Foam & Sand for Pool Base

by Tim
(Saginaw, MI)

I am putting up an 18' round pool and have leveled the ground. I started putting some sand in the middle of the leveled ground, but was also planning on utilizing foam after reading some of your responses. However, I am now thinking I may have messed up.

Is it sand OR foam?? Or, can you use them together (i.e. - sand on top of the leveled ground and then the foam on top of the sand, followed by the pre-formed foam cove)? I suppose if I messed up I can try to find the receipt and take the foam back and use just sand. I just liked the idea of the nice "softer" feel using the foam, but I want to do it right.

Thanks!



Hi Tim. If you are using sand under foam you should just use a small amount, just enough to smooth the dirt out. The problem with using to much sand is you will not be able to lay the foam into place without leaving a lot of footprints that will all show through the foam when the weight of the water is on it.

So, not knowing how much sand you have in the pool, you may want to remove some or possibly return the foam and use only sand.