Pool Base Options

by Pamala
(Shawnee, Oklahoma)

Is there anything besides sand I can put on the bottom of the pool? Styrofoam is to expensive and I can't get masonry sand. I have sand but it is fill sand, which is full of rocks and shells. I thought of using the sand and using an alternative base to keep the rocks and shells from puncturing the liner. Any suggestions?



Hi Pamala. You could go with a thin layer of sand. Smooth it out, wet it down and pack it down good. Over top of that you could use carpet foam, carpet felt, indoor/outdoor carpet, something along those lines that can be found in the remnants, cutoffs or discount racks of carpet stores.

Several bags of an insulation called Vermiculite also makes a nice inexpensive base. It is very soft and can be used over top of the sand, right out of the bag.

I have seen people use several layers of thick black plastic over the sand, this helps a little but I would want something thicker myself.

The commercial foam pads for pools might work but they are thin and somewhat expensive. You would have to do a good job of packing and tossing out the larger rocks in the sand.

I have seen peat moss used, but you spend so much time picking out the twigs, it is not a good choice in my opinion.

Those are a few ideas I have tried in the past, hope it helps.