Sand for Pool

by Laura
(Mississippi)

I am wanting to know how much sand I need to put under my pool, it is 24 feet round x 42 inches deep.

Hi Laura.

A 24' round pool should have about 4-5 tons of sand under it. Remember a few pool building basics with regards to your sand. Make the bottom ring round and level and then pile the sand in the center of the pool. Build the pool, including top rails, and then spread your sand out.

If you try to build the entire pool on a base of sand you are just asking for trouble. The pool framework must rest on level dirt.

Sand for 24' Pool

How do I figure how much sand I need for a 24ft above ground pool?

Hi.

You should use about five tons of sand under a 24' above ground pool. More about amounts of sand and how sand is measured is talked about on this page.

Sand for an Above Ground Pool

Be sure to pile the sand in the center of the pool and spread it out only after the sidewall has been installed. Below are some helpful pages about above ground pool installations.

Above Ground Swimming Pool Installation

Above Ground Pool Liner Installation

Above Ground Pool Installation Mistakes

Above Ground Pool Mistakes

Sand Base for Pool

by Lynn
(PA)

How many tons of sand will I need for a 21ft round pool? Also how many inches of sand do you recommend cover the bottom?

Hi Lynn.

I would recommend using about 3 tons of sand under your 21' above ground pool. This should give you about two inches for the base and about a six to eight inch cove.

Be sure to follow this procedure when using sand for a base. Level the ground first and then lay out the bottom rails. Make sure the rails are perfectly round and then level each individual footplate. The sand should then be piled in the center of the pool. The wall should be unrolled, inserted into the bottom rails, and the pool frame assembled before the sand is spread out.

For more information about a sand base for an above ground pool see this page.

Sand for an Above Ground Pool

A little bit more regarding a sand base is talked about here.

Above Ground Pool Mistakes

Foam Cove or Not with a Sand Base

by Chad
(Gibbstown, NJ, USA)

I am about to start prepping my yard for installation of a 24' round pool. What are your recommendations for the cove? Just use sand or would the foam coves be a better option?

Hi Chad

It all depends on whether or not it is within your budget. The foam cove does serve a purpose, but is not really necessary. With just a sand cove you should have some type of berm around the outside of the pool. Something to ensure the pool cove stays in place. With the foam this is not needed.

Above Ground Pool Sand For New Pool

For the past 5 years, we have put up and taken down (for winter) an intex pool. This year, we have just ordered an above ground metal wall pool that we can keep up all year. The sand that we put under the intex is still there, but it is VERY compacted due to the weight of the pool that was over it. All of the installation instructions for an above ground pool say to use 3 inches of sand under the liner. Do I need to put 3 MORE inches of sand down, or is what is already there and very compacted going to work?

Hi

The idea is to have a couple of inches of sand between the liner and the bare ground. You have to use your judgement about how good the sand is and how much of it gets contaminated in the take down and the re-install of the new pool. As a general rule I would add at least an inch of new sand over the old. The other option is to strip the area down to bare ground and use all new sand.