r/AboveGroundPools

My dad convinced me that we had leveled the ground "enough". Clearly not. Should i drain or will i be ok for the summer?

I didn’t want this, but this is what I’m dealing with now.

We originally planned to just do some basic leveling in our very sloped backyard this spring—bring in fill, compact it, plant grass, and let it settle so we’d have a good base for a pool next year. We also had about 50 tree stumps we wanted gone.

We found a contractor who came out, and during the visit my partner mentioned we eventually wanted a pool. Somehow that turned into him suggesting a pool pad instead. He quoted $1,800–$2,000 to remove stumps, grade, and build a proper base with compacted gravel and a sand top layer.

Once the job started, he told my partner that gravel could damage the liner and that sand-only was better, and that this is how he “always does pool pads.” My partner trusted him, and now we have a massive sand pad that’s built up on a slope, with some random rocks added from around the property.

I’m honestly pretty fucking concerned. It’s not what we agreed to, it’s sloped like nearly 4 feet (he said sloping helps keep it from shifting), and I don’t know how stable this actually is—especially for an 18’ Coleman above-ground pool. Also not thrilled about having a giant pile of sand in my yard long-term.

So… is this salvageable?

Can anything be done at this point to reinforce or fix this so we can safely put a pool on it this summer? Or are we looking at tearing this out and starting over with a proper gravel base? My house was built on ledge so as you can imagine, digging down would be hell.

We recently purchased a home with a MASSIVE oval above ground pool. Clearly this pool has been neglected for years.. the home was an estate sale, and the estate owner had no information regarding the pool. I know it’s going to take A LOT of work to get this thing into useable condition, probably not even able to get done for this summer.. but we’ve never owned a pool and don’t even know where to start after grunting out the job of pulling all the weeds and roots out of this thing. Is it worth it to try and rehab it? Or just take it out completely and start from scratch? All and any advice appreciated 🥲

We just had this installed. Looks slanted but it shows level. Suggestions how to make it look better to the eye. Is this normal?

I have been wanting an above ground pool for 4 years but have been too concerned that it will be too much for me to keep up with. I’ve never owned one. I’ve had one growing up and as a kid I loved it. I’m thinking of getting an 18 ft round pool by 52. My friend has owned a larger pool twice the size and keeps telling me not to do it that it’s too much maintenance. I won’t be able to keep up with it. It’s gonna get algae. I won’t be able to get it out. It’s gonna be expensive to maintain, and she told me that her other friend got a round pool and only kept it up for one year because algae got in it and they tried their best to keep it clean. I do know that my friends did not use a pool cover. I plan on getting a solar pool cover and a robotic vacuum which my friend with the big Pool said that she used and she loved it but again she did not use a pool cover. I told her I’ll be using a pool cover. She said that’s stupid. No one does that only when you close it up for the winner however, my research shows differently before I go and invest all this money and hiring someone to get the ground level and purchasing the pool and all the supplies. or is this manageable they were just doing it incorrectly. Looking forward to hearing from all you poor owners. I’m worried that this will be too much for me or is this manageable they were just doing it incorrectly. Looking forward to hearing from all you pool owners.

90 degrees

Leveling our circle this weekend, any good laser level recommendations from Amazon or even H(or similar TSC/Ace/Lowes)

Planning on the 2x4 with level zip tied and the rebar method but from YT laser levels seem like an option, then use tape measure to check dirt height to laser line.

Yes I know that the pool is not even.. I did this adjustment with pavers. Any other comments concerns? I plan in leaving it just this season and make it better next year! 🤞

Heres a pool update......leveling by hand has started...going slow but started. Im my quest to become worlds greatest dad I am trying not to run out of steam. Between working third shift and my other duties around he house pacing is slow...but I will continue on! Trying to see the light at the end of the tunnel.....

Absolutely brutal winter. Got about 40 inches of snow over 2 weeks and didn't get above 32° for about 6 weeks.

I closed up the pool in the fall like I usually do, but this happened around Feb/March. It's the only spot that buckled. The beams are all fine, just the wall around the skimmer have rusted and buckled.

I have some strong sheet metal I was going to reinforce and smooth out to strengthen the wall.

What should my next steps be?

Just as the title states, this is my first time owning a pool and I have no idea what I am doing. It looks like it was winterized pretty well and I just took the cover off and I’m now currently filling it. I am not sure how the pumps work or the vacuum or even the chemicals and I will be planning to watch many many YouTube videos in order to help me but if you have two cents, please add them in tell me things I need to know or look out for tell me what I should be doing. Explain to me how the pumps work is my set up look normal.

Edit : is there a video somewhere on YouTube or such to explain how to even hook all this stuff up? Bruh I’m lost here and I’m not really trying to pay $525 in June to have someone come out lol…..but if I need to do that I will.

I'm strongly debating on draining it down to 1/4 and plumbing the legs up and putting pavers down under the feet.

I purchased this 22x52 above ground pool for my teenager and I have no idea what I’m doing! I wanted to just put it up directly over grass but I’m reading online that is a terrible idea. I’m a single mom so getting tons of sand is near impossible. Any other options? Easy affordable options?

Ok so I just placed this pool in my backyard… yes we tried to level as good as possible… any suggestions are appreciated.. will I survive this season or its a no no!! I do nt want to add anymore water 🫠😟