Foam Cove Molding

by Jim
(Vernon, TX)

We are installing a Wilbar 18' x 33' buttress-free above ground pool. The pool structure is completed. We have installed the optional gorilla pad, foam wall padding, and foam cove molding. We have placed and compacted 2" to 2 1/2" of sand in the bottom of the pool.

On top of the sand, we've installed 3/4" foam insulation board so we'll have a nice smooth surface. My concern, now, is that there appears to be only about 3" of the cove molding above the surface of the insulation board.

Is this 3" a sufficient amount of cove to protect the liner?
Thanks in advance for your help!




Hi Jim. When using foam I usually install the cove over top of it. The cove tends to cover any rough edges between the foam and the wall. At least when I install foam, there is a gap and plenty of rough edges. I stick all the scraps and pieces into this area and install the cove over top of it.

The only cove that works in this type of situation is the kind that has the sticky tape on the back. The type with the molding on the back, the stuff that fits into the bottom track, does not work on top of the cove. It needs to be inserted into the bottom track, like it was designed to.

With that type of cove installed your foam needs to be cut to fit very carefully. It should even have a beveled edge to fit up snug to the cove. If this has been done there is no problem with only a small amount of cove sticking up above the foam. The height of the cove is not that big of deal. Just be sure there are no gaps between the cove and the foam, gaps the liner could fall down into. Using Duct Tape over the area where they join might help if you do have small spaces.

The pool cove is only to keep the liner off the pool structure, like bottom rails and footplates. The cove also prevents the liner from washing out from under the bottom rail. The height is not important.

If your pool came with a beaded liner you are probably better off with the least amount of cove as possible. Beaded liners can easily be too big for the pool so I would start with a small cove. It sounds to me like you will be fine the way you have it.