Use rigid urethane foam sheets for pool pads, not soft upholstery foam. Solid foam insulation can be ideal on a concrete surface. One of the benefits of solid foam insulation is that it's made of polystyrene or polyurethane and thus is easily cut and shaped.
Concrete is probably the best option since it is usually 100% level and smooth. Also, grass can't grow through concrete and animals and bugs can't damage or burrow through it either. Grass or dirt is also another great option, as long as it has been properly leveled and you've killed off the grass first.
Concrete pads are excellent to use as a base for your above ground pool, but you'll want to add another cushion between the two. Concrete is an abrasive material and will wear on the liner if it's in direct contact. Concrete is the best choice for a solid base because it is perfectly flat.
Where a level concrete surface is a good choice for an above ground, inflatable, kiddie, or other outdoor swimming pool, it is also rough and could damage the pool over time. An under pool mat will help protect the pool and provide for a safe and secure foundation on which the pool will sit.
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.
Use rigid urethane foam sheets for pool pads, not soft upholstery foam. Solid foam insulation can be ideal on a concrete surface. One of the benefits of solid foam insulation is that it's made of polystyrene or polyurethane and thus is easily cut and shaped.
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.
The good news is, yes, you can install your above ground pool on concrete if a sand or soil base is not possible. However, there are a few do's and don't's to consider. The first thing to consider is that if you are planning to get an above ground pool other than a round shape, forget it.
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.
Conclusion. The Pool Liner Floor Pad in particular is a great addition to your swimming pool and will make for a smoother bottom with added protection. Unlike, traditional foam pads, which can easily cut by roots or any sharp objects. The Pool Liner Floor Pad is the best investment that you have been looking for.
As long as it's flat and level, a concrete pad is a perfect base for an above-ground pool. If you don't have the budget or space for a built-in pool, an above-ground model is a great alternative.
Plywood can serve as a level foundation for a swimming pool.
Yes, you can put above ground pools on artificial grass, but it is not without consequences. For one, the weight of the pool materials and the water will damage and flatten the blades of the artificial grass.
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. Not only does it look very bad, once the uneven wall starts to create the outward pressure one side it will eventually push the pool out of shape more and more.
It is best to put a 1ft-by-1ft concrete block paver under each leg of your above ground pool. These blocks can take the pressure and they don't get mold, insects, or other forms of deterioration issues. By properly supporting the pool legs, you won't damage the legs over time and have to dig them out to remove later.
The Styrofoam lowers the cost of protecting the bottom of the pool liner and possibly offers better protection than the pads. Install the Styrofoam pad after the sides of the aboveground pool are installed. Place four-by-8-foot sheets on the ground and fasten them together with duct tape.
Application methods. The two most common methods for insulating inground pools and spas utilize a spray-on material or panels. The first involves a sprayed-on polyurethane, similar to the expansive foam found around portable hot tub shells.
Using fine sand (free of rocks and debris), lay a 3″ thick bed of sand across the entire inside of the pool (wall-to-wall) this will form your base.
Dig away soil instead of building up low patches.
Always dig away slopes and high spots to make them level with lower areas, even if it takes more work. If you fill in a patch with dirt or sand, the weight of the pool and water will compress it and cause problems in the future.
What Type of Sand Should I Use? For your pool's base, you want sand that's very fine and free of any rocks or pebbles. This type of sand is referred to as mason sand, masonry sand, or sometimes mortar sand. While mason sand is the most popular choice, another option is concrete sand.