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.
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.
Pivot the plank around the pool area and level continually until you are pivoting 360 degrees without stopping. Next, you can spread a layer of crushed limestone over the pool area and seal it by wetting, tamping, and leveling it with your base. Now you can add your soil and limestone until it is flush.
For portable pools like the Intex Easy Set Pools, sand is not recommended. Although it's easy to put down and level and it may seem like an ideal material, it can easily erode and get partially washed away in heavy rain.
Installing an above-ground pool on a natural grass lawn is not a good idea, particularly if you plan on taking down the pool for part of the year. There are several reasons why natural grass and above-ground pools do not mix well, but one of the most important is that the pool is going to kill the grass.
How Much Sand Do I Need for My Pool? The general rule is that there should be a two to three-inch base of sand under an above ground pool. If you know the dimensions of your pool area, then you can easily figure out how much sand you'll need for the base using a sand calculator.
If cutting costs without cutting corners is on your agenda, do yourself and the planet a favor by padding your pool with newspapers and cardboard. Both materials are readily available -- and free for the asking -- from recycling centers, store refuse containers or your own recycling bins.
The Right Way: Mark the perimeter of your pool, and add 1 foot of extra space to all sides. Use a line level to measure at 12-36 points around the pool. Then use flat shovels or a sod cutter machine to remove turf and lower the high spots. Add a one inch layer of sand.
Traditional felt carpet padding is usually frowned upon as a pool padding material, according to the Pool Homeschool blog, but modern closed-cell foam carpet pads can work well. Those marketed as "memory foam" pads work for an above-ground pool sitting on concrete.
The pool needs to be installed on level ground, so if your site is sloped, you will need to dig out the area to make it level. This may take just a shovel, or you may need to get a Bobcat to adequately prepare the site.
1. First off, check the ground to see if It's out of level within two inches from the shallow side to the deep side. How can you do this? Just start off by screwing two 2-by-4 boards together (next to each other) while ensuring that they're 1 or 2 feet longer than the overall diameter of your swimming pool.
Volume = (width x length x depth) x 0.037
For a rectangular pool that's 18 feet long by 9 feet wide, you'd need at least 1 cubic yard of sand for your base.
Two inches off usually will not cause any structural issues so you can live with it that way. Any more than two inches is unacceptable. Intex pools that are three inches off or more will not last and no one should be swimming in one.
Using gravel or rock is one of the most popular ways when landscaping around your above ground pool. These rocks are readily available and suitable for all climates. They range in sizes, shapes and colors so you can always find the style you need to compliment the rest of your yard.
Above ground vinyl liner pools have several choices for pool bottoms, a cement/sand mix, a cement/vermiculite mix or an all sand pool bottom.
Mason Sand, For Your Pool's Base
It is very fine and should not contain any rocks or pebbles. This will create a very smooth bottom and is the most popular method to use when installing an above ground pool.
The water will press with more force on one section of the pool than the others. This uneven weight distribution can buckle, twist or even collapse the pool wall, resulting in property damage and injury to anyone in or around the pool when it fails.
Since concrete is a hard surface, burying pool parts can be very difficult and will require cutting into the concrete, so be sure you get professional help to avoid any nasty mistakes. When choosing your location for the pool, make sure the concrete area is large enough to accommodate the pool and be sure it is level.
Some pool installation professionals suggest putting an above-ground pool only halfway in the ground. Doing so reduces excavation costs and minimizes the risk of the pool collapsing inward if it needs to be drained.