Swimming Pool Install

[Hummin Cummins]

Gonna put up a 24' round above ground Saturday. I got the excavation done, level within an inch all around.



Underneath my 1 1/2' of topsoil is sandy creek bottom ground with lots of pebbles and sand stone. I have read in the instructions that in lieu of sand, styrofoam can be used as a bottom. Anyone hear or try this? They call for 2" of sand, I just worry about those pebbles getting through the sand sooner or later.



Pool guys wanted 1200. 00 to do the install on level ground. So far I have 137. 00 in the installation with only the sand or styrofoam left to buy. Thats alot of leftover $ for beer.



Chris

 

[TFabian]

I had an above ground pool at my old house. I had the pool company install it. They used the foam. Worked great, and the bottom of the pool had a softer feel to it. Didn't have any rock problems in the 6 years we had it. We had the same problem with rocky soil.

 

[Silver]

You tricked me for a second there. I was the thinking the bed liner will work fine for the floor, but how are you going to keep all the water from splashig out?

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Cheap blue tarps are the best pickup swimming pools.

We used to do this at the 4 wheel off road summer nats. in Bloomsburg. Chicks come flocking to the big rattlin rollin pool

 

[TowPro]

I used sand. NO problem with the rocks coming through, but it does have small crators underneeth it from the foot prints as I set it up.



They recomended using dirt, but I did not have any that did not contain rocks.

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Thanks guys

Pool guy said this morning that he doesn't reccomend the styrofoam. He said go a little heavier with the sand and not to worry about the stones if most of the loose ones are gone. I guess I'll go with the sand. It worked for pools for all these years why change now. LOL

 

[Straight6Jeff]

Spent many years installing pools. First, make sure the blocks are perfectly level. We sould only use half patio blocks, as the full block will crack much easier due to the increased leverage in the center of the blocks.



Roll the wall using a childs sit and spin in the center of the pool. Just use the spinning part, do not use the handle part. Have one person stay in the center to feed the wall, one person on the outer edge to put the wall in the track, and one person to put the uprights on as you go. leave the seam of the wall open til after you compact the sand



Sand is the only way to go. We sould use speck sand (stone dust) as the normal beach sand does not compact very well. The cove should come up abut six inches on the wall. If the sand is very dry, wet it down, then use a vibrating plate compactor, starting from the outer edge. Stear the compactor out the open seam, then button it up. Use two or three strips of good duct tape on the seam to protect the liner from the bolts )the factory strips stink.



What brand of pool did you get? Cool Pool; Ester Williams; jonni Weismueller; Haas;



I can give more specific tips about the liner. Beaded? Over the wall?

 

[Hummin Cummins]

Jeff,



I'm not sure off hand of the manufacturer. It is the maxxim model. 9" top rail, 52" sides, beaded liner w/50yr warranty.



The instructions call for 2" of sand. My excavation is level within an inch rough grade. It may be an inch or so deeper in the middle. The pool guy said the dig about 6 inches deeper in the middle. Should I cone the sand to have a depression toward the center of the pool or keep it level all the way across? I'm concerned about having the right amount of depth for the hung liner it seems like there is not much room for error in getting the liner too tight or too loose.



I'm aware of the shop vac method for removing wrinkles and troweling the sand for smoothness. The only access I have is for masons sand. Boy is there gonna be alot of beer consumed on this job.

 

[Straight6Jeff]

Masons sand is perfect. it feels rough, but is very durable and resistand to washout.



50 year warranty, sounds like the extruded aluminum slot wall pool. If it is the slot wall, it's durable.



I've got to go, if you'd like, I can call you to give you some pointers.



Jeff