How long does it take to install an above ground pool kit?

[jhinks]

Thinking about ordering a DIY above ground pool kit and trying to get a realistic idea of the time commitment. I’ve seen some people say they knocked it out in a weekend, and others who said it took a week or more. What’s the real story?

If you installed one yourself, how long did it take from unboxing to actually having a filled, swimmable pool? Did anything slow you down, like leveling the ground, liner issues, or weather?

Trying to decide if I can plan this over a long weekend or if I should expect a bigger project. Would love to hear how long it took you, what went smoothly, and what you wish you had known ahead of time.

 

[Liam Brooks]

We actually installed our above ground pool ourselves last summer, so I totally get where you're coming from. I’ll be honest, it took us longer than we expected.

We planned for a weekend, but it ended up taking us about 4 full days. The biggest time-eater by far was leveling the ground. It looked flat, but once we started measuring it properly, we realized it was way off. Getting that part right is super important, I wish we had spent more time prepping before the kit arrived.

Unboxing and assembling the actual pool wasn't too bad once the ground was ready, took maybe a day and a half with two of us working. The liner install was a little stressful because we had to wait for the sun to be out so it would stretch better. Filling it took another full day just because of water pressure, and of course, testing and balancing the chemicals added another chunk of time before it was swimmable.

If I could go back, I’d definitely say: don’t rush the prep. If your ground isn’t dead-level, it’ll cause way more problems down the line. Also, having an extra set of hands makes everything way easier even just for holding walls in place while you bolt them together.

So yeah, long weekend might be doable if everything goes smoothly, but I’d give yourself extra time just in case.

 

[syedsalman]

Thinking about ordering a DIY above ground pool kit and trying to get a realistic idea of the time commitment. I’ve seen some people say they knocked it out in a weekend, and others who said it took a week or more. What’s the real story?

If you installed one yourself, how long did it take from unboxing to actually having a filled, swimmable pool? Did anything slow you down, like leveling the ground, liner issues, or weather?

Trying to decide if I can plan this over a long weekend or if I should expect a bigger project. Would love to hear how long it took you, what went smoothly, and what you wish you had known ahead of time.

We did ours over Memorial Day weekend last year. Thought we’d be swimming by Monday… nope Took us 5 days total. Leveling the ground was the worst part by far way more time-consuming than we expected. The actual pool assembly was maybe a day and a half, but getting that base flat and compacted was a grind. If your yard’s already level, you’ve got a big head start.

 

[Oliver James]

Thinking about ordering a DIY above ground pool kit and trying to get a realistic idea of the time commitment. I’ve seen some people say they knocked it out in a weekend, and others who said it took a week or more. What’s the real story?

If you installed one yourself, how long did it take from unboxing to actually having a filled, swimmable pool? Did anything slow you down, like leveling the ground, liner issues, or weather?

Trying to decide if I can plan this over a long weekend or if I should expect a bigger project. Would love to hear how long it took you, what went smoothly, and what you wish you had known ahead of time.

Ours took about a week, give or take. We weren’t rushing it, though. We hit a delay because it rained halfway through, and the liner install was trickier than expected gotta be super careful with wrinkles. If you’re planning for a long weekend, it’s doable if you prep the site ahead of time and have help. I’d say worst case, give yourself a full week to be safe.

 

[Monica Cardona]

Thinking about ordering a DIY above ground pool kit and trying to get a realistic idea of the time commitment. I’ve seen some people say they knocked it out in a weekend, and others who said it took a week or more. What’s the real story?

If you installed one yourself, how long did it take from unboxing to actually having a filled, swimmable pool? Did anything slow you down, like leveling the ground, liner issues, or weather?

Trying to decide if I can plan this over a long weekend or if I should expect a bigger project. Would love to hear how long it took you, what went smoothly, and what you wish you had known ahead of time.

Installing a DIY above-ground pool usually takes 2-3 days, but if you're doing ground leveling and dealing with any issues, it could stretch into a long weekend or more. Ground prep is often the most time-consuming part, and weather can slow things down. With help, you might get the frame up and the pool filled in a weekend, but plan for 3-4 days to be safe and avoid rushing.

 

[David Wilson]

When we put ours together last year, it took around four full days start to finish. The setup itself wasn’t too hard, but leveling the ground took way longer than expected, that’s the real time sink. Once the base was solid, assembly went pretty smoothly, though we did wait for a sunny day to stretch the liner properly.

Filling and balancing the water added another day. If everything goes right, you could pull it off over a long weekend, but I’d still plan an extra day or two just in case.

 

[Nathan Parker]

We finished ours in about four days too. Leveling the ground took the most time, way more effort than I thought. The actual pool setup went smooth once the base was solid. I used Aquadoc’s clarifier after filling, and it kept the water perfectly clear from day one. If you’ve got help and decent weather, you can probably get it done over a long weekend.