Sand Around Pool Shifting

Hello, We have a 10ft x 20ft Intex above ground pool. Our backyard was full of tree roots and we were not able to level the ground. Instead we built a 16ft x 24ft frame around the pool, filled it with sand, leveled and packed the sand, laid down weed fabric and set up the pool on the sand.

We then placed landscaping rock over the sand around the pool. Since last year, the frame is starting to slope and the landscaping rocks are falling over the top edge. It seems like the sand has shifted also.

My question is how would we reinforce the frame so as to keep the sand from shifting?

Thank-you in advance.

Hi

You did not mention how deep your sand is but I'm guessing more than just a few inches. Sand shifts, just like yours is doing. This is normal.

Your frame should have been filled with dirt or granite, something that would pack.

A couple inches of sand could be used just under the pool. It needs to be a very even, and thin layer. Sand should not be used for leveling and it should not be used as fill.

My suggestion would be to take the pool down and redo the base or the sand will keep shifting and things will just get worse.

Pad & Pool Cove in 18'x48" Intex Framed Pool

by Robyn
(West Virginia)

This is my first above-ground pool. From everything I have read, leveling seems to be the most important thing. We purchased an 18'x48" round Intex framed pool, which we will be placing on level ground, over a few inches of sand. Would you recommend some type of pad and pool cove as well, and if so, how, and in what order should we do this?

Hi Robyn

All a framed pool needs is a level area and a couple inches of sand. That's it. That and blocks under all the support posts, that really helps.

Most Intex pools come with a tarp of some sort, this can go either above, or below, the sand. It does not make much difference.

A pool pad could be used with an Intex pool but not really necessary. The pool cove is strictly for steel walled above ground pools. They cannot be used with frame pools.

It sounds like you are things right so far, keep it up and enjoy the pool.

Soft Sided Pool Installation In Ground

by Dan and Linda

We have a soft sided pool, 18x9x52. I would like to put it in the ground about 36" and bring our deck out to it.

Would sand be OK for back fill or do we have to put metal or something around it first before back fill? Thanks Again

Hi Dan and Linda

I would go with some sort of retaining wall around the pool. Sand or dirt against a soft sided pool would just not work. The idea of sinking the pool and installing decking up to it is great, just work out some way of keeping the dirt off the pool walls.

The biggest problem folks have when doing this with steel wall pools is rain water sitting around the pool. A soft sided pool will not rust and there is no cove to wash out. Drainage would not be a big consideration. A little water sitting around the pool would be a lot better than dirt back filled against it.

Learn more about soft sided pools on these pages.

Metal Frame Pools

Soft Sided Pools

Use Sand with Intex Pool

Hi there - The instructions for our soft sided Intex pool say not to use sand but my father who installed AGPs for awhile says the sand will help with the stones in the dirt. The pool is 18'.

What kind of base do you recommend? In their video they show people setting it up on grass. We never had grass in our yard. Just a lot of weeds. What is the best approach to preventing weeds growing through the bottom? The pool includes a tarp for under the pool also. Thanks for your help.

Hi

I would clear the area of any vegetation and then level the ground. Once the ground is level I would treat it with weed killer.

I would then haul in enough sand to give the area about an inch or so. You then need to water, smooth and pack the sand.

I would use the tarp over the sand and then set up the pool.

If you level the ground, and use blocks under all the support posts you should be just fine.

End of Intex Pool Curved In, Corners Elevated

by Michele
(Spring, TX)

I'm not sure what is going on with our pool. We have the big 16x32x52 ultra-frame pool. We had it set up for 2 years without putting the wood supports under the legs. We took it down this spring to move the location in our yard and put the correct supports under the legs - due to a few of them rusting/collapsing.

We have the pool completely set up and the water level is as close to perfect as it can be, but for some reason one end is lifting at the corners and leaning forward in the middle.We have checked to be sure that we have the right beams in place and that the legs have extended all the way out - but something is just not right. Any suggestions?

Hi Michele

That seems to be a common complaint with Intex oval pools.

I have a couple of suggestions that might help. If the bottom is not set exactly square strange things will happen. If you decide to drain the pool, try shifting the bottom one way or the other, it seems like it might not be square under the frame.

You might also try pulling out on the sides. In doing so, does it indicate to you in anyway that the side support blocks need to be lowered. If so, try this, doing one block at a time. You should be able to do this, one block at a time, with the pool full.

Unlevel Intex Pool

by Donna
(Texas)

We have an Intex 20' x 48" Ultra Frame pool. We initially set it up and found (after prepping the ground) that it was approximately three inches unlevel on one side.

We drained the pool and re-prepped the ground and now the pool is still a bit unlevel. However, it is only between 1 to 1 1/2 inches unlevel.

Is this really bad? Is there a way to remedy this situation without draining the pool? Or would it be safe to leave it this way and fix it for the next swimming season?

Something else I have noticed is that the legs of the pool and the liner itself sort of rocks slightly back and forth. Is this normal for these types of pools? Any advice you can give would be greatly appreciated. I'm still a little nervous about the safety of the pool.

Hi Donna

If you are within a couple of inches I would think the pool would be just fine.

You may want to just keep an eye on it. If it remains the same, with no major changes, throughout the season, you are probably fine.

If it continues to get worse you may want to consider draining and starting over.

Blocking Legs Of An Intex Pool

by Johnny Skinner
(Waurika OK)

My wife and I put up a 16 foot by 48 inch above ground pool made by Intex. We had new dirt hauled in and leveled, then had sand hauled in and leveled professionally.

When we filled our pool with water, after 3-days, our pool was lower 2-inches on one end than the other. I don't know what to do! I'm considering draining the pool and blocking under the legs with 2 by 4 blocks to level. help!

Hi Johnny

I agree, I would do it over one more time. This time I would use blocks under the legs.

Once the pool has been move out of the way check the fill dirt carefully. If it was the dirt that sank the sand should be moved and the dirt re-leveled. If you have to do that make sure the dirt has been watered and packed several times before putting the pool back on top of it.

It is very possible that the pool just shifted into the sand and that the dirt is just fine. You may have too much sand. You need just enough to cover any rough spots in the dirt, just enough to smooth out nicely.

When you go to put the pool back up, the blocks should make all the difference in the world. It really helps if you have a way to set all the blocks level. We use a laser level and set each block at the same grade. That way we are sure that when the pool is full it will be level.