Pool Installation Help – Florida Coast Above Ground Pools https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com Above Ground Pool Specialists Mon, 22 Feb 2021 12:50:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 My Above Ground Pool Liner Doesn’t Fit https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/my-above-ground-pool-liner-doesnt-fit/ https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/my-above-ground-pool-liner-doesnt-fit/#respond Sun, 21 Feb 2021 18:03:23 +0000 http://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/?p=3486 .avia-image-container.av-klfglg8v-5915172c33ed434179b3a3ba655c60f8 img.avia_image{ box-shadow:none; } .avia-image-container.av-klfglg8v-5915172c33ed434179b3a3ba655c60f8 .av-image-caption-overlay-center{ color:#ffffff; }

Above Ground Pool Liner Fitment Problems

As I said before, it’s often the jobs we take on that give me ideas and inspiration for the blogs I write. As you know, many people take on the repair of their above ground pool but end up quitting in aggravation. The incredibly hot August temperatures in Florida only intensify the problems and frustrations. In this case the home owner in Palm Bay was convinced there was a problem with the pool liner because it just didn’t fit correctly. There are many factors that can cause this dilemma and most are not the liner’s fault.

You’ve Heard It Before, Size Matters

I know you’ve heard it before and I’m saying it again. Measure your pool before you order a new above ground pool liner. This is one of the biggest and easiest problems to avoid. Ordering the wrong size liner for your pool is very common and only due to being lazy. It only takes about 2 minutes to properly measure the pool but takes a week to correct the problem and this doesn’t take into account the cost of returning your pool liner. Double check the pool size even if you think you already know it.

Round ’er Up

As I stated in the beginning of this blog, there are many reasons for an above ground pool liner not to fit correctly but I’m going to concentrate on what happened to this pool in particular. Here was a classic example of the pool simply being out of round. What this means is the pool is more egg shaped than actually round. When this happens the pool is longer in one direction than the other.

This occurs from poor installation where the installers didn’t ensure the pool was actually round during assembly. If you start with a misshapen frame everything else fits poorly and the job can become a nightmare. If you didn’t build the pool it’s not your fault so all you can do is deal with it. Besides, there are ways to successfully install a round pool liner in an egg shaped pool.

Making It Work

If you are really adventurous or bored you could completely disassemble the pool and put it back together correctly, this way your new pool liner will fit like a glove. But if your like our Palm Bay home owner you change your liner in the summer, so a job like that isn’t happening in August. The best way is solve this problem is to hire a professional to do the job.

I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear but different types of pool liners require different techniques to make them fit correctly. I’m not trying to make this sound like it’s magic or a lost art, it’s just too hard to explain to someone who’s never done it before. The options and limitations to correct the problems are different for oval pools versus rounds, and different for overlap liners versus beaded liners. Pool floor shape, cove size and other factors all play a role in how well a liner fits in any given pool.

It’s simply trial and error over an accumulation of time that you figure out what works best. But if hiring a professional isn’t an option be prepared to just get in there and try yourself. Do a little experimenting to get the best results you can. If it doesn’t work out the worst that can happen is you get wrinkles in the liner. They may not look good but wrinkles don’t leak and that’s what matters most.

If you have questions above your above ground pool or are interested in getting one for your backyard, check out our selection of quality above ground pools at http://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/clearance

]]> https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/my-above-ground-pool-liner-doesnt-fit/feed/ 0 Buried Above Ground Pools In Florida https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/3492-2/ https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/3492-2/#respond Sat, 20 Feb 2021 22:45:57 +0000 http://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/?p=3492

Buried Above Ground Pools


If you like the looks of the pool above then you’re in luck Florida! The buried above ground pool has gained tremendous popularity in recent years. About ten years ago we were building 250 above ground pools a year in Central Florida and about 10% of them were being buried inground partially. Nowadays we install the same pools but get this request about 40% of the time. That’s a huge jump inground buried pools so what’s going on?


Partially InGround Pools, What Are They?


The pool in the image above is simply an above ground pool that has been installed partially inground. Some of you readers have seen this before but many had no idea that this could be done. It’s not a big deal but does take more work to dig the hole and assemble the pool, so be prepared to spend an extra few hundred dollars on your installation. But before I get into that part of it I want to explain the reasons why people bury above ground pools and what the benefits are.

As you all know the economy has been tough and it’s hard for many people to justify the crazy prices inground pools now cost to build. For this reason many homeowners who were considering doing so have taken a second look at above ground pools as an affordable option for them. And if they can sink it down like the inground pools then they find it more appealing. High quality pools with stylish good looks, resin construction that are saltwater compatible certainly helps draw in a broader audience than models of years past.

It’s no doubt much easier to keep an eye on the kids swimming when you can see the water and not staring at the side of the pool wall. The only way to do this effectively before was to build a deck up high and watch from there.

Another reason for sinking the pool is that it’s much easier to enter and exit the water. Anyone with physical limitations find not having to climb up a ladder a blessing. If that’s not enough reason to sink your next pool here’s another. Everyone I spoke with finds it much easier to clean their pool when the water’s surface is lower.


How To Partially Bury Your Above Ground Pool


Not all above ground pools are meant to be buried, so I recommend starting with a steel wall American brand pool if you’re considering doing this. Imported pools from overseas are very thin and flimsy, they do not do well when buried in the ground. The same holds true for sheet aluminum pools, their nature makes them unstable when sunk into the earth. Both of these type pools are very sketchy to replace liners in or drain for service work. The thin or weak pool walls are the main problem.

Once you have a quality pool to bury you can move onto what’s possible. The good news is Central Florida soil is soft so the dig is fairly easy but how deep you can go depends on the pool and where you live. Because the water table in Florida is high, sinking a pool more than 30″ may not be always possible without hitting water. I’ve dug many pools between Orlando and Palm Bay where I could only dig about 12″ before the ground turned wet and soft. I had to stop at that depth in order to complete the job, if not we were coming back after the rainy season to do it. You can typically dig deeper in the winter months when it’s not raining everyday as the water table is lower.

If sinking a pool deeper than 30″ or if the pool pump is located higher than the surface of the pool water, an inground pool pump is required. I”m not a fan of burying a pool further than 30″ anyway so I won’t do it.


Time To Get Dirty


To bury an above ground pool you only need to dig a hole big enough to construct the pool inside of it.  This does mean the hole will need to be a few feet larger all the way around so the pool will fit and you can access all the hardware that’s required for assembly. You will also need to ensure the bottom of your hole is flat and the dirt is manageable, if not sand may be required or at least a pool floor pad.

Once you have a proper hole dug building the pool is much the same as building one on top of the ground. And after you complete the construction of the pool you can fill it up and test your equipment for leaks. If all checks out you are ready to back-fill the open space around the pool with dirt. Make sure to do this slowly and don’t pack it in, let nature and the rains help settle the earth. Once back-filled you can landscape around it, build a deck etc. and make it a great addition to your backyard.


]]> https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/3492-2/feed/ 0 Pool Liner Coping, Do I Need It? https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/pool-liner-coping-do-i-need-it/ https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/pool-liner-coping-do-i-need-it/#respond Sat, 20 Feb 2021 22:40:29 +0000 http://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/?p=3490
Liner Coping For Above Ground Pools

Above Ground Pool Liner Coping


For all the do it yourself pool liner installers out there this blog is a great read. I was inspired to write it by a pool liner replacement we recently did in Deltona where the home owners gave up on doing the liner change themselves. They built the pool originally and did a very nice job doing so, but a change in liner design derailed their valiant efforts. If a self installed pool liner change is in your future, reading this blog may prove to be quite valuable one day.


What Is Pool Liner Coping For Above Ground Pools?


Pool liner coping simply installs on top of the pool liner and holds it firmly onto the pool wall. Liner coping is needed to hold the liner in place while protecting it from being damaged by the metal stabilizer bars. The metal or sometimes resin stabilizer bars squeeze the coping ensuring a tight grip on the pool liner preventing it from slipping off the pool wall and down in the water. Coping is always made of plastic and comes in strips that vary between 2 and four feet in length. The shape of the coping can vary but it’s mostly flat or V-shaped like the image above.


Liner Coping And Different Style Liners


Today most all above ground pool kits come with either an overlap or unibead pool liner. The unibead liner is considered an upgrade because they are a fitted liner and designed for a specific pool wall height. When purchasing one you must know the height of the pool wall for proper fit. The reason for upgrading to the unibead or J-Hook pool liner is they are more decorative, easier to install and have the coping built into their design.

Because the upper lip of the the unibead/j-hook liner is so thick no additional coping is used. The extra cost of this type of liner is usually offset by the fact no coping needs to be purchased for it’s installation. This usually makes this type of liner the better way to go for most self installers.

Now back to our frustrated home owner I told you about in the beginning of this blog post. When these nice people first bought their pool it came with the unibead or j-hook pool liner to start with. After several years of use it was time for them to replace it, so they purchased a new overlap liner to save some money. Once the pool was disassembled and readied for the new liner the problems began as overlap liners require coping strips to keep the liner attached at the top of the pool wall and their pool had none to begin with. So after many days of trying to keep the liner on the wall, filling and emptying the pool several time, they finally gave up the fight. Luckily for them the liner wasn’t ruined in the process, but could have been if they went much further.

If they had only known that pool liner coping is required on all overlap liners they may had gotten through this project successfully. Just remember that all overlap pool liner need coping strips to secure it to the wall and they should be replaced when changing the pool liner every time. If you always buy a coping kit for your size pool you’ll never have an issue similar to this. Pool liner coping kits aren’t expensive and they’re great insurance that your liner installation will be a better one.


]]> https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/pool-liner-coping-do-i-need-it/feed/ 0 How To Buy A Used Above Ground Pools https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/3481-2/ https://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/3481-2/#respond Sat, 20 Feb 2021 22:23:37 +0000 http://floridacoastabovegroundpools.com/?p=3481
Used Above Ground Pools

How To Buy A Used Above Ground Pool


So the weather is heating up and the kids are screaming for a pool, the problem is that money is tight and spending any more than needed for a new pool is a scary thought. Like many wanna be pool owners, a solution to their problem may be as close as the local Craigslist ads. For those who’ve never heard of Craigslist, it’s a free online classified ads website where local individuals and businesses list their items and services.

I’m a big fan of Craigslist and have sold and purchased many items there myself. There are good deals to be had if you know what you’re doing, and buying an above ground pool can be a good deal if you buy the right one at the right price. To help you shop for a used pool and avoid making a costly mistake, I’m going to give you some sound shopping advice.


Know What You Want


Much like shopping for a brand new above ground pool, you first need to know what size pool will fit in the space where you want to put it. Once you have settled on a pool size and shape, you should determine what brand new pools of the same size cost for some points of reference. After that, it’s time to go to the Craigslist website and start searching above ground pools for sale. Be sure to also consider looking at neighboring cities as they may offer some good deals too.


Things You’ll Need To Buy New


Buying a used pool can be a tricky proposition so you better pay close attention to avoid wasting your time and money. First thing, you need to accept the fact a new pool liner will be required for re-assembly. It doesn’t matter how new the liner is, replace it. There are many reasons why and I’ve written blogs just on this subject alone, trust me here and factor that into the total purchase price.

I’d also buy a new skimmer kit and coping strips if using an overlap liner. Don’t forget about other items like the pool ladder, maintenance tools, filter hoses and even small pieces like nuts and bolts. Account for their condition or factor in replacement costs.

Let me also mention the extra time required for installation, straightening bent rusty parts and making them fit correctly takes more time than fitting shiny new pieces together, especially when you don’t have a manual or diagram to help you. And if you’re aren’t doing the work yourself you should know many professional pool installers charge more for putting used pools up. Like any other job, time is money.


Pool Shopping


On Craigslist you may find pools that are disassembled and pools that are still up and running, each have advantages and disadvantages to them. Disassembled pools are already taken apart for you and all the parts laid out for your inspection. This is convenient but you must be sure all the pieces are there and this can be tricky if there’s no instruction manuals or parts lists available. And replacement parts for old pools can be difficult to locate, especially without part numbers. Equally important, you will also need to inspect the inside of the entire pool wall for rust. This can be a hassle but very important. Thick flaky rust or holes in the pool wall are a deal breaker every time.

Pools that are still up full of water and running have advantages too. This is the only way to really know that the pump and filter are operational and not making funny noises or squirting water out somewhere expensive. Aside from that you can account for all the pieces when you disassemble it yourself. I would do a close inspection of all visible parts, and if all check out make it clear to the pool owner that the sale hinges on the condition of the pool wall, if it’s rusty on the inside move on.


Final Thoughts


As you can imagine there are good deals to be had when purchasing a used pool from a neighbor or from a classified ad, but many times I have attempted to put up a used pool and found one or more of the problems listed above. When this happens we usually end up leaving because we can’t finish the job.

So for a gamble this big my advice is to pay as little as possible for the pool up front. Typically I wouldn’t pay more than a few hundred dollars for a used above ground pool at the most. The exception to this rule is a pool that is almost new, all the manuals and parts are there and everything is in excellent condition. Anything less can turn out to be a bad experience and cost more money and time than just buying a new pool to start with.


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