Here is the easiest way to set up a soft sided above ground pool with an inflatable ring on top. The brand of pool I have is an Intex Easy Set above ground pool but there are others very similar.

Be sure and take careful thought when deciding where to place your pool. Do you want full sun or a little shade? If it is under a tree you will have leaves and twigs falling in it, and if you have underground sprinklers don't forget to take those into account.

Don't forget the filter will have to be plugged in somewhere. And I figure the splash zone is at least 6 feet from our pool, so if you don't want to get wet while supervising you will want the viewing area at least that far away.

First off if your pool is 14 foot in diameter then clear and level a 16 square foot area in your yard where you want your pool.

Then to help ensure your pool area is level, to lessen the risk of leaks and tears, and to make mowing easier place down a 16 foot square tarp (you want a tarp that is at least 2 square feet larger than the diameter of your pool).

After you get your tarp laid down then it is time to bring in the sand. Place at least a 2 - 3 inch layer of sand down and make sure you get it totally level.

By taking the time to get it level it will make the pool more stable, and allow you to fill it to the maximum depth all around.

How I leveled my pool was with 2 x 4's. I put them together all around where I wanted the pool and made sure they were completely level. Then I took another long board with a level edge and drug it across so I had sand a depth of about 2 1/2 inches across my whole tarp.

If your 2 x 4's around the edge are too high you can evenly notch your leveling board to the desired sand height and drag it resting the notches on your level 2 x 4's.

After it is all level then place another tarp the same size over the top of the sand. Some people skip putting a tarp underneath but I found it keeps it more level and if I ever decide to move it I can get the sand up much easier. I put my pool up in the same place every year and it makes it a breeze to set up every summer.

The reason your tarps are bigger than the pool is the way you can mow around it easily and by having the level sand base larger than necessary if you find your are a little off setting up the pool it is not a big deal.

Plus at this time you can place weed barrier wires or stakes around the edge of the tarp to keep it and the sand in place. Since your pool won't reach the edges you don't need to worry about them working their way up and damaging your pool.

Now it is time to place the pool. Fill up the top air ring first to make it easier. I always set it up so the filter (pump) sits in a corner area of the tarp. Makes for easier mowing, no trimming, and no chance of accidentally ruining it while taking care of the lawn. You will want to take care to keep the sand level when doing this but you will have to walk in the area some, just try and not walk around on the edges where the pool will eventually sit.

Get as many wrinkles out as possible, make sure you have the drain hole and filter holes plugged, put a LITTLE water in and start working on removing the wrinkles beginning in the middle. Again having a larger sand base will hold you in good stead here. Gradually add water working out the wrinkles until your are satisfied.

As a precautionary warning it doesn't take very much water in the pool to make it impossible to smooth out the wrinkles. But you need some water to hold it flat in places you have already gotten rid of them. Gentle adjustments and patience work the best.

At this point the instructions that come with your pool will explain hooking up the filter and adding the chemicals sufficiently. But the other parts of setting up the pool I learned from others who already had them and by trial and error.

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