Sand and Gorilla Pad

by Tami
(61951)

I am installing an 18ft above ground round pool.
Can I put the sand down 2 inches thick and tamp it, plus make my 8 inch cove and then add my gorilla pad on top?

Should the gorilla pad be on bottom?



Hi Tami. Be sure to look over these pool installation pages, they could be a big help to you.

Above Ground Swimming Pool Installation

Diamond Star Pool Installation

Above Ground Pool Liner Installation

Expandable Liner Installation

The two liner installation pages show how I install all overlap liners. I smooth the sand, and jump out of the pool. The liner gets installed from outside of the pool and the pool is full of water before anyone gets in it. The weight of the water packs the sand and footprints stay to a very minimum.

If you have an overlap liner and intend to install it in this manor then I would use the pad under the sand. That way you could smooth the sand and not be on it again until the pool is full.

If you have a beaded liner, or j-hook liner you will probably be inside the pool installing the liner. In that case it does not matter as much. I find the Gorilla pads a little difficult to get smoothed out and would much rather work with sand, but that is just what I am used to.

Anytime you know you have to be inside the pool when you install the liner do a super job of packing the sand. It is so easy to get a bottom full of foot prints if you don't.

You mentioned putting down two inches of sand. I hope you placed the pool frame on firm ground with the sand just inside the pool walls. This is really important. You should never build an above ground pool on sand.