Gibraltar Genesis 16X24 Install Instructions

I will be picking up a 4 year old Gibraltar Genesis 16X24 pool on Saturday. It is currently set up and I will be taking it down with some friends. The previous owned does not have any instructions.

Does anybody have or know where to find install directions for this pool or a good generic above gournd rectangle pool?

I am hiring an excavator to remove the sod this weekend. my land is almost flat where the pool will be installed. We are planning to remove the first 4 inches of top soil.

Once the soil is removed I am planning on having the excavator put 4 inches of ????. Is it a good idea to put your liner directly on peat moss?

Sorry to be such a noob here. We are really trying to keep the total pool cost down if possible.

Thanks,
-Ron

Hey Ron, You are sure in the right place to get help. If you could get as many photos as possible during the take down it would be a big help to us and to you.

If I saw the pool you were dealing with I could be of a lot of help. I could tell you how to build it or point you to some instructions. The thing about oval pools is the brace systems are all so different generic oval instructions would be of no use to you.

I googled the names you gave with no results, my memory came up blank also. Just need a few photos.

Good luck with the take down and keep in touch, Dennis

[IMG]http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/1...ullview6ok.jpg[/IMG]Please see attached photo.

What type of sand should I put down and how deep should I have the bob cat go level?

Thanks,
-Ron

Hi Ron, These pools were never popular here in Arizona so I have only seen a few. The last one I put a liner in turned out a mess. It seems the walls were much shorter than 48" if I remember correctly. I would take careful measurements before ordering a liner.

I use a sod cutter for all of my sod removal and leveling. It leaves the surface a lot flatter and more workable. A bobcat may seem faster but in the long run I do not believe it is the best method of sod removal or precise leveling.

I would use masons sand for the base. 3-4 tons should do. If fill is needed I would go with what is recommended for your local area.

I would like to make a request to anyone out there with experience working on this type of pool to jump in and help Ron out.

Thanks, Dennis

Great infomation,

Taking down the pool on Saturday.
The mason sand / mottar sand will be dilivered on Saturday.
I have the SOD cutter ordered for Sunday.
My friend is letting me borrow a transit, rake and hand tapper.

Do you know if i should rent a powered tapper machine to pack down the mottar sand once level?

Thanks,
-Ron

Hi Ron, Sounds like you have everything you need. A sod cutter, transit, shovels, rake and tamper. I also use a push broom for my final sand smoothing. Since you will need to be in the pool when installing the liner I would tamp the sand good. The method is what you think is best.

So far so good, Dennis

I think you got a few terms mixed up in one of my last post - It's a "8" hand tamper", I believe it's mortar sand, and power compactor.

Do you think i need to rent the power compactor when I pick up the SOD removing tool?

Thanks,
-Ron

Hi Ron, I knew what you meant, I just did not explain myself correctly. The mortar sand if perfect. You can compact the sand either way, by hand or by power.

I would hold off on renting the power unit as you may not get that far over the weekend. I'm just guessing on that. I would make sure the ground is perfectly level and smooth. You will then need to lay out the pool frame. I am sure there are some connecting straps that need to run across the bottom of the pool. This needs to be done before the sand. When the pool is ready for the wall panels I would bring the sand into the pool and pile in the center. You will spread this out after the entire pool has been built and just before the liner installation.

At this point you could decide how you want to tamp it. Either way is fine.

Later, Dennis

The pool I will be bringing home is currently located 25 minutes from my house. I would really like to bring all the tools and necessary equipment with me to dissemble it correctly.

Please let me know if you would add anything to this list:

Camera
Sharpies
Note Pad and pencil
Tape measure
Bee spray
Tools – socket / wrenches – hammers – hack saw – cutters – pliers – etc…
Cordless drill with bits
Compressor with air tools
Shovel
Rake
Push Broom
Gloves
Yard cart
Razor Blade
3 Moving Blankets
Duct Tape
Rope
Zip lock baggies
Plastic storage containers
Rags
Towels
Snowmobile Trailer
2 Pick-up Trucks

Dennis, your mailbox is full.

I am unable to send you a PM.

-Ron

Hi Ron, best of luck tomorrow. Your list looks great.

P.S. Use the email option to get a hold of me.

Later, Dennis

We broke down the pool today and just getting home. Had to drill out some pop rivets and only snapped one bolt. All the pool wall panels came out just fine. Some of the pool is still at the previous owner's house but I can get the rest tomorrow.

I am renting the SOD cutter tomorrow and will be leveling the land.

The sand arrived today too.

-Ron

The SOD cutter worked great:)

Tonight after work, I finished leveling the top soil. I ended up moving half of soil from on end to the other side of the pool. Boy, I hope this is the hardest part.

Is there a good way to pack the top soil in addition to the hand tamper?

Tomorrow night I will install the center drain. It seems easy to install. When I took it out of the setup pool on Sunday, it was buried about 4" under the soil and 3" under the sand.

I will probably start the frame tomorrow also. Any advice will appreciate.

Hope to get some photos added to the thread soon.

Thanks for everyone’s help with my new / used pool.
-Ron

Hey Ron, I use the Sod Cutter to pack the ground also. That sucker is heavey. If it has been returned use the hand tamper and water.

As for the drain, no, nothing will be easy. 3" below sand grade sounds a bit deep but any depth is ok as long as the slope is gradual. I set mine slightly above ground level so the sand will slope down to it.

Here's my best tip yet. Start posting photos and we can all see what you have going on. It's an above ground pool yes, but it is not in my memory bank. I know I installed a liner in a round version about 6 years ago. I think I may have installed an oval about 20 years ago. Funny because I remember doing the estimate but not the install. I don't know if I did it or not. Yea, old age sucks.

There is no pool I can't build as long as you post visuals. And anyone who has any experience with this pool, please help.:)

The “SOD cutter” is no longer at my house. I had to build up half the pool a total of 6” at the part that was the most uneven. My plan is to rent a “ground packer”, level the ground, add the sand, pack the sand, water, and level again.

I will take your advice and run the drain just below ground level. Good point to taper the drain hose toward the center of the pool too.

Tomorrow I will start posting pictures of my progress.

The center drain is installed.

The pad is level.

Tomorrow I rent the ground packer.

[IMG]http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/5236/poolpad0td.jpg[/IMG]

This 4 year old pool has a frame that goes all around the base and holds up the walls. Tonight I noticed when I laid the frame is not exactly straight. The long pieces have a bow to them. Is this a problem? I understand the water of the pool will flatten them down once but wonder if it will be difficult to add the sand below the liner.

Please view photo above.

Thanks,
-Ron

Wish me luck.

Tomorrow is a big day at our house. I have 3 guys coming over and we are setting up our new/used pool in my yard. Hope the frame works out okay.

I will post pictures of the progress.

Thanks,
-Ron

Good Luck, Ron!

I'm surprised Dennis didn't suggest you ash-can the center drain. Most installers don't like them in A/Gs, and most owners don't have them. You're getting a new liner--why put a hole in the very bottom?

I'd much rather see you put in a low drain in the side wall. That is FAR easier to get to if there's a problem and winterizing is a snap. The performance difference won't be noticeable, but the advantages will be.

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/5...keleton0vj.jpgKarl,
I did not even know this is an options. Let me do some more research and see if the type of walls I have support this type of drain.

Here is what we got done today. The rim of the pool is level all the way around too. :)

Not much to report today due to a neighborhood block pool party.

This morning I was able to get the deck level, watered the sand with a sprinkler and put the filter / pump in place.

Hope to kick some butt on the pool tomorrow and start adding water.

Promise to post pictures no matter what happens.

-Ron

Here is the progress from today.

http://img472.imageshack.us/img472/3...thwalls2lb.jpg

-Ron

Ron, the pool is looking great. Thank you so much for posting the photos. I just love your backyard.

Happy 4th, Dennis

I finished the pool tonight. Tomorrow I will post the pictures. Kind of exhausted.

Thursday I have an electrican coming over to wire up the electrical.

-Ron

Couple of small leaks. Off to the local pool store for some parts.

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/4...thwater3ba.jpg

-Ron

I can honestly say that diging a 25 foot trench 18 inches deep is not fun.

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/5...lectric0ay.jpg

The electrician wired up all the stuff from the tear down. And about $250 of new stuff from Home Depot.

-Ron

Hey Ron, great job, great pool, great yard and great photos.

If there was an award here for great DIY installation and great DIY photos I would have to nominate this thread.

Enjoy the pool, Dennis

Dennis,
thank you for the kind words:)

This is what all the hard work is about:

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/4536/poolfamily9ph.jpg

-Ron