An above ground pool is only as good as the ground it sits on and the crew that builds it. Two installers can put up the exact same pool, and one lasts 20 years while the other leans in three. Before you sign with anyone, ask these 10 questions. The answers will tell you who knows what they’re doing.

Step 1
Before the quote

1. Will you come see my yard before you quote?

A real installer wants to see the slope, the access, trees, ledge and where the filter and electrical will go. A price given over the phone, sight unseen, is a guess, and guesses turn into change orders. See Why a Backyard Consultation Is Paramount.

2. How long have you been installing above ground pools, and how many do you do a year?

You want a crew that installs pools as its main work, not a handyman who does a few each summer. Ask to see photos of recent jobs, and read their Google reviews.

3. Who will actually be in my yard?

Some companies sell the pool and send a subcontractor you’ve never met. Ask whether their own crew does the install, and who your contact is from the first visit to the first swim.

Step 2
The ground and the base

4. How do you level the pool?

This is the most important question on the list. The right answer is that they dig down to virgin soil rather than building up low spots with fill, and check level with a laser or transit, not just a string. A pool built on fill settles, and a settling pool leans. See How to Level an Above Ground Pool and How Out of Level Can My Above Ground Pool Be?

5. What goes under each upright, and what goes under the liner?

Look for solid patio blocks under every upright, and a smooth base of sand or stone dust with a cove where the wall meets the floor. Ask whether they offer a floor pad. See Above Ground Pool Base Materials.

6. What happens to the dirt and sod you dig out?

Excavation makes a pile. Find out whether it stays in your yard, gets spread out, or gets hauled away, and whether that costs extra.

Step 3
The build

7. How do you install the liner?

A liner should be vacuum-seated: a vacuum pulls it tight to the wall and floor before filling, so it goes in smooth with no wrinkles. Ask what thickness and attachment style they recommend for your pool. See 6 Pool Liner Attachments for Above Ground Pools.

8. What’s included, and what isn’t?

Get it in writing. Ask specifically about:

• Excavation and leveling
• Base materials and stone around the pool
• The filter, pump and hookup, with a leak check
• Electrical work, which needs a licensed electrician. See Electric Requirements.
• Water. See Should We Fill Our Pool With a Water Truck?
• Removing an old pool, if you have one. See Pool Replacement.

Step 4
Paperwork and protection

9. Are you insured, and who handles the permit?

Ask for proof of insurance, and any registration or license your state requires for the work. Find out who is responsible for the building permit, and what paperwork the installer will give you for it. See Do You Need a Permit for an Above Ground Pool in Massachusetts?

10. What does the warranty cover, and who do I call if something goes wrong?

The pool and liner come with manufacturer warranties, and many require a proper installation to stay valid. Ask what the installer stands behind themselves, like leveling and leaks, and how quickly they come back if there’s a problem.

Step 5
Red flags

Bought a pool online and need someone to install it? See Above Ground Pool Installers Are Busy: How Do I Get One to Visit?

How we answer these

We’ve installed above ground pools since 1996, and we’re insured and registered. Ask us and we’ll provide what your town needs for the permit. Every job starts with a free site visit, and our own crew digs to virgin soil, laser-levels the track, sets a concrete patio block under every upright, and vacuum-seats the liner. See our installation process, and financing is available.