First off, just wanted to say Hello and thanks for all the great info here. I tried adding more than 2 pictures but it doesn't seem to want to let me 
Here's my photo album for the build Pool Project 2018 - Google Photos
Thought I would share my experience installing this pool which was going to be a surprise for my wife on a shoestring budget and with almost no power tools and solo.
I did quite a bit of research here and elsewhere about the Intex and decided it was definitely a good deal. Wife really needs/wants water therapy and I opted for the 16'x32' so she could swim laps.
I was originally going to get it from amazon with the SWG package, but the day she left to visit mom for 2 weeks, amazon decided to jack up the price by over $500. Luckily I found it for under $1100 on ebay.
What a sight to see a 53' tractor trailer backed up to my driveway. After making sure I had everything in the boxes it was time to prep the lawn.
My ground had a slight slope of about 16" in 38'. So I rented a rototiller (delivered) and broke the ground up.
I didn't realize just how tough it was going to be to move a shovel thru all that tilled in grass. I had to rake it out. Which actually made me think how dumb it was to have tilled the low side. Could have really saved myself a lot of time. Oh well
I did this on Sat & Sun here in hot & sticky alabama which made making this happen even more of a motivation. Just kept thinking of jumping in that clear cool water.
I did all of this with just a flat shovel, a walmart wheelbarrow, and lots of elbow grease.
I used a very cheap laser level which I had to wait until late dusk to be able to even see the dot. Then I used strings to give me a rough idea of grading. So all in all, I took about 8" from highside and piled it up on the low. I used riding mower to pack it down.
Monday morning I had 5 yards of mason's sand brought and wouldn't you know it, I didn't cover it and of course it rained cats and dogs.
It then took the rest of the week to get the sand leveled. It rained every day. What a sight! Every shovel full seemed to get heavier and heavier. But this was going to be a present for my wife who was out of town for 2 weeks.
Finally the rain broke and I got off work a bit early friday and was able to finish grading out the sand. I attached 1/4" boards to my shoes with duct tape, raked, shoveled, and finally just dragged a 2"x6"x8' long board attached with rope over and over until it was flat. I was able to layout the tarp and then nervously I unrolled the pool liner. Not an easy feat solo. But luckily (again) it was facing the correct direction.
Saturday I managed to get the poles inserted with the help of windex. Inserted the braces and I then layed out my pavers and then tried to get the whole thing in the upright position. This was the hardest thing for me to do by myself. Was just so heavy. I got clever and tied some rope to the legs and to my car and used that to temporarily keep it upright. Once I had one long side up, I moved to a short side. Then it was almost as hard to get the other long side up. Again, used rope and the fence to keep it up. The last side was a breeze. Once it was upright, I got the bottom straps attached and yanked on everything to get the bottom stretched out as best as possible. Adjusted my pavers so that the braces were more to the front as I had heard they tend to move back when pool is filling.
By noon Saturday I had two hoses filling the pool. After a few inches I got in to try and get the wrinkles out. Gotta say that pool is HUGE from inside and empty.
As the pool started to fill, I adjust the legs by pulling on them. Woke up Sunday pool was about 1/2 full.... by 6pm it was 75% full. I was a little concerned that the long walls were still leaning in so much but the last 3 inches the straightened right out.
So in review, this thing is awesome. Total project cost was under $2000 including the deluxe accessory kit, the skimmer, startup chems. I haven't decided yet to go with the confer ladder or build a deck and get the pool steps. I'll definitely be going SWG but may hold off until next year. Already building the PVC shelf I saw on here. All in all my wife was blown away to come home to this huge thing in her back yard where she can swim anytime she feels like it.
Here's my photo album for the build Pool Project 2018 - Google Photos
Thought I would share my experience installing this pool which was going to be a surprise for my wife on a shoestring budget and with almost no power tools and solo.
I did quite a bit of research here and elsewhere about the Intex and decided it was definitely a good deal. Wife really needs/wants water therapy and I opted for the 16'x32' so she could swim laps.
I was originally going to get it from amazon with the SWG package, but the day she left to visit mom for 2 weeks, amazon decided to jack up the price by over $500. Luckily I found it for under $1100 on ebay.
What a sight to see a 53' tractor trailer backed up to my driveway. After making sure I had everything in the boxes it was time to prep the lawn.
My ground had a slight slope of about 16" in 38'. So I rented a rototiller (delivered) and broke the ground up.
I didn't realize just how tough it was going to be to move a shovel thru all that tilled in grass. I had to rake it out. Which actually made me think how dumb it was to have tilled the low side. Could have really saved myself a lot of time. Oh well
I did this on Sat & Sun here in hot & sticky alabama which made making this happen even more of a motivation. Just kept thinking of jumping in that clear cool water.
I did all of this with just a flat shovel, a walmart wheelbarrow, and lots of elbow grease.
I used a very cheap laser level which I had to wait until late dusk to be able to even see the dot. Then I used strings to give me a rough idea of grading. So all in all, I took about 8" from highside and piled it up on the low. I used riding mower to pack it down.
Monday morning I had 5 yards of mason's sand brought and wouldn't you know it, I didn't cover it and of course it rained cats and dogs.
It then took the rest of the week to get the sand leveled. It rained every day. What a sight! Every shovel full seemed to get heavier and heavier. But this was going to be a present for my wife who was out of town for 2 weeks.
Finally the rain broke and I got off work a bit early friday and was able to finish grading out the sand. I attached 1/4" boards to my shoes with duct tape, raked, shoveled, and finally just dragged a 2"x6"x8' long board attached with rope over and over until it was flat. I was able to layout the tarp and then nervously I unrolled the pool liner. Not an easy feat solo. But luckily (again) it was facing the correct direction.
Saturday I managed to get the poles inserted with the help of windex. Inserted the braces and I then layed out my pavers and then tried to get the whole thing in the upright position. This was the hardest thing for me to do by myself. Was just so heavy. I got clever and tied some rope to the legs and to my car and used that to temporarily keep it upright. Once I had one long side up, I moved to a short side. Then it was almost as hard to get the other long side up. Again, used rope and the fence to keep it up. The last side was a breeze. Once it was upright, I got the bottom straps attached and yanked on everything to get the bottom stretched out as best as possible. Adjusted my pavers so that the braces were more to the front as I had heard they tend to move back when pool is filling.
By noon Saturday I had two hoses filling the pool. After a few inches I got in to try and get the wrinkles out. Gotta say that pool is HUGE from inside and empty.
As the pool started to fill, I adjust the legs by pulling on them. Woke up Sunday pool was about 1/2 full.... by 6pm it was 75% full. I was a little concerned that the long walls were still leaning in so much but the last 3 inches the straightened right out.
So in review, this thing is awesome. Total project cost was under $2000 including the deluxe accessory kit, the skimmer, startup chems. I haven't decided yet to go with the confer ladder or build a deck and get the pool steps. I'll definitely be going SWG but may hold off until next year. Already building the PVC shelf I saw on here. All in all my wife was blown away to come home to this huge thing in her back yard where she can swim anytime she feels like it.
