Should You Add Sand When Installing an Above Ground Pool in Orlando

It’s fairly standard for above-ground pool install manuals to recommend sand for the install. But should you add sand if installing in the Orlando area? And if so, how much?

Although it’s commonly recommended to add sand to the base of an above-ground swimming pool, It’s usually not needed for the Orlando area. This is because Orlando’s earth is already sand-based, so adding sand can make the base too soft for having a smooth pool bottom.

ALL OF CENTRAL FLORIDA IS SAND-BASED

The earth is made up of different things depending on the location. Rocks start to form in the earth around the Gainesville area, which is quite a bit north of Orlando.

This is the very beginning of the stone hills of middle Georgia, so as you move north, there can be more and more rocks (and bigger) naturally forming in the earth.

Fortunately for us in Orlando, we don’t have any of those rocks. Our earth is naturally sand-based, so this is good when moving and leveling the ground for things like above-ground pools.

ADDING YARDS OF SAND TO AN ALREADY SAND-BASED EARTH WILL MAKE THE POOL BOTTOM TOO SOFT

In the now 37 years of me installing pools, I have had my share of arguments with people on whether sand should be added to their pool during installation. Being in my fifties now, I’m happy to say that I will not argue this issue any longer (and haven’t for years).

People generally think that they need sand because the owner’s installation manual tells them they need sand. I get that, but that manual is made for all areas of the country (and the world), not just Central Florida.

This is the equivalent of building a house here in Orlando, but installing expensive floor heating just because some builder material said to do it. Yeah, that would be a complete waste of money here. Get what I’m saying?

SOMETIMES YOU DO NEED TO ADD SAND TO AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL INSTALLATION IN ORLANDO

There are instances where I will absolutely recommend getting sand for an install. As an installer with a machine, I very, very rarely need added sand for an installation, but DIYers need it more often. This is when:

1 Hard earth

Builders and developers will like to raise areas where houses are built to prevent any future flooding issues. This is a good idea when in the sub-tropical region of Orlando. What’s not a good idea is what they will sometimes use as fill.

Hundreds of tons of fill is needed to raise a lot or an entire neighborhood, so it can come from anywhere and not be very good. Some fill has very hard and/or lumpy clay in it (usually from Georgia) which doesn’t smooth out very well.

Other earth used as fill can have harder aggregates that cannot be broken up into small enough pieces which results in a bumpy, uneven surface when trying to level out.

These types of fill will force you to add sand when installing a pool in your yard as you can’t work with it enough to level and smooth it for the pool’s bottom.

Adding a layer of sand here will enable you to level the earth and make it smooth.

2 Excessive roots

Sometimes you don’t have to be near big trees to have a lot of roots in the earth. This, I can’t figure out why. If you have a lot of roots though, it’s best to dig them up and cut them all out before installing the pool.

Again, as an installer with a machine, I use the machine to dig up most of the big roots so I can cut them out. And even with a machine, this can be a big job.

If installing yourself without a machine, digging up and cutting out all of the roots that still may be attached to the root system is difficult, but very necessary.

In most cases, you won’t know that you have an excessive root issue until you remove the sod from the pool site and start leveling out the earth.

Dig out and cut up what you can, but if there are still a lot of roots, then it may be a good idea to leave what is still there and add a thicker layer of clean sand over them. This is not ideal, but sometimes you have no choice.

3 Excessive rocks (Like an old drain field)

In almost every single pool that I’ve ever installed (6k plus), there were at least a couple of rocks. That is just the nature of the ground in Orlando and all of Central Florida.

What I mean here is if you have hundreds or thousands of rocks in the earth.

I will spend an insane amount of time raking and picking out rocks from a pool site before I determine that it’s clear enough for a nice pool bottom. If there are so many that it would take days to pick out, then I am forced to add a layer of sand over them and install the pool.

Usually for me, I can make some magic happen with a few tricks and still get the pool up with a nice bottom with no one ever feeling a rock. If there was an old drain field in the spot where the pool is going though, that is too many rocks even for me.

It’s ok to have some rocks left in the earth when installing the pool, but any situation where you think that swimmers will feel them will require you to add some sand so they won’t feel anything.

4 Construction trash

At some point in the early 1990s, Orange County (along with Seminole, Osceola, and other central Florida counties) started disallowing house builders to just bury their excess construction trash in the yard.

I have run into some buried construction trash in newer homes, but it is rare now. If your home was built a few decades ago or longer, you may run into some nasty things like nails, tile pieces, shingle pieces, metal, etc.

If excessive to the point that you can’t get it all out of the earth, then adding a layer of clean sand over everything is the key to a good pool bottom and installation.

5 Old trash burn site

Here in the South, many used to burn things in the yard instead of putting them out for trash pick-up. As a kid, I remember hanging out around an outside fire pit dug in the ground and my dad drinking beer and burning things.

If you run into an old burn site, you may not want to bother trying to dig out all the broken glass and sharp metal pieces. You may opt to leave that mess right where it is and cover it with some fresh clean sand to install the pool on.

Once again, as an installer with a machine, I can sometimes dig up all of the burned remnants from a time long ago, but sometimes it’s too much and too deep, so I will add sand.

6 Tree stump

Did you have some big trees in the yard and have them cut down some time ago? And did you have the leftover stump ground down below the grass level?

If you (or someone before you) got rid of some trees, then the old stump may be still there, hidden just below the sod, waiting to get in the way of you installing an above-ground pool.

Many people think ground-down tree stumps won’t get in the way of installing an ABOVE ground pool. Sorry to say, “they usually do”.

If there is an old (or new) stump in the way, it may be best to add sand to cover it so you can install the pool.

Having the stump ground further down is an option too, but usually not recommended as the grinder leaves a lot of sawdust, which is not good for making a nice pool bottom.

WHERE TO GET BULK SAND IN ORLANDO

It’s not as easy to get bulk sand as it use to be in Orlando. Most concrete-making plants have closed and the ones that are still here don’t like to sell their sand. At least that’s what it seems like when I try to buy it. Lol

As a do-it-yourselfer though, you can get bulk sand from most Home Depots or Lowes Home Improvements.

Home Depot and Lowes sell 1/3-yard bags of bulk sand. You will need a truck to pick it up though. Each bag weighs about 1000 pounds.

HOW MUCH SAND DO YOU NEED?

Well, this is the question. And it’s a tricky one to answer. It, of course, depends on the size of your pool. But it also depends on how thick of a layer you need. And I cannot tell you that in this article. There are just too many variables.

What I can say is that as a professional installer, I want to use as little as I can so the bottom doesn’t get too soft. If too soft, then the bottom can easily get footprints, which is ok, but not ideal.

A super broad-stroked answer, which is all that I can give you without any info, is between one and three yards of sand.

Keeping in mind that Home Depot only sells 1/3 yard sandbags, if you think you need more than one yard, then see about someone delivering the total amount to your house. They will dump it where they can, which can be a pain, but that’s better than making multiple trips to Lowes.

WHERE TO GET BULK SAND IN ORLANDO FOR AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL INSTALLATION

EVERGLADES EQUIPMENT GROUP
12049 S Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL 32837
407-240-1023

SUNRISE LANDSCAPE SUPPLY
East Orlando Office 6670 E. Colonial Dr., Orlando, FL 32807

ROEDELL’S LANDSCAPING 1707 East Semoran Blvd. Apopka, Fl 32703 (407) 204-1572

Finding an Above Ground Pool Installer in Orlando

It’s not easy to find even one above-ground swimming pool installer in Orlando. Finding two is almost impossible. And during most years, finding a third pool installer has been impossible.

Unless you know of someone from a personal reference, finding an above-ground pool installer in the Orlando area is extremely hard to do. This is mainly because doing a Google search usually only gives results for websites that only claim that they are or can find them, but in reality, cannot.

I HAVE BEEN IN THE POOL BUSINESS BASED OUT OF ORLANDO FOR 37 YEARS

For the past twenty-plus years, there have been only 3-4 pool installers available in Orlando during the summer season. There can be a couple more during the off-season as out-of-town guys are needing work and will travel farther.

There were a few of those years where there were only two installers.

Coming from a guy who knows, don’t let anyone (a pool salesman) tell you there are plenty of installers in Orlando. That is a lie.

MOST POOL INSTALLERS ONLY DO THIS JOB FOR FIVE YEARS OR LESS AND THEN MOVE ON

Installing above-ground pools is a seasonal business. This forces legitimate workers looking for a good career to move on as it’s tough to not have work for half of the year AND the job is a hard one.

In the years that I have installed pools in Orlando, only two beside me did this job for more than twenty years. And they were Kenny(I’m not going to give full names) who did it for 27 years mainly in Lake County and retired about five years ago, and Johnny B who I think is still installing in the Tampa area who started a month after I did in the 1980s.

Everyone else has come and gone. Some have died and two committed suicide.

NEED A SOFT-SIDED (INTEX, COLEMAN, BESTWAY) ABOVE-GROUND POOL INSTALLED IN ORLANDO? YEAH, YOU MOST LIKELY WON’T FIND ANYONE TO DO IT

Soft-sided-type pools are very popular mainly because they are available at Walmart and are not expensive.

They are also very easy to assemble. But installers like me don’t install them. For me, there are two reasons for this. One is that I have to charge usually more than what the pool cost to buy for the installation.

The other is that you can’t get soft-sided pools perfectly level. I mean you can, but it will take either luck or extra time.

I have installed a few of these pools over the years, but it’s always been during the off-season when I needed the work.

I will do ground prep only for soft-sided pools in Orlando though.

DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH FOR “ABOVE GROUND POOL INSTALLERS IN ORLANDO” IS NOT VERY FRUITFUL

This is nothing against Google. They do the best they can with what they have. In truth, there aren’t many pool installers to begin with, and some of those don’t have websites, so that leaves the Google search filled with non-pool installer sites.

While just doing a search for “above-ground pool installers in Orlando”, only one real opportunity to find a real installer came up.

NOTE: As of right now (September 2022), my install site comes up on the second page of this search. But not for long though.

WEBSITES THAT WILL NOT HELP YOU FIND AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL INSTALLER

Any website that claims they have a list of above-ground pool installers will not. This is a deception or a lie. Just sayin’. Here are a few examples:

1 Angie’s List (Nope)

Being a contractor, I’m not a fan of Angie’s List to begin with as people can leave negative comments and the worker cannot rebut them.

Regardless, Angie’s list claims they have some above-ground pool installers in Orlando, but they don’t. Clicking on this site will only give you testimonials of work done for inground pools.

And since inground pool companies don’t work on above grounds in any way, you might as well be looking at testimonials of ice cream shops. FAIL.

2 HomeAdvisor (Another total waste of time)

In the ten-plus years that I have looked, the HomeAdvisor website has NEVER had even one above-ground pool installer to reference in Orlando.

They will have you fill out a form, give all of your information including your email, then they will have nothing for you. SHAME.

3 Porch.com

Although not as bad as the above two, websites like Porch try to get you someone for the work you are asking for. The problem is that they don’t have anyone. So why do they pay to be on this search for “above-ground pool installers”? This is a waste of everyone’s time.

The top three websites for “above-ground pool installation services” on Porch right now are a gas company, a construction group, and a leak detection company. Fail, Fail, FAIL!

4 Above ground pool Retail websites

When Google can’t find good enough websites for pool “installers”, then it positions sites that SELL them instead.

This offers an opportunity for pool sellers to rank high on this important search even though they don’t have anyone to install your pool. They do have a pool to sell you though and maybe even an installer (if you buy their pool).

This is a deceptive practice from pool retail sites. The bottom line here for you is that you’ll be clicking onto sites that say “above-ground pool installer/installation” and there will only be pools to buy instead. Not cool, bro.

In the Orlando search area, there are two retailers that do this. I’m not going to mention any names here, but if you click on a site that says “above ground pool INSTALLATION” and it sends you to a retail pool buying site, then you’ve been duped and there won’t be an installer available for you.

There is also a retailer that has made a couple of websites that look like installation-only sites. One even has a guy’s name as an installer that doesn’t even exist and an installation price sheet even though no one from that site does installs.

About two clicks into these “installation sites” will bring you to the real reason they exist – a page that sells pools and liners.

5 Facebook installers page for Central Florida

Sometimes, Google will place the Central Florida Installers FB page on its first page of searches. This is my FB page, but Facebook is very glitchy and I usually cannot communicate with anyone who tries to contact me that way.

This is a shame as that would be a good resource for those looking for install-info in Orlando. I have tried to get FB to fix these issues, but they are huge and have never gotten back to me.

OTHER WAYS TO FIND AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL INSTALLER IN ORLANDO

After fruitless efforts to find an installer by way of Google, many will call and talk to pool stores. Most pool stores won’t have any names to give out, but a few will.

Pinch A Penny Pool Stores

There are a lot of Pinch-A-Penny stores in Orlando and Central Florida. Most of them won’t deal much with above-ground pools, but a couple will.

The ones that I know of that at least used to deal some with above-ground pools are the Pinch A Penny in west Orlando near Ocoee, a great one in St Cloud, one in Mt Dora, one in Merritt Island, and one in Deland.

I know most of these are out of town, but that’s all I’ve got.

Leslie’s Pool Supply

Unlike PAP above, Leslie’s is all corporate-owned out of the west (California I think). This means that they have corporate policies that prevent employees from giving out the names of installers.

I have had my name given out a few times by Leslie’s over the years, but it’s very rare. You can try a few, but good luck.

Independent pool stores

Orlando has just a couple of independent pool supply stores. If you have one close to you, you may want to ask them. They would be happy to help you especially since you may start going to them for chemicals.

Online classifieds and Craigslist

Craigslist isn’t at all what it used to be, but you may find an installer there. I have occasionally put ads on Craigslist Orlando during the off-season, so it is possible to get a real installer there.

Other smaller online classifieds that are super local to areas of Orlando like Altamonte Springs, Winter Park, Longwood, Kissimmee, etc. are harder bets, but you never know and it’s worth a look.

Above-ground pool retail stores

At of the time I am writing this, I know of only one above-ground pool retailer in Orlando. I used to install for them independently, but they now have an in-house installer and occasionally contact me when they get backed up.

Occasionally, they will give my number out for some used pool repair or a liner replacement, but they won’t give out the number of any installers. This is because they want you to buy their pool instead. I don’t blame them. It’s good business, I guess. (Notice that I didn’t give their name).

Facebook Marketplace

FB marketplace has replaced Craigslist as the free place to find tradesmen and things for sale. In the past couple of years, I’ve looked on FB marketplace for pool installers and didn’t find any for the Orlando area.

This is not to say that there will never be. I tried to advertise on there for my services and didn’t like the process. This could be why no one else who installs pools is on there.

As far as I know, I am the only above-ground pool installer based out of Orlando. What I can tell you is there are a couple of installers in the Tampa area, maybe two in Ocala, one or two in Daytona, one in Wildwood, and one in Palatka. This is it.

At least a couple of these guys have been around for a while, but keep in mind that during the busy season, they most likely won’t come to Orlando. That just leaves me. Here is my price sheet. Contact me with any questions.

By the way, I only install bigger oval-shaped pools during the off-season.

Above Ground Pool Installation Titusville

There are more than a few above-ground pools in Titusville. As a much less expensive alternative to an inground pool, above grounds become more popular as you get closer to the coast.

Installing an above-ground pool in Titusville is usually a trouble-free job. The earth is fairly flat, the grass is often thinner Bahia-type, and yards are usually big enough to put a bigger pool in it. What the ground is made of can vary in Titusville, but it’s mostly sand-based.

8 THINGS TO KNOW WHEN INSTALLING AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL IN TITUSVILLE

1 Yards are usually big enough

Although Titusville is currently experiencing a growth spurt, most of Titusville is established. This means that most yards are bigger.

This is a good thing for those wanting a bigger pool.

2 Titusville has some overhead power lines

Most don’t get a permit for an above-ground pool. But even if you don’t, you want your pool to stay away from any overhead lines if you can avoid them.

Older areas will have overhead power and this can be an issue if they are running through the middle of the yard.

By code, your pool should be at least 10 feet away from any overhead line. Sometimes this isn’t possible though and people install the pool anyway with no issues.

3 There is some nutgrass in Titusville

Usually, it’s almost impossible to tell if your yard has nutgrass since it blends in with other grass types very well.

Not all yards in Titusville will have it. It doesn’t like to grow in coquina (crushed shells) but still can.

Make sure to use a granular nutgrass killer and ground pad when installing a pool.

4 There are different kinds of fencing

If you are using an installer with a machine (like me) or are renting a machine for a DIY install, you may need wider access than what your gate is.

Titusville has a variety of fence types. Older homes can have chain-link type, which is great and lasts forever, but may have too small of a gate to get a machine in.

With chain-link, you have to take it apart and get the top pole off in order to make a bigger space to get through. This is sometimes easy and sometimes hard to do.

Wood-type fencing is easiest as you just have to take down a section (as long as there is enough room.

Vinyl fencing has become more popular with newer homes. Taking a vinyl fence apart is problematic, so if your gate isn’t wide enough, then you may have to get a fence guy to temporarily take it apart.

To give you an example, my skid/steer machine is 48” (four feet) wide, so I need at least 4.5 ft wide access to the yard.

5 The earth type varies near the coast

In areas like Cocoa, Merritt Island, NSB, Cocoa beach, PSJ, and Titusville, the earth can be made up of three things.

Most areas will be mostly sand-based, which is best for installing a pool, but some will have soil mixed with clay, and some will have coquina (crushed shell).

If your yard has too much coquina in the earth, you may have to add a layer of sand to make the bottom nice and smooth.

I use a machine to install pools, so in most cases, I can dig down and find good clean earth to use, but not always.

6 Titusville is usually high and dry

Some areas between the east coast the Orlando are very wet. Fortunately for Titusville, the ground stays dry in most areas.

An above-ground pool needs dry earth for making a proper and flat pool bottom.

7 This area is mostly flat

Swimming pools have to be installed very level. And since it fills with water, you will be able to tell how level it is by the waterline.

Yards with slopes will need a lot of grading to make the pool site perfectly level. This can cost more to you if having it installed OR can be much more work for you, the DIYer.

Titusville is mostly flat, so chances are your installation won’t be as hard.

8 There aren’t many above-ground pool installers available

On the east coast of Central Florida, there aren’t many AG pool installers. I base out of Orlando and do go to Titusville, but a few of the other installers will not (at least during the busy summer season).

If looking for an installer, you’ll have to see if there is someone from Orlando (like me), the Daytona area, or Melbourne.

My Installation Price Sheet

POOL STORES IN TITUSVILLE

Pinch A Penny Pool Store

2505 Garden St
Titusville, FL 32796

Conrad’s pool supply

4261 S. Hopkins Avenue
Titusville, FL 32780

Site-Prep Only for an Intex/Coleman type Pool in Orlando

Soft-sided above-ground pools made by Intex, Coleman, Bestway, etc. are very popular in the Orlando area.

This type of above-ground is usually easy to buy (from Walmart), in stock, very economical, and easy to install. Finding someone to install it is not easy though.

IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND SOMEONE TO INSTALL A SOFT-SIDED (INTEX-TYPE) POOL IN ORLANDO

Most above-ground pool installers won’t install a soft-sided type pool. This is because they are hard to install perfectly level, and the cost for installation is often more than what the pool owner paid for the pool.

In my now 36 years of installing pools in Orlando, I have only installed a handful of Intex (soft-sided) pools. Even though they are extremely easy to assemble, they are time-consuming to get perfectly level, so most won’t want to pay more for the installation than what the pool cost.

Occasionally, I will hear about a handyman taking on the job, but they quickly either only install one and never again, or they don’t even finish the one they started. This is usually because of the job of leveling the earth

BY FAR, THE HARDEST PART OF INSTALLING A SOFT-SIDED (INTEX, COLEMAN, BESTWAY) POOL IS PREPARING AND LEVELING THE GROUND

As stated earlier, assembling a soft-sided above-ground pool is easy. Most people can handle this even if they are not DIY types. Getting the ground level though is another story.

“To properly install an above-ground pool, all of the grass and its root base(sod) MUST be removed first”

People will want a swimming pool, buy one that is cheap, comes in one box, and is easy to install. Then they will want to be able to install it in their yard as easily and cheaply as they bought the pool.

This often has people trying to install their soft-sided pool just on top of the grass in what appears to be a level area of the yard. After filling the pool with water, they realize that the pool is way too “off-level”, so they wind up having to drain the pool and take it back down.

The next most common “shortcut” people make when installing a soft-sided pool is they have a couple of yards of sand delivered. They then spread the sand out at the pool site and OVER THE GRASS and try to make it level.

With this technique, the pool will stay up and full of water a little longer before it starts to tilt and needs to be taken back down.

The best-case scenario here is that the pool stays level, but after a few months, the grass underneath dies and decomposes which causes the pool’s bottom to be unbearably bumpy.

WHEN NOT BUSY, I WILL OFFER TO PREPARE THE SITE FOR YOUR SOFT-SIDED POOL IN THE GREATER ORLANDO AREA

Graded yard for installing a 16x32 Intex above ground pool in Orlando

Assembling and installing a soft-sided pool is fairly easy and most can do this, but preparing the ground can be a very hard job.

THE PROCESS AND WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH A GROUND PREPARATION-ONLY SERVICE FOR AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL

I offer to do ground prep only for this type of pool. The average prep job takes me about 3-4 hours. This is what I will do:

1 Get to your home on time

2 Help you decide where you want the pool (if needed) and mark out exactly where you want it to go with spray paint.

NOTE: I will mark out a one-foot bigger area than the pool size all the way around it.

3 Bring in my skid/steer machine and remove all of the grass/sod from the marked-out pool site. I will place the removed grass anywhere in the yard that you want.

NOTE: My machine is 48” wide, so I would need at least 4.5ft wide access to your yard.

4 Using the machine, I churn up the earth at the pool site to soften it, pull out any big roots still attached to the ground, and make sure there is nothing underneath that may affect the pool bottom later.

5 Then I redistribute the earth to get the ground somewhat level again still using the machine.

6 Once fairly level, I set up a laser builder’s level and start to hand rake out the area removing larger debris.

7 Using the laser level, I will continue to check the areas of the pool site. I shave down the high areas of earth and add to the low areas until the entire site is within 1/2 inch level or better.

8 During this time-consuming leveling process, I continue to remove any debris (rocks, sticks, trash, roots, etc.) from the site. I also spray down the area with the water hose at least three times to help level the area. This will remove some air in the earth and help pack it down.

9 When finished, a grass-free site one foot bigger than the size of the pool is free of most of the small debris and level to within one-half inch or less.

The pool can now be installed on the site. It is install ready.

COST TO DO A SITE PREP ONLY FOR AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL IN ORLANDO

POOL SIZE	COST FOR SITE PREP ONLY
15'/16' Round	$350.00
18' Round	$400.00
20'/21' Round	$450.00
24' Round	$500.00
27' Round	$550.00
30' Round	$600.00
33' Round	$700.00
8'x16' Rectangle	$350.00
9'x18' Rectangle	$400.00
12'x24' Oval or Rectangle	$450.00
15'x30' Oval or Rectangle	$500.00
16'x32' Oval or Rectangle	$550.00
18'x33' Oval	$600.00
21'x43' Oval or Rectangle	$700.00

Price good for up to 12 inches of off-grade leveling
Travel charge for areas outside of greater Orlando
Does not include nutgrass killer
Does not include hauling away the grass/sod. I will place it anywhere you want in the yard though
SITE PREP ALSO AVAILABLE FOR METAL-WALLED AND ALL OTHER TYPE ABOVE GROUND POOLS

WHAT IS NEEDED FROM YOU TO HAVE ME DO A SITE PREP FOR AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL

A 4.5ft wide access to the site for my machine

B Telling me exactly where you want the pool to go

C Telling me where in the yard you want the sod/grass that I remove from the site

D A water hose long enough to reach the pool site (so I can spray down the area during the leveling process)

E Payment at the end of the job ( I accept only cash or local check)

A COUPLE OF SIDE NOTES

I am not responsible for anything I hit in the ground like electrical or water lines. If I run into irrigation lines, I will cut them back away from the pool site and mark them so you know where they are for re-routing at a later date.

If I run into ground that is too wet or something that prevents the job from completing (like a septic drain field for example) then I expect you to pay me for my time spent. IF THIS IS AN ISSUE FOR YOU, THEN PLEASE LOCATE ANYTHING IN YOUR YARD PRIOR TO ME GETTING THERE.

Best if you install the pool within a day or two of my ground prep. Every time it rains, the site could be negatively affected.

I will get the ground as prepared and level as possible using the best tools available and 36 years of leveling knowledge, but it won’t be perfectly level. That is not possible unless you use something that hardens (like concrete)

After you have assembled the pool, I recommend filling it with about one foot of water, resetting the upright supports to straight, then placing a smaller patio stone under each support. You will have to dig them into the ground some to make them flush with the level site.

Please contact me by text if possible. I don’t check my voicemail or emails as often during the busy season.

What is needed to install an Above Ground Pool in Orlando

So you live in the Orlando area, have bought an above-ground swimming pool, and need it installed. What else do you need?

When you buy an above-ground pool, it has to be assembled and installed usually outside on the ground. This is not like buying a car or a watch. You’ll need a couple of things to go with it.

To install an above-ground pool in Orlando, you will minimally need yard room, an idea of where you want to put it, someone to install it, a water hose long enough to reach the pool site, and an idea of how you will be getting electricity to the pool’s pump.

LIST OF THINGS NEEDED IF HAVING A POOL INSTALLED IN ORLANDO BY A PROFESSIONAL

1 The pool package

For some, just having the pool won’t be easy as there are different types of pools, sizes, and two shapes to choose from.

Regardless of what you choose, you will need to have the pool already in your possession before the installer comes to your house.

During the busy summer season, installers try to schedule as many installs as they can. One of the things that I learned in 36 years of installing is that you don’t schedule a date until you know for a fact that the pool will be there at least one day beforehand.

Post-2020, I try to make sure the pool will be in the homeowner’s possession days before the scheduled installation date. Things don’t come as well as they used to.

2 An idea of where you want the pool

An experienced installer can help you decide where in the yard to put your new pool, but you should at least have an idea or two of where you want it beforehand.

You also want to make sure that the size pool you bought will fit in your yard too. I know this sounds obvious, but I’ve had on more than a few occasions come out to install a pool and the yard wasn’t big enough. That’s a major pain for everyone involved.

NOTE: Oval-type above ground pools need extra space on the long/straight sides due to them having buttresses

3 Access for install equipment

Skid/steer machine going through a vinyl gate opening in Orlando to excavate for an above ground pool

Some installers will only have a sod cutter to help them with removing the grass and leveling the site. If that’s the case, you will only need a standard gate as access for the installer.

I use a skid/steer machine to do the sod removal, earth leveling, and ground prep. My machine is only 48” wide, so in my case, I need access (a gate) to be at least 4.5ft wide to get my machine in.

If your fenced-in yard doesn’t have a wide enough gate, then a fence section may have to be temporarily taken down.

4 To be aware that you will have excess grass/sod, and where you will want it

removed grass from an above ground pool in the Conway area of Orlando

An unfortunate byproduct of installing an above-ground pool in Orlando is that if you have good-quality grass, then there will be a pile of it to deal with.

The grass at the new pool site MUST be removed for a proper installation. Period. This can leave you with some grass to deal with and installers will not haul it away.

Installers with only a sod cutter will just get the grass out of their way by placing it next to the cleared area.

I have a machine to remove the sod, so I can offer to put it anywhere in the yard that the homeowner wants it. Knowing where you want me to put it beforehand is helpful to you and me.

5 If your pool came with a sand-type filter, then you will need to get filter sand for it.

Pool packages don’t ship with filter sand as it’s too heavy and costs too much to ship. Cartridge-type filters don’t need sand, so this is only for sand-type filters.

If you have a sand-type filter, then you’ll have to figure out how much sand you will need, have it purchased, and be at the home before the end of the job so the installer can assemble the filter.

6 Patio stones for the pump/filter (Optional)

Most above-ground pool equipment (pump/filter pack) can sit on level ground with no issues. It’s nice though for the pool equipment to sit on something instead of just the ground.

I hard pipe the pump and filter with every installation, so it’s a good idea to have patio stones for me to put down beforehand as it would be harder to put them under the pump and filter pack afterward.

Usually, having enough patio stones to cover a 2ftx3ft area is enough.

7 A water hose long enough to reach where the new pool is going

Most everyone in Orlando will fill their new pool up with their own water source. For this, make sure that the water hose you have will reach where the pool is going.

It’s not uncommon for people to have to go buy a new hose, so don’t just assume that your existing hose will reach your new pool location.

8 An idea of where your electrical source will come from

After the pool is assembled and filled (which usually takes about 24 hours), you will need to plug in and turn on your pool’s pump.

There are many ways to run electrical to your pool’s pump. Some have an electrician bury a line to the pump and some just use an extension cord. Most do something in between.

The pump will sit next to the pool somewhere, so plan out where you will be getting your power for that.

The installer won’t need you to have your electric source figured out while he is there, but 24 hours later, you will though.

9 Payment

When the job is done, the pool will be assembled with the pump/filter hooked up and there will be a few inches of water in the pool and filling with your hose.

It will be time to pay the installer. Most installers want cash. I accept only cash or a local check.

LIST OF THINGS NEEDED WHEN INSTALLING AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL IN ORLANDO YOURSELF

A The pool package

Go through your pool boxes and make sure you have everything before starting. It sucks to be in the job and realize the liner or skimmer is missing.

B Good help

This is not an easy DIY project, so set your expectations properly.

You will want a bunch of people helping you with this, but will absolutely need at least two people to roll out the wall of the pool.

3 Leveling blocks

Please do yourself a favor and get some patio stones so you can set them level under the bottom track of the pool. This will give you a fighting chance of the pool coming out level.

You will need a patio stone for every upright that the pool has.

4 Tools

Shovels and rakes are good for working the earth. Standard things like a cordless drill and measuring tape are needed for this job.

You will also need a level of some kind. Don’t think you can just “eyeball” level a swimming pool installation. Water doesn’t lie and you’ll know exactly how off the pool is when it fills with water.

I recommend renting a laser level.

5 Rent a sod cutter or skid/steer machine

Most won’t need a skid/steer (bobcat) machine, but almost everyone should rent a sod cutter.

If you think you don’t need one, that’s cool. Get started cutting out your grass with only your shovel.

In twenty minutes or so when you’ve cut out a couple of square feet of grass and are exhausted, you can revisit whether or not spending a hundred bucks for a machine to do this is worth it. Lol

6 Nutgrass killer

Nutgrass can be an issue in Orlando and surrounding areas. Getting good granular nutgrass killer and putting it down right before the liner guard/and or liner may prevent you from getting grass growing in your pool.

7 A water hose to reach the pool

You will need to fill the pool up when you’re done, but you’ll also need to wet the site down a couple of times to help level and pack it.

8 Bulk sand

Orlando and surrounding areas are mostly sand based, so usually added sand isn’t recommended or necessary.

If your earth is hard to work with or has a lot of debris, you may want to just put down a layer of clean sand to make the job easier.

As a professional installer with a machine, I very rarely use sand. DIYers may want to though.

NOTE: Bulk sand is harder to find in the Orlando area now. You can find it though at some Home Depot and Lowes though. You will need a truck to transport it and a wheel barrow to get it to the install site.

9 Patience

Above-ground pools aren’t Swiss watches. There is nothing precision about them, so don’t expect things to go together well or predictably.

Be patient. Keep in mind that working in the heat takes away your ability to think well. Take breaks and work in the cooler hours of the day.

And roll out the wall in the morning. You don’t want to worry about Orlando afternoon storms when dealing with the pool wall.

Orlando Above Ground Pool Installations Near Me

In the fifty-plus years that I have lived in Orlando, there has always been a boom in population. This has always resulted in more and more above-ground swimming pools being installed here.

As the number one tourist destination in all of the world and with a beautiful (but hot summer) climate, swimming pools in Orlando are quite plentiful. And although above-ground-type pools are more common in the North, there are tens of thousands of them in Central Florida.

Installing an above-ground pool in the greater Orlando area is usually a straightforward process. The ground here is mostly sand-based, most of the area is high and dry, and most yards are big enough to hold whatever size pool the homeowner wants.

ABOVE-GROUND POOL INSTALLERS IN ORLANDO

It’s hard to believe that there have never been a lot of above-ground installers based out of Orlando. With this being the biggest city in Central Florida, you would think there would be at least a few installers living here. There aren’t.

As far as I know, writing this ( October 2022), I am the only above-ground installer based out of Orlando.

In this business, installers come and go quickly. This is because it’s a seasonal business, hard work in very hot sun, and takes more than a few years to truly learn enough to not be making pricey mistakes.

There are always a couple of installers available that live somewhere outside of Orlando, but always only two or three.

Many living in Orlando or near it will think it will be easy to find a pool installer. Some will find one person easily, but when they look for even one other person who does it full-time (not a handyman), they cannot.

This is why people living in Orlando doing a Google search for pool installers “near me” won’t find much of anyone real.

WANT YOUR ABOVE-GROUND POOL INSTALLED DURING THE SUMMER? YEAH, YOU MAY HAVE TO WAIT

The Orlando area stretches west from Clermont, east to Oviedo, south to Kissimmee, and north to Sanford. So, this is a big area with a lot of residents.

You can do the math yourself that with only two or three above-ground pool installers servicing this area during the summer, they can get backed up.

There have been some summers when I have been booked six weeks out.

As an experienced pool installer in Florida, I will only install one above-ground pool per day. I have attempted to install more than one, but that was a couple of decades ago when I was younger and dumber.

Summer weather in Orlando leaves you with a daily threat of an afternoon thunderstorm. If the pool isn’t 90 percent done before one of those storms comes, then there can be big trouble.

So, on a good summer week, I will install six or seven pools maximum. This doesn’t get many done when hundreds are contacting me for an installation.

WANT A FAST AND BETTER POOL INSTALLATION IN ORLANDO? HAVE IT DONE DURING THE OFF-SEASON

Most people don’t act on getting a pool until it gets hot outside. If that is you, then know that you are acting like most others and it might take a while to get this thing you bought that only takes one day to install.

If you can somehow get your pool installed between October and February, then the install can get scheduled quickly and the pool can be installed in nice weather instead of during brutal levels of heat and humidity.

Installing an above-ground pool is a tough job (to do correctly), but when it’s pleasant out, the job gets easier. This usually equates to getting a better install.

SIX THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT INSTALLING AN ABOVE-GROUND POOL IN ORLANDO

1 There is an average occurrence of nutgrass

If you’ve never heard of nutgrass, that’s ok. Most haven’t.
Nutgrass is a type of grass that can grow through just about anything not solid. It can grow through liner pads, Visqueen, weed block, and even black asphalt. And yes, it will grow through a pool’s liner like it’s not even there.

In Orlando and surrounding towns, nutgrass can be in any yard. I put down a quality GRANULAR nutgrass killer with every installation and you should apply it to your pool’s bottom too.

NOTE: There is no guarantee that a chemical or pad material will stop nutgrass 100% of the time.

2 Yard sizes in Orlando vary

Most yards in Orlando are big enough to accommodate a bigger sized above ground pool, but not all

The newer neighborhoods can have smaller lots which will limit the size pool that you can get.

3 The ground is mostly sand-based

Some think you have to have a hard base for an above-ground swimming pool. You do not.

Having sand-based earth is usually a good thing as it’s easy to dig and level. Most of the yards in Orlando will be mainly sand-based. Some are not though if the lot was built-up higher and clay or soil was used.

4 The ground is usually high and dry.

Orlando areas have nice and dry earth for installing an above-ground pool. This is good because the ground has to be dry in order to make a nice flat pool bottom.

As you travel east of Orlando though, the ground can get and stay wet. Areas east of Conway, Azalea Park, and Goldenrod can have some groundwater issues.

If you have water standing in the yard for a day or two after a hard rain, then your yard may be too wet to install a pool on. Even if you don’t see any water but make a “squishy” sound when you walk in the yard, it’s most likely too wet and you’ll have to wait for it to dry up.

So, if you are in areas East of Orlando like Oviedo, Geneva, Chuluota, and Bithlo, you may want to check the wetness conditions of your yard.

5 There are some overhead power lines, but fewer since the hurricanes of 2004

Most people don’t get permits, but even if you don’t, consider if you have any overhead power lines running near where you want a pool.

Code wants your pool to be at least 10 feet back from any overhead power line.

Orlando had a lot more overhead power, but since 2004 when we got four hurricanes (including Charlie), the power companies have been replacing them with buried electrical lines.

6 Orlando has different types of fencing

If you are having your above-ground pool professionally installed by someone with a machine (like me), then that machine will need access to the yard. Check your gate to measure its width. Some equipment will need a double gate.

My machine is 48″ wide, so to give you an example, I would need a width of 4.5ft of access. Most walk-through-only gates are 36″.

If wider access is needed, then a portion of your fence will have to temporarily come off. With a wood-type fence, this is often an easy thing to do. Vinyl fences don’t come apart easily, so if you have vinyl, then this can be an issue.

Orlando homes have a mix of mostly wood fencing, vinyl, and some chain link fencing. Usually, an installer can gain access to your yard fairly easily with wood-type.

If you have vinyl though and need wider access, then you may have to hire a fence guy to do the temporary removal.

Orlando Above Ground Pool Installations

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