of%pools): Sortie bottom cuffs and/or uprights have separate accent clips. This is a good time to snap those pieces on if your pool has these. Below are some examples of accent clips.
STEP%17F%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 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.
STEP%18F%HANGING%LINER: There are a few different types of liners on the market today. The three most common liners are the Overlap, the Snap Bead, and the V-Bead liners (Also referred to as J-Bead liners). Please be sure which one you have and follow the appropriate step below: TYPE%#1%F%OVERLAP%LINER 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.
STEP%18F%HANGING%LINER%(Cont.) TYPE%#3%F%J%or%VFBEAD%LINER: - With a V-Bead liner you will not use the plastic coping strips that are packed in the parts carton of your pool. You can discard those pieces, if they are included, as they only apply to pools with overlap liners. - The top of the wall of the liner has what is called a "V-Bead" welded onto it. Simply open up the bead with your fingers and hang it directly on top of the pool wall.
STEP%19%–%INNER%STABILIZER%INSTALLATION: When the liner is completely adjusted and the plastic coping is secured, the next step is to install the top wall rims. You should have four different size top wall rims (except for 12' X 17' pools which only have three) Reference the chart in Step 10. You should have some 8" rails, some 33" rails, some 37" rails, and an even number of longer rails which have one tapered side and one straight cut side. Separate stabilizers into different sizes now.
STEP%20%–%STRAIGHT%SIDE%TOP%PLATE%INSTALLATION: Now is the time to install the straight side top plates. Simply place each one over a different oval upright and the stabilizer rail, match the holes on the top plate to those on the straight side upright, and fasten them together using four #10 x ½" screws in each. Straight side top plate drops inside straight side upright & is attached on sides with 4-#10 screws Straight side top plate #10 screw Straight side upright Fig.
STEP%22%–%TOP%RAIL%INSTALLATION: Your pool either has metal top rails, or resin top rails. Please notice the different hardware that is necessary for the resin top rail pools. You should have two people while installing the top rails. If a top rail falls in the pool it can cut your liner. Traditional Buttress You should have two different length top rails with your oval pool. The 41 ¼" long top rails (measured from longest point to longest point) are for the straight sides of the pool.
STEP%23%–%TOP%COVER%INSTALLATION: TWO PIECE RESIN TOP COVER WITH ATTACHMENTS ON THE SIDES There is a straight support with a square cutout: to fit the oval upright, instead of an angle support supplied for the curved ends. It attaches the exact same way as the angle support. LARGE TWO PIECE RESIN TOP COVER WITH ATTACHMENT IN FRONT: (DOES NOT INCLUDE 6”TOP RAIL POOLS) The curved end angle support is slightly larger than the straight support. The straight support is not filled in the back.
Important Pool Safety & Maintenance Keep your pool wall and frame clean. Always wash away any deposits of pool chemicals which land on the frame of your pool. Wash periodically with a mild soap solution (no abrasives). At least once a year use a clear non-yellowing household wax on all metal components. Your pool and liner must be inspected regularly for leaks, corrosion, scratches, and punctures. If any problem is found IMMEDIATE CORRECTIVE ACTION MUST BE TAKEN.
Important Winter Rules After your pool has been winterized and all steps carefully followed, the following checks and procedures must be strictly followed during fall, winter, and spring seasons. Your pool warranty will be invalid if pool has been improperly winterized and the following procedures not strictly adhered to. Pools that have been incorrectly winterized have been known to collapse under the tremendous pressures exerted by ice and snow.