What Can I Use Instead of Sand Under my Pool? Instead of sand, you can use a concrete or gravel foundation, foam or geo-textile pool pads, stone dust, and more.
Interlocking foam tiles are exceptionally easy to set up, taking no more than a few minutes to put down and line up the teeth of each tile. Pool owners installing their above-ground pool on a hard surface like concrete will appreciate the padding this kind of foam tile provides.
Pool Floor Padding
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.
Styrofoam sheeting is often used as the bottom base below the liner of an aboveground pool. The foam provides a smooth surface for the liner and protects it from sharp rocks that may puncture it.
A lifetime of exposure to retained water makes it essential that any insulation used in a swimming pool retains its R-value, possesses compressive strength and other crucial properties while exposed to water. For that reason, XPS foam is almost exclusively used for insulating the bottom of pools.
Generally used for packaging, Ethafoam is a type of versatile closed-cell polyethylene foam that is water-resistant. At high density Ethafoam is waterproof as well as being impervious to most chemicals, mildew and rot.
Consider Adding Wall Foam
Help prevent rust, corrosion, and other wall degradation from puncturing your liner, plus keep your liner like-new for years to come by adding wall foam between your pool walls and liner. While not required for installation, it is highly recommended as a way to add extended life to your pool.
The original blended natural fiber pad that gives a "wet-look" shine. Gorilla® is made with a blend of natural fiber and polyester. To clean it, just brush away dried wax with its die cut center. It will not glaze over.
Above-ground pools should be placed on pool floor padding for two important reasons: Installation of padding underneath the swimming pool liner protects it from stones, roots, or other sharp debris that might cut the pool liner and cause a leak.
An above ground pool can affect grass, gravel, or the dirt it sits on. You may not consider it but pools can be extremely heavy, containing 30,000 gallons of water and weighing nearly 125 tons. In order for that weight to be properly supported it is suggested a 4-inch concrete slab is built to withstand the pressure.
Gorilla Pads are pre-cut floor pads designed to protect and cushion the bottom of above ground pools. Unlike old pool foam padding, which can be easily be cut or pierced by grass, roots, or rocks under your above ground pool liner, Gorilla Bottom pool floor padding is impervious to almost any sharp object.
Under no circumstances should you put anything (including plywood) onto the bottom or anywhere inside your pool.
WHAT BASE OR SURFACE CAN I PLACE MY POOL? Our pools can sit on pea gravel, decomposed granite, gravel, earth, sand, grass, or cement as long the space is completely level from all sides and the rock is not too large or pointy that it could dent the bottom of the tank.
To start, vinyl pool liners are usually 20, 27, 28, or 30 mils thick. The decision on whether or not to upgrade the thickness is yours—but keep in mind that this detail that will be with you for 5-9 years.
You never want to install your above ground pool on your natural ground. Rocks, twigs, and other debris can tear your liner over time. Sand helps level your pool, add cushion, and even acts as a weed barrier so plants don't grow into or puncture your liner.
Gorilla pads are much more durable and help prolong the life of the liner. Each Gorilla bottom flooring pad is cut to fit the exact size and shape of a customer's pool.
Shocking the pool with chlorine can help quickly reduce the foam. If that does not solve the problem, lack of calcium could be to blame.
If you've noticed a layer of white foam or bubbles forming on the surface of your swimming pool, it's natural to be concerned. The good news is that this foam is rarely anything dangerous, but it still makes pools look unclean, and it can feel uncomfortable to swim in.
Polymer Wall Swimming Pool Kits
These panels are the most resistant to all types of underground deterioration, including heat and cold, yet they are surprisingly lightweight for easy installation.
Don't use expanding foam as a permanent solution to leaks
Furthermore, the expanding foam isn't completely waterproof and therefore over time it could break down.
Water will only penetrate through the foam with pressure (i.e. submersion, flooding etc.). In fact, in 96 hour water submersion tests, 0.5lb open-cell foam was found to have a water absorption rate of approximately 25% – no more than typical plywood.
½# Open Cell Spray Foam 55 gallon kits: 16,000-21,000 board feet coverage We also have Open Cell Spray foam insulation for your project. Open cell is great for sound, and you will get your air barrier at 3.5” thickness.