Permits and Preparation

• Apply for any building permits required by your municipality. Also contact your local utilities to find where buried phone, water and sewer lines are on your property before you dig. Have all permits in hand before you begin to install a swimming pool.
  
  Clear the ground of any rocks, debris and plants. This is necessary to give the swimming pool a level surface. A rented skid steer tractor with a loader attachment is a good tool to use for this part of the project; however, you can clear the ground by hand if there's not a lot of dirt work to do.
  
  

Pool Setup

• Determine where you need to set the foundation blocks. Most pools use cement slabs or poured concrete posts as foundation materials. Regardless of the type of swimming pool you have, these blocks must be level for the swimming pool installation to proceed properly.
  
  Connect the pieces of the swimming pool frame. Some swimming pools have a frame that snaps together, while others assemble with bolts. The frame consists of a series of upright posts that sit on the foundation blocks. The uprights have a top bar that contains the liner connectors as well as the channel that holds the sides in place. Most pools also have braces that you attach to the outside of the pool to support the weight of the water when the swimming pool is full. The frame should be level once it is complete.
  
  Fill the center of the pool frame with a sandy base. This protects the pool liner and provides a cushion for your feet beneath the liner.
  
  Erect the walls. Some pools have flimsy sides that you must fit into a channel. Others have sides with solid pieces that bolt together. It helps if you have several people help you with this phase of the project. Once the pool walls are in place, you should check again to make sure everything is level.
  
  

Lining and Finishing the Swimming Pool

• Do the rough work on the pool's plumbing and electrical components now and finish it later. It's easier to do it now while you still have easy access to the bottom of the pool.
  
  Slide the pool liner into place without disturbing the sand layer. This is another part of the installation process where you can use some helpful friends. Attach the liner to its connectors. As you fill the pool with water, work out any wrinkles. You may want to hire a professional to help you cut in drain holes and intake vents as well as to help you set the steps in place. Complete the electrical connections as well as the drainage system for your pool.
  
  Use the skid steer tractor to backfill dirt as needed around your pool. Because the dirt may take a while to settle, you may want to wait a couple weeks before you complete your deck. Erect a safety fence around the swimming pool to complete the project.