Foam Base on Patio Blocks

by Mike D.
(Westchester, NY)

I have a new 15' round pool to install and I would like to put it on a new patio made of 8" x 16" concrete blocks. The patio is flat
and level. The base of the patio has been compacted many times with a tamping machine and it feels solid and strong.

My question is what pool base to use? I'm starting out with a good flat surface, do I go foam or sand. I'm concerned about settling over time so I thought foam might save some weight, over sand, but the foam boards will have a number of seams to tape and can move or separate over time. I also have preformed coves and a gorilla pad.

Thanks, Mike D

Hi Mike.

I would use the Gorilla pad first and lay the foam sheets over that. If you lay the sheets so they fit together tight, using only factory cuts for the main pool area, and lots of duck tape, they should not separate. All of your cuts should be around the outer edge against the pool wall. This area can then be stuffed with all of your left over foam scraps if needed. Install the cove on top of the foam and it covers all of the rough edges.

For installing over the foam I prefer the preformed pool cove with the sticky back, not the hard plastic back meant to slip into the bottom track. Use plenty of tape, on all seams and anywhere else you think it is needed.

Setting Up The Pool Base

I had to dig in the yard to set the base level. When placing pavers at each support post I set it level front to back and side to side and slid the level all the way around the pool base rails and it's perfectly level.

It rained 4-5 times and it's still perfectly level so I packed it back in with clay dirt that I had removed. Am I ready to proceed to placing sand in middle of pool and putting up the side wall?

Hi.

It sure sounds like you are ready. One way to double check the level of the pool would be to use a 2x4. If you put a stake in the center of the pool, now rest one end of the 2x4 on the stake and the other end over one of your baseplates. With a level on the 2x4 you can nail a stake to the 2x4 over the baseplate. Once the 2x4 is level from the center to one of the plates, it should remain level for all of the others.

It never hurts to double check because leveling issues are a lot easier to correct now than later on when there is water in the pool.

Pool Paver Question

by Mike B.
(Valley Cottage N.Y.)

We are putting up a 24 foot round pool and I wanted to know what if anything to put under the pavers for the uprights. Should I just dig out and put them into the dirt, or should I put sand under them or should I use paver base. Thanks

Hi Mike If the soil can be leveled and packed solid you should be fine. If the soil is rocky sand can be helpful in making all the blocks level. The most important part is that they are all perfectly level with each other.

Patio Pavers Above Ground

We are setting up our 16' by 48" above ground pool on a leveled area.My question is:Can we put each of the poles on 11/2 inch thick patio pavers that are not dug into the ground but rather sitting on top of ground? To prevent the poles from sinking over time.

Hi The tops of the pavers need to perfectly level and at ground level, so yes, dig out for each block.