Is Foam Base The Best?

by Hugh
(Marietta,GA)

I'm replacing my existing 24' X 48" pool with a new one. This one has been in place for over 20 years and has an existing sand base and a center bottom drain along with a regular skimmer. I'm probably going to use 1 1/2" tongue and groove foam with duct taped joints on top of the existing sand unless you can recommend something better. I'll also use the preformed cove.

Since I'll be using a 48" beaded liner will that extra rise in the floor of 1 1/2" cause me any height problems with the liner?
Is it possible to install the bottom rails directly on top of the foam with the foam extending beyond the 24' perimeter of the pool?

Thanks for all of your help.


Hi Hugh. My first choice would be to use the beaded liner with the understanding it will probably be to big on the sides and will get pulled over the wall and attached like an overlap liner. I do this a lot with beaded liners because I hate the wrinkles caused by to much vinyl on the sides of the pool. I would much prefer installing an overlap liner and not have to worry about an exact wall height.

Beaded liners are nice if you plan to deck over the pool top rails in a way that makes then non removable. Otherwise you are better off going with an overlap.

The idea of putting the pool on top of the foam is very doable. We set up indoor displays like this all the time, with the entire pool sitting on the foam and the preformed pool cove snapped into the bottom track. I have never seen this done in an outdoor setting so I'm not sure if the foam would deteriorate over time.

As a precaution you could cut out squares in the foam and insert patio blocks for each post. The foam needs to be beyond the pool by a couple of feet and this could be covered in plastic and landscape rock. Otherwise the birds might have their way with it. Let us know how it goes.