Adding Sand To Make Base Higher

by M. Janes
(Southern Maine)

We are installing a used 24' AGP. It is 52" tall. My husband has dug down about 4" and added a stone dust base and has put up the frame of the pool (minus the liner).

We want our 6 yr old son and other kids his age to reach safely in the pool. The problem is that right now from the base to the water level (the skimmer) will be 42" (which is taller than he is).

Can we add more sand to the base to make the pool depth lower as long as we backfill the outside of the pool as high as the inside pool base? Hope this isn't too confusing. Thanks for any help!



Hi. This is not something I would recommend doing. That much sand would leave you with nothing but footprints. The sand would not pack and the more the pool was used the worse it would get. You could raise the inside with other material but the problem would be keeping the inside and outside pressure balanced. The pool frame would have to hold the inside pressure until the pool had water in it, and the outside could be backfilled.

I have been asked this many times and have never been willing to do it for a customer.

I have, however, raised four daughters in above ground pools and depth has never been a problem. They start out with water wings and other inflatables. Soon the wings are off and they are swimming. As long as they have a ladder to swim to and some stuff to play with, they could care less about the depth of the pool. And have you noticed how fast kids grow, it was like no time at all between installing my first pool and my baby was a lifeguard at the public pool. I raised four fish and water depth was never a problem. You can trust me on this one, they will just love the pool.