Base for Expandable Liner

by Brandon
(Missouri)

Can you use a Gorilla pad with an expandable liner?

Hi Brandon.

It can be done but I would not do it. It is so hard to keep the Gorilla pad from getting wrinkled and bunched up. The best material for a base on pools with deep ends is moist masonry sand. If the dirt is smooth and damp, and the sand is slightly wet, the sand will stick to the slopes and allow you to smooth it to a nice finish.

This works well when you plan to stretch the liner into place. Check these pages for a few ideas about the best ways to install expandable liners.

Expandable Liner Installation

Above Ground Pool Liner Installation

Expandable Pool Liner Pad

What kind of pad is best to use for an expandable liner of a above ground pool?

Hi.

I don't recommend any type of pool pads for expandable liners. There is nothing on the market that I know of that will lie flat, without bunching up, in a deep area. I have seen people cut and tape until the pad is flat, but this can be very time consuming.

I shape the deep end and water it until it is moist. I then spread mortar sand on it. I smooth the sand once and then water it until very damp. I then finish the smoothing with a combination of a couple of brooms.

Just before I install the liner I dampen the area again. All my liners are stretched into place so footprints are not a problem.

Keep in mind when working with a pool pad that they are very thin. Anything underneath the pad will show through once you have water in the pool. If you use sand under the pad you will create footprints as you install it. These footprints will show up big time once you install the liner.

The only time I recommend pool pads is for a pool being installed on concrete. Or one being installed indoors on tile. In those situations the pool pad work perfect.

Foam Base for Deep Center 24' AG Pool

by Jeff
(Ontario)

I'm excavating for a 24' AG pool. I'd like a foam base, but I'd also like to dig the center 6" or a foot deeper (as in attached picture).

Any experience using 1" foam with a deep center? I'm not sure how it will work around the corners, contours, etc. and whether the liner will wrinkle.

Thanks in advance.

Hi Jeff.

It is not something I would try. I would use a sand base and stretch the liner into place from outside the pool, as shown on this page.

Expandable Liner Installation

I saw a U-tube video awhile back showing a crew using foam on an oval deep end. They cut the foam into a lot of pieces and held it all together with duct tape.

It just seemed nearly impossible to me to come out with something nice in the end. Like you said, just too many angles and edges.

A nicely formed sand base is just perfect for expandable liners, at least that is the way I see it.

Using a Foam Base for Deep End

by Anthony
(New York)

I have a 16x24 above ground admirals walk pool. I want to put in a 6 foot hopper with a 1 foot ledge. The installer is favoring to use 1 inch foam, but I am concerned about too many joints being tapped together in the hopper. Should we go with foam or something other?

Hi Anthony

I would only use sand or a vermiculite mix on deep ends. Anything else is just too hard to lay smooth.