The Three Biggest Mistakes Pool Owners Make With an Oval Pool Installation

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Without wasting any time, let’s just get down to business.

Mistake #1: Not Setting the Side Braces Correctly

There are so many different styles of oval pools it is hard to be specific here, but in most cases, following the instructions every step of the way will give good results.

Your most important objectives are to lay out all the braces and square them before you start digging. Dig out what you need to, without a lot of over digging. The less back fill the better.

Your oval pool side braces should be perfectly level, front and back. They should all be square side to side and on one side they should all be touching a string line. Only then should the dirt be packed back in around them.

An oval pool starts to look real funny when the braces on one side are not square with the braces on the opposite side. It starts looking even funnier when one side is not straight, as in resting flush with a string line. That would mean the other side is not straight either. If they go up and down a little, and in and out a little, things start getting really weird looking.

The proper use of a laser level, a string line and a tape measure will take care of this common mistake.

Mistake #2: Not Properly Covering the Pressure Plates and Straps

I’ve been answering pool questions online for many years and it always amazes me how often I get asked about indentations in the liner around the brace assemblies just inside the pool. This can be a major problem, meaning the pool is not safe and needs to be drained so repairs can be made. The liner cannot sit on the bare metal of anything, there must be a cushion.

The problem is usually ground settling around the brace channels or pressure plates. The weight of the water when the pool is full is tremendous, what you put under it needs to be solid. This means not just back filling around the brace assemblies, but packing it solid. If needed, water, wait and pack some more.

The other mistake is not covering the pressure plates with enough sand. Some of these things are big, and all of them have sharp edges. They are very important to the integrity of a pool, and cannot be left out, but they must be well covered. Remember, the weight of the water increases as the pool fills, whatever is over those plates will compress. Not only will sand compress it will also shift into large openings, like those created at the ends of pressure plates.

Be sure your side brace assemblies are well packed and well covered.

Mistake #3: Not Properly Blocking the Side Braces

Have I already mentioned the weight of the water? Yes I have, and it pushes out on the pool walls just like it pushes down on the floor. That’s why using a concrete block under the back of each brace is important. Just as important, these blocks need to be set perfectly level and on firm ground.

I also mentioned the side braces going in and out as you look down the side of the pool. While the braces may look OK before adding water, if the blocks are not solid and level, the braces will push out as the pool fills, and they never push out the same. This leaves the side of your pool going in and out. This is not a good professional look.

If you are attempting an oval above ground pool installation on your own, be sure to spend the time required to properly set the side braces. The posts that line the sides of your pool will make or break the final results.

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Source by Dennis Gourley