
What You Can Put Under Your Above Ground Pool
- Concrete Slab A popular stabilizing option for above ground pools is poured concrete. ...
- Sand Sand is another material that can be used to stabilize your above ground pool. ...
- Pre-Cut Pool Pad A pool pad is a material designed specifically to place under your above ground pool. ...
- Foam Using foam as a base for your above ground pool is another great option. ...
- Carpet ...
- Nothing (Natural Ground) ...
Can you put sand under an above ground pool liner?
Sand is used under an aboveground pool to protect the pool's vinyl liner from rocks and objects that could tear the liner. Also, sand under an aboveground pool acts as cushioning for its floor, making it more comfortable for feet. The standard depth of sand that should be used under an aboveground pool's floor is 2 inches.
What type of sand do you use for above ground pools?
Type and Volume. Use masonry sand as the base material for an aboveground swimming pool. Ensure that any sand you use is free of debris such as twigs, rocks or anything else that might puncture, rip or tear a pool's vinyl liner.
How is an above ground pool installed?
Once the hole for an aboveground pool's floor is dug, it's typically padded with a layer of sand before the pool is installed. Sand is the recommended base material upon which an aboveground pool should sit.
What do you put under an above ground pool?
Under your above ground pool, you can put an earth base, sand bottom, concrete pads, commercial pad, solid foam, flooring underlayment, and even carpet. Each offers a different type of protection, weight capacity, and ability to withstand piercing by sharp objects such as rocks or roots.

What is the best thing to put under a above ground pool?
By far the best material to place under a swimming pool liner is Armor Shield or Gorilla Pad. These materials are breathable allowing moisture to escape and are extremely tough, keeping insects and moles from coming through and piercing the vinyl pool liner.
What is the best sand to put under an above ground pool?
Mason Sand for Pool Base We only recommend fine mason sand for our above ground pool bases. Unlike other abrasive and coarse sand types that can puncture the pool liner over time, mason sand is fine, soft, and easy to work with.
Should I put sand under my Intex pool?
The folks at Intex are fairly clear that you should NOT put sand under your pool. The sand can easily wash away, causing voids under your pool and risking your pool leaning and even collapsing.
How much sand do you put under an above ground pool?
So how much sand will you need? You will need at least 2 inches (5.08 cm) of sand for your above-ground pool lining. For an average 15 × 30 foot (4.5 x 9.1 m) rectangular pool, you will need around 2-3 cubic yards (1.53 – 2.29 cu m) of sand or approximately 4 tons (3600 kilos).
What can I use instead of sand under my pool?
Here are some alternatives that we've discussed: Old carpet could be nice, although it will get moldy over time, giving it about a year. Cardboard boxes will work for a few weeks, until they fall apart. A few old blankets could also work, but they won't last a year.
How much sand do I need for a 24 foot above ground pool?
How Much Sand Will I Need For Pool Installation?Amount for Sand Base with SAND COVE18' Round2.003.0021' Round2.503.5024' Round3.505.0027' Round4.005.5032 more rows
Do I have to use sand under my pool?
Sand is the recommended base material upon which an aboveground pool should sit. Sand is used under an aboveground pool to protect the pool's vinyl liner from rocks and objects that could tear the liner. Also, sand under an aboveground pool acts as cushioning for its floor, making it more comfortable for feet.
How many 50lb bags of sand do I need for a 18 foot pool?
How many 50 lb bags of sand for 18 foot pool. For a rectangular pool that's 18 feet long by 9 feet wide, you will need at least 1 cubic yard or 54 bags of 50 lb (50- pounds) of sand for your 2 inches thick base.
How do I level the ground for an above ground pool without digging?
1:563:23How to Level the Ground for a Pool Without Digging - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou could also use a flat shovel to help you do this.MoreYou could also use a flat shovel to help you do this.
How do you prepare the ground for an above-ground pool?
How to Prep Ground for an Above-Ground PoolChoose the best area of your yard to set up your pool. ... Remove all sod and other vegetation from the area. ... Determine the lowest point of the pool area. ... Create a wood level. ... Replace the metal stake with a 2-inch square wooden stake hammered flush with the ground.More items...
Should I put dirt around my above-ground pool?
Do not attempt to install an above-ground pool below ground where all sides of the pool are surrounded by dirt. The weight of the soil when it becomes saturated with water will cause the walls to collapse. Professional excavation is recommended if more than a few inches of slope must be removed for the pool to fit.
How do I level the ground for an above-ground pool?
STEP 1: Determine your location and remove any large rocks or debris. ... STEP 2: Place 2x4s on the site and place a level on top. ... STEP 3: Add or take away soil until the ground is level. ... STEP 4: Repeat the process until the entire area is flat. ... STEP 5: Rake any remaining rocks or debris and tamp the ground.More items...•
How many 50lb bags of sand do I need for a 18 foot pool?
How many 50 lb bags of sand for 18 foot pool. For a rectangular pool that's 18 feet long by 9 feet wide, you will need at least 1 cubic yard or 54 bags of 50 lb (50- pounds) of sand for your 2 inches thick base.
Is Mason sand and paver sand the same?
While the two are very similar, mason sand is not just another name for paver sand. And it's important to know the difference before you try using this type of sand in one of your own DIY projects. Mason sand is processed to a much finer consistency than paver sand.
Can you use leveling sand under pool?
The ground should be dug level on virgin soil always. The sand is simply a buffer from the pool liner to the ground. The purpose of the sand is not to level your pool. If you are using sand to level things out you will have nothing but problems.
What do you put under an Intex pool?
As a general rule, Intex recommends a ground cloth or tarp to be placed underneath the pool to protect the pool liner. In addition, I have found that adding a foam layer can further protect the pool from sharp objects such as stones, plus it will make the bottom of the pool feel soft underfoot.
How deep should sand be under an above ground pool?
The standard depth of sand that should be used under an aboveground pool's floor is 2 inches.
What is padded sand before a pool?
Once the hole for an aboveground pool's floor is dug, it's typically padded with a layer of sand before the pool is installed. Advertisement.
What is padding over sand in an above ground pool?
Other Padding. In many cases, aboveground pool owners will also install some sort of felt-like or rubberized padding over an aboveground pool's sand base. Additional padding above the sand used will help to further protect an aboveground pool's liner floor from possible rips and tears.
What is an above ground pool?
An aboveground pool's floor is padded by sand underneath it. Aboveground swimming pools offer a way to own a nice swimming pool without breaking the bank. Installing an aboveground swimming pool is also a less intimidating task than installing an in-ground pool.
How much does it cost to put padding on an above ground pool?
At the time of publication, the price for padding for a typical 18 foot round aboveground pool is about $80. Always check the instructions that came with the aboveground pool before installing any sort of additional padding, though.
Can you put an above ground pool on top of grass?
You can easily install your above ground pool on top of the grass, but if you are not careful it might lead to disappointing outcomes. After choosing the location and ensuring that the surface is level and even enough, you will first need to: Give it a cut with your lawnmower. Remove any problematic debris and stones.
Do you need to resow an above ground pool?
Hence, you will need to resow the empty patch, after preparing the soil, if you remove your pool in the future.
Can you put a pool on a concrete slab?
Note the following: If you are planning to place your swimming pool on a concrete slab, you have nothing to fret about. On the flip side, installing on grass or bare ground requires a lot of preparation.
Can you install an above ground pool on a gravel driveway?
You do not want to install your pool on gravel, a steep slope, or a bed of thorns.
Can you install an above ground pool on a concrete slab?
This means that at no cost to you, we may earn a small commission for qualifying purchases. You can install your above ground pool in just a few hours on a concrete slab, a groundsheet, a bed of sand, or directly on the grass. But preparing the surface carefully in advance is critical to avoid punctures and tears to your pool.
How much sand should I put down for an above ground pool?
It kills me when I see an above ground pool install manual say that a pool like a 24’ round needs a minimum of 3-4 yards of sand put down. It is true that sometimes this much sand is needed, but in most cases, it’s too much soft material.
Why do you need to coat above ground pool walls?
Better quality above ground pool walls are coated to help prevent the beginning of corrosion caused by moisture. This coating can only protect for so long. If the wall is exposed to moisture long enough, then it can penetrate the coating and the metal wall will start corroding.
What happens when you put plastic under a pool liner?
If something like plastic is placed under the liner though, this moisture can get trapped and have nowhere to go.
What happens if you have too much sand?
I bring this up because if you have too much sand, you’re more likely to have a bumpier bottom than if you didn’t have as much.
Can moisture go on a pool wall?
Eventually, the moisture will make its way over to where the ground meets the pool wall, and some of it will hang out against the metal wall. If this moisture cannot go anywhere, it will stay next to the pool wall and will soon get past any protective coating the wall has. Once the coating is lifted by the excessive moisture, the metal wall will begin to corrode. This is not at all good.
Do you have to put a pool liner down?
In reality, most pool sites don’t need anything to go down as the liner is designed to sit directly on top of the earth.
Can you add sand to a pool in Florida?
In Central Florida (where I install pools), I almost never add sand to a pool bottom. THE REASON – In most yards here, the earth is already mostly sand based. By adding sand to an already soft base will make the bottom too soft and “footprinty”.
What happens if you push dirt around a pool?
If you are pushing the dirt around to level out the site for the pool, eventually the dirt will settle and your pool will no longer be level. This might happen right away when you fill the pool, or shortly down the road, one thing is for sure, it will happen. Pool Pros always digs out to the lowest spot so the entire pool is sitting on virgin soil.
What is the 4th mistake in sand?
Mistake 4: Not compacting or troweling the sand.
Is sand needed for pool leveling?
The ground should be dug level on virgin soil always. The sand is simply a buffer from the pool liner to the ground. The purpose of the sand is not to level your pool. If you are using sand to level things out you will have nothing but problems.
Can pool pros use patio blocks?
We get countless calls every spring for torn liners and when we get to the site we see a patio block that has heaved out and cut through the liner. Pool Pros never uses patio blocks. Again we level the entire site down to virgin soil and place the uprights and track right down on the ground.
