Styrofoam As Base For Intex Pool

by Cindy
(Ontario)

I am installing an Intex 18' x 52" pool. The ground was leveled but still off slightly, 1/2-1 inch, by the time it filled it was off a lot more as the weight of the water pushed the legs further into the ground.

Someone told me I should have set it up on 1" rigid foam after leveling it (ground has a lot of stones which I removed, but they say any left under the ground will work there way up.)

I am having to re-level the ground. What do you suggest?



Hi Cindy. I have never seen Styrofoam used for an Intex pool so I'm not real sure how it would work. I have not heard of anyone doing it either. My guess is the legs would push right through the foam unless you cut out the foam and put blocks under each one.

When I build soft sided pools I level the ground and then spread out a thin layer of sand. I also install blocks under all the legs. When the ground is laser leveled, and the sand is laser leveled, and each one of the support blocks are laser leveled the pools tend to stay very level. At least I have never had any complaints.

If any readers have had success putting an Intex pool on a foam base let us know how it turned out.