Installing Pool Over Landscape Rocks

by Liz Salas
(Kingman, Arizona)

Do you think I will be ok? I am putting up a 24' x 16' x 52" above ground pool. I have put carpet padding, carpet 2 layers and ground cover, I forgot to put the heavy duty tarp, do you think I will be ok with out it?

Hi Liz.

I would say slow down before you ruin a perfectly good above ground pool. You might get away with that if it is a soft sided pool. It's going to be too lumpy to keep clean, and you will have to block under all the side supports, but it might be possible.

If you are talking about a Doughboy steel wall pool I would not consider doing it. The pool framework needs to sit on perfectly level, solid dirt. The brace assemblies need to be set into the dirt, with solid dirt packed around them.

If it were me, I would clear the rock, level the ground, set the braces, level the end rails and then bring in some mortar sand.

This page shows an oval pool being installed in a desert landscape yard. This would be the correct way of doing it.

Diamond Star Above Ground Pool

Rocky Desert Backyard for Pool Installation

Any ideas on how to put up an above ground pool on a rocky backyard? What can I do to cover the rocks, if you will?

Hi.

You have several options with a rocky backyard. If it is landscape rock you could clear it away like in the photos of this above ground pool installation.

Oval Pool Installation

If you are talking big boulder type rocks, I would clear out as many as you could. It is OK to bring in fill dirt or crushed granite if need be. The area could then be watered and packed and be just fine for your installation. The top of you highest rock will be the level you need to fill to. That's the reason for clearing as many of the big rocks away as possible.

When using fill dirt for an above ground pool base be sure to level several feet beyond where the pool will sit. A ledge around the outside of the pool is critical when using fill to raise a pool area.

The worst thing you can do is bring in tons of sand and level with that. Sand should only be used as a base for the liner, a couple of inches at most. The material for your pool to sit on needs to be something that will pack solid.

Yard with Stones for Above Ground Pool

by Ron Martin
(Hamilton, Ontario)

I just tore down a shed in my yard to make room for an AGP, the last owner built a 10' x 14' shed in the middle of the property.

I removed the shed and the concrete pad, I'm still moving the stones placed under the pad. Can I leave the stones and level up the other side of the property (used to be a garden, now its a weed bed)?

I plan on using 2 - 3 inches of sand inside the pool for the base, which should cover the leftover stones (small stones, almost like screening.)

At the moment I have a 4 inch drop from the garden into the area I dug the concrete pad and stones. I am planning on rototilling the weeds out and spreading the dirt and apply the weed cloth to stop growth under the pool.

Am I doing this correctly??

Hi Ron.

It all sounds good to me. You could spread some of the dirt out over the entire area. This would help to level the ground and also cover up any remaining rocks. I might also suggest a weed killer to go along with the cloth. Some weeds are pretty persistent and will grow through about anything.

You may want to go over some of the photos on these pages just to make sure you get it all right.

Above Ground Swimming Pool Installation

Diamond Star Above Ground Pool Installation