Coving and Base Size For Beaded Liner

by Brenda Clark
(Watford, Ontario)

We are installing a 12x24 oval above ground pool that is 48" high with a beaded liner. We need to know what size coving and what size a base we should have.

We know that with a beaded liner that measurements are more important as you can not overlap the excess liner, so we are wondering what size base and what size coving is best.

We want to use a 1" or a 1 1/2" styrofoam on the bottom, as well as we have a gorilla liner to put on top of that. Is 1" or 1 1/2" styrofoam better and depending on which one we use how much sand do we need?

We do know that the material ONLY of our liner (not including the beading) is 43" so that may help.

Any assistance you can be we would appreciate.

Thanks so much.

Brenda Clark





Hi Brenda. I would use just enough sand to smooth the base out and install the 1" foam over that. I would then use the preformed pool cove around the outside. This would be about the least amount of base you could use and the liner should fit just fine. Liners can always stretch a little, that is not a problem. The problem is having too much liner.

Since having too much liner is a common problem I have turned beaded liners into overlap liners on many occasions. I would rather do that than see a pool full of wrinkles.

I keep a supply of coping on hand for just that purpose. I pull the liner over the wall, install the coping, and put the bead receivers over the coping and finish the pool. I have never had a problem doing this and the liners look much better.