The pool was not difficult to put together. I would highly highly recommend putting down a sand pad or some way for guaranteeing the ground is 100 level. The slightest unlevel ground was noticeable in the frame. This was also my first above ground pool experience so it could have been my fault. I am only rating it 4 stars because the pump was bad to leak. It feels like cheap plastic and took using plumpers tape (a lot of it) to get it to seal properly. Other than that, it was a good pool for me to just float in and my kids to play in.