INSTALLING A POOL AND IMPORTANT LINKS

There are various ways of going about having a pool installed.   We sell do-it-yourself kits and have customers who have taken on the total pool installation themselves with feedback to us saying it was not difficult.   We have had customers who have installed pools for neighbours and friends after doing their own pool.   The main requirement is to be handy.  

To install a pool yourself you should have an experienced backhoe/excavator/Bobcat operator.   They will be able to help you with the layout and assist you with shooting levels during the dig.   It is imperative that you have a good excavation.  

To install a pool yourself you should have knowledge on how to make the panels level and square, not much different than building a fence.

The bottom of the pool needs to be trowelled, in the same way you would trowel a concrete walkway.   This is something that you can do yourself if you have done concrete work or, to get an expert job, you can hire a cement finisher or mason to help you.   To show you what is involved we have a video on the bottom preparation and finishing.   To view a video on bottom preparation go to http://www.northwestwholesale.com/video-bottom-installation.asp 

Liner installation sounds intimidating but is not difficult.   There are steps to be followed and it is not necessary to hire an expert as it is easier than it sounds.   To view a short video on liner installation go to http://www.northwestwholesale.com/video-liner_installation.asp

Installing the plumbing pipe is easy to learn and understand.   You pull water away from the pool – through the filter – then push it back to the pool.   There are a few simple rules, and common sense dictates.   To simplify the plumbing we recommend installing an AquaGenie skimmer system.   It takes the place of a standard skimmer.   With an AquaGenie skimmer system a main drain and inlets are not required and therefore you do not have to run plumbing lines to them.   There is a link to a video of the AquaGenie out of the AquaGenie page.   The link to the AquaGenie is http://www.northwestwholesale.com/aqua-genie.asp

You can find our online installation manual at http://www.northwestwholesale.com/manual.asp   This will give you an idea of how to install a pool and the materials required.

We do not supply any plumbing materials for two reasons.   Each installation is different and the materials required will vary and they can usually be obtained locally at a better price than we can provide. The pool uses standard fittings that can be obtained at any hardware store.

If you do not want to install the kit yourself we have had customers hire a local company to do installation or to help our customers and do part of the pool installation.   Our pools come as kits, with instructions, and are designed for the do-it-yourselfer.   To find out the cost of installation, first get a quote for the total package (including installation) from your local pool contractor.   After you have the quote ask the contractor for the cost of the pool equipment and pool kit only.   You could then deduct that amount from the total and it would give you an idea of the cost to install the pool.    Based on that information you would be able to compare our price and make your decision.

Our pool kits are standard, with 42” walls that bolt together.   We supply aluminum bull nose fiber optic coping as our standard.   The liner is a beaded liner.   Inground pools have been built this way for over thirty years.   

A question we are often asked is the cost of installation.   Prices for installation can vary greatly from one region to another.   Items that affect the costs are labor, access to your yard, removal of fill, what type of plumbing set-up you want for your pool, location of gas lines and other utilities, lines or trees that have to be moved, etc..   An average size pool takes a professional crew 120 person hours to install.  You can use our installation manual to estimate your costs.

We hope that the information and links in this document will give you the information necessary to make an educated decision on whether or not to purchase a do-it-yourself kit from North West Wholesale. 

Link to in-ground pool quote page