Placement of above ground pool

by Amy
(Beloit, WI)

Hi, My husband and I purchased a used 18' above ground metal framed pool. We are planning on setting up come spring (We live in Wisconsin).
Previously, we had an Intex 18' pool that you inflate the top ring and fill. We had fixed the area for that pool by using a lot of sand to level the area, then we built up a hexagon retaining wall about 8" tall with landscape timbers, all the way around the area to help hold the sand in. My question is, what would be our best bet for installing our permanent pool? Should we pour concrete over the area while it is still set and make the area a cement platform? or would we be better to take all or most of the sand out and level it that way?

Thank you,
Amy

Hi Amy, I think concrete makes an excellent base for an above ground pool. Make sure the pad is perfectly level. When setting a pool on concrete I recommend using pre-formed pool cove. You should also use some sort of pool pad. Carpet felt works good for this, or any of the ready made pool pads.

Your second choice is to remove the sand and start with level dirt. If you screen your sand you might be able to reuse some of it for the base under the liner. Another possibility is to line the outer perimeter with patio blocks. As long as the entire frame work of the pool were sitting on blocks it would not matter if there was sand under them.