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The "Rolled Wall Pool" While there are several different ways to go about building an above ground pool, the most common style of design uses a 1-piece rolled up wall. This wall is rolled out into a pool frame (skeleton) that is designed to support the wall and keep the pool shape when water is added. Round pools with the "rolled wall" style of construction need no extra support. Their round shape pulls it's self into shape and keeps the pool erect. Oval pools, on the other hand, require the addition of outside supports on the straight wall of the pool. These supports are necessary for keeping the weight of the water from pushing the pool over on the sides. In recent years, manufacturers have started developing pools with supports that are buried below ground called "Buttress-Less" pools. Unfortunately we have yet to see how these pools hold up in the long term (10 year +). The following are the basic components needed to keep the structure of the pool in tact and safe for use.
Bottom Wall Track: This track acts as a receiver for the wall by keeping it from moving once set in place; it also connects the bottom plates to one another. Uprights: In addition to keeping the pool from leaning outward, the uprights connect the bottom plate to the top plate. The strength of these supports will determine how much top-loading weight the pool can endure. Top Plate: This joins the upright to the top seat. It also holds the top rail in place. Top Rail: This track acts as a receiver for the wall by keeping it from moving once set in place; it also connects the top plates to one another. Top Seat: Connects the uprights and keeps the pool shape by connecting to the top plates. It also acts as an escutcheon to the pool frame. Top Caps: This is a cover for where the two top seats meet at the upright. It can also act as an additional support for the top seat Liner Track: Depending on the liner style used, a track is installed to hold that liner in place. Pool Liner: Holds the water in the pool area and ads a decorative element to the pool's interior. Pool Wall: The wall of the pool is a corrugated rolled steel wall that is one piece and connects itself in a loop at a set of wall bolts. This wall is usually hot dip galvanized and is sometimes sprayed with a resin coating. Water: While you may not think so, water is an integral part of the pool structure design. Without the water the pool would cave inward. The pool structure described above can be produced in a few different materials. The most common of which are resin and steel. Resin: Resin Pools offer an incredible benefit of being corrosion free. In the world today, more and more industries are moving towards using heavy molded resin to prevent rust and decay of their products. Pools are no different. Our top quality polymer pool frames will not rust or decay over time. This is especially important to those who are considering building a deck now or some time in the future. After the deck is built, if the pool were to rust out you would wind up with a deck that has a circular cut out where the pool used to be. Installing a new pool up to an existing deck is very difficult and usually requires some follow up decking repairs. Using a Corrosion-Free Resin pool frame eliminates this concern. Steel: Steel frame pools are coated in a process called
galvanization. This is where the pool is built and then lowered
into a vat of coating material that protects the pool from rust.
This coating is an effective means of controlling rust, however
there is a risk of the galvanization being scraped off during the
installation process and during the time the pool area is being
landscaped. The area of the pool that is most affected by the galvanization
being scraped off is the bottom plate. This is the plate that holds
the pool frame together and is also the main part of the pool that
sits directly on the ground or block. This plate tends to scrape
along the block during the installation and then rust begins to
corrode the pool from the floor. Aluminum:
The bottom plate of each vertical upright on an above ground pool should be placed on top of a leveled 2" concrete block. This ensures that the pool is built level and that the upright will not shift as a result of changing ground conditions. All of the blocks used should leveled with one another through the use of a transit system. Many pool installers do not use blocks under the bottom plate in order to cut costs and save time. This could be detrimental to the longevity of your pool, especially in the northeast where we experience dramatic climate changes throughout the seasons.
Filtration systems on above ground pools have traditionally always used ribbed bulk hose that is secured to the pool and pump system with metal hose clamps. These hoses have a life expectancy of one pool season. Their narrow interior dimensions cause a great deal of restriction on the flow of water to and from the pool. This will cause unnecessary backpressure on the pump motor and can cause the motor to burn out. In addition, these hoses are constantly under risk of blowing out and thereby draining out the pool water.
The most challenging aspect of this type of liner installation has to do with the seams. A liner is made from 2 pieces of material, the side wall and the bottom. These pieces are seamed together at what should be the bottom corner of the pool. However it is difficult to precisely judge how far over to pull the liner. If two installers are on opposite sides of a 30' pool and are each trying to pull their end of the liner over, it is reasonable to think that there will be a 2" - 5" variation from side to side. This results in the seams not being lined up exactly at the pool's edge, allowing the 100,000 pounds of water pressure to sit on an uneven seam.
Bottom suction systems are standard on all inground and commercial pools. They provide an easier way to maintain a clean pool floor while providing the benefit of giving full water circulation. The term "Main Drain" is misleading because it is not a drain to empty the water from the pool, rather it is a second suction device. Like the automatic skimmer, the main drain pulls water into the pump system and then pushes the water through the filter. Although main drains are not commonly seen in
above ground pools, that does not mean that it is not a superior
design. Most installers choose not to offer a main drain because
of the additional labor and plumbing required. However all inground
pools have main drains as a standard and commercial pools are required
to have them by law. A properly installed main drain can be turned
on or off at the owners discretion.
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Bottom
Plate: This plate acts as a receiver for both the bottom
wall track and the vertical uprights; it also sets a level area
for the pool to sit.
Traditionally
above ground liners would hang over the pool wall and be secured
by a tension clip. It is easy to determine if a pool has this type
of liner by looking at the outside of the pool. If the liner is
hanging down the outer wall of the pool, it is an "over the
wall" liner also known as an "overlap" liner. These
liners tend to be made from cheaper materials and are normally made
from a vinyl / shale composite. In addition they are embossed to
appear thicker then they truly are. 
In
the past few years higher end pool builders have begun using inground
style pool liners in above ground pools. Using a hung, also known
as a beaded liner or a J-bead Liner, makes the seams line up precisely
where they should be. This liner bead "snaps in" at the
top edge of the wall, the liner is made to have the bottom seam
be exactly 50" down giving you a perfect fit all the time.
Hung liners are normally made from pure virgin vinyl giving them
more pliability and making them more last longer. The introduction
of hung liners in above ground pools brought about the benefit of
having more decorative prints and patters. With the old style of
over the wall liners, it was not advisable to use print liners because
of the risk of the liner being pulled farther on one side then the
other and causing the pattern to look askew. However with hung liners,
the top border will be precisely positioned around the top edge
of the pool.
By
having a suction line on the floor of the pool, dirt and debris
get sucked down to the bottom and center of the pool reducing your
vacuuming needs by up to 90%. Additionally, re-circulation of all
the water through the bottom helps to redistribute the chemicals
more evenly throughout the water. It will also balance the water
temperature from top to bottom. Many people have had the experience
of getting into a pool where the top few inches is nice and warm
but the lower you go the colder it gets, that is because of poor
circulation. 
