Helllpp Fassssssssttttttt!

[denanbob]

That turned out excellent!
Nice cove - certainly big enough due to the base you're using.
Those wrinkles will be gone, the liner will stretch into place nicely - almost a perfect fit.
Congratulations on a great pool and a job well done.

Thanks so much Matt!! This is so nice to hear. What a journey this has been. LOL! All we have left to do is the electric and the landscaping/deck. I will take a picture of our pool from the other side so you can see our existing deck and the plan to connect them. The one set of railroad ties is dangerously close to the pool though, so we have to come up with something fast to block that. The kids already stand up on the railroad tie and lean against the pool to look in. YIKES. I'm thinking of buying a couple pieces of the pool fence (that hooks on top of the pool) just in that area until our deck is finished. We planned on doing the deck next spring, but we only have a deck ladder and when I went to buy an A-frame ladder, they were $175!!! So we decided to at least do enough of the deck to put the ladder on. It may only be a walkway deck at this point, but we'll finish it next year.

[matt4x4]

__ hrs Digging
__ hrs pool frame construction
__ hrs bottom prep (including __ hrs for custom cove molding)
__ hrs liner preparation
__ hrs filling

I will try to answer these for what it took on my pool (a little larger than above at 30 feet diameter)
First off, I was quoted 2600.00 - 3000.00 to install the pool by several builders, that's what turned me off hiring someone.

Digging - had a neigbour w. front end loader move a large clay pile I had on another part of my property into the spot for the pool since I needed to raise my grade about 1 foot for a future deck to meet up level from where it will start. This was done sept the year prior so it could settle over the winter.
First thing in the spring, I ran the electrical, this was a pretty long job because unfortunately, my electrical panel is at the complete opposite side of my house from the pool, I had to run through 70 feet of the house, 60 through the garage (down 2 walls), and another 100 to get to the pool (yeah, it's just a little removed from the house), from plug one, I ran it another 60 feet to get a second outlet directly opposite. Used a ditching machine for the outdoor runs, worked extremely well.
Another neighbour (bobcat service) levelled the spot and brought in screenings and sand for about $200 at time of build.
Screenings were for walls to sit on and the sand for inside the pool - I had my pool dipped to the middle by 8" deeper.
Leveling took about 2 hours with bobcat, another 3 with a rake and transum getting the screenings level and compacted using a rented gaspowered vibratory compactor.
Wall went up in about 4 hours with frame - 400 lb roll of steel - not easy to move. frame on my pool was super simple, not many screws at all - if it was a different pool, I would guess 3 times that time due to the size.
Leveling sand and building cove from sand was another 4 hours. Raking wasn't the easiest since I tried to keep things relatively uniform.
Liner prep - maybe 2 hours to get it perfect - once again, not too easy because of immense size.
Filling - 6 hours, only because it took 5x4000 gallon trucks, each trip being a one hour return trip.
All other associated work like plumbing/lighting was another half day
So far, worth every cent, we've had it 3 years now, not a problem yet, got some solar panels last year and a custom roller for the solar blanket

[denanbob]

Matt - I'm glad you posted a more positive (and probably more realistic) estimate of what is involved. It just seems like nothing could go right with ours. For example......we started digging down for one of our patio blocks and ran into a HUGE tree root. That was a big project in and of itself just to get that out of there so we could resume setting that block. Just different things like that that always seemed to be popping up. Have we ever seen a picture of your pool? I don't think I have, so if you have one available, I'd love to see it!

[hrsdennis]

Very nice. It turned out great, now it's time to enjoy the fruits of your labor.

I think Matts photos are on this site somewhere. Maybe he could post that link here as this thread seems to be drawing some attention.

I am so happy to see water in the pool. Dennis

[AGP18by33]

Congratulations on your pool success.
We will be installing an 18 X 33 X52" in a few more weekends.

I noticed that you have the same liner as we do and I have been
waiting to see it in an above ground oval pool. It looks great.
I was hoping it would be that dark.

More pics please!

Rhonda