Packing Sand For Above Ground Pool

by Mark
(Kentucky)

I am putting up a 27 ft above ground pool. What are some of the ways I can pack the sand, not really wanting to have to rent tools for this? Is there something I can make for this? Thanks for any info.

Hi Mark.

It's pretty amazing what just a little foot packing will do. Walking the entire pool area on damp sand will pack it in pretty tight. I always work with wet sand. As I am spreading and smoothing the sand it is getting plenty of foot packing. Once the entire area is smooth I jump out of the pool and install the liner from the outside. I do this by stretching the liner over the pool framework and letting the water pull the wrinkles out.

By installing a liner this way there are no footprints in the sand. The real sand packing is done by the weight of many thousands of gallons of water. By the time the pool is full the sand is pretty well packed.

I have also seen people make tampers out of a 4 x 4 and a piece of square plywood. You need a base large enough to pack some sand, at least one foot by one foot. You need a handle heavy enough to add a little weight to it. Water rollers are another option. They are probably the cheapest sand packer available from a rental shop.

This is how we install liners with no footprints.

Above Ground Pool Liner Installation

With the sand as smooth as this, and the liner correctly installed, you should have a very smooth pool bottom. Another thing I always recommend to my customers is to stay out of the pool for a couple of days. This gives the sand a chance to pack under the weight of the water.

Smoothing a Sand Base

by Cathi V.
(Washington Michigan USA)

Can anyone assist us in leveling out the mason sand when the liner is being replaced?

We ordered a new liner and the dimensions have changed from a 6" cove to an 8" cove and we added mason sand throughout the pool 27' area.

Is there a secret to the leveling process, cause we sure could use some advise, please!

Thanks, Cathi

Hi Cathi.

I use a large push broom to smooth the sand. There is a picture on this page that shows the broom being worked.

Above Ground Swimming Pool Installation

When I am doing a new install I go over the sand once with the backside of my rake. This takes out most of the big humps, lumps and valleys. I then go over the entire area again with my push broom. This makes a very smooth bottom.

The majority of my liner installations are done from outside the pool so the sand base is well packed by the water before anyone ever gets in the pool. This process can be seen here.

Expandable Liner Installation

Space Under Bottom Rail

by Angela
(Crossett, AR)

Hello, I need some advice. I had a 24' round pool installed by a pool contractor. I was told at the store where I purchased my pool that they did not use sand under their pools but an armor liner. Before I bought my home there had been an Intex pool with sand underneath. When the installer came he did not excavate the sand out but leveled and kept much of the sand under pool. The installer said that I should not put anything around the bottom of the pool until it was full.

That same evening we had excessive rain and the next morning I saw that the sand had washed out leaving gaps between the bottom ring and the ground. The installer said I should just put some type of clay dirt around and it would probably be fine. Right!!!! I only have a 90 day warranty on installation.

He has agreed to come back the next weekend and correct the problem adding additional soil. I'm afraid I may have problems by doing this and would greatly hate to have to drain the pool but I hired a professional because I wanted the pool installed correctly. I have attached a picture showing the worst of the gap between the bottom rail and the ground.

Thanks, Angela

Hi Angela The only thing I would have done different is to pack the pool in with dirt before I left the job, not sure why you were told to wait until it was full. Maybe the installer just did not want to do it.

Your only concern should be the cove on the inside of the pool. If it is washed out the pool should be drained and the cove repaired.

Leveling Base for New Liner

by Natasha
(Independence, Missouri )

We bought a house with an above ground pool already installed. We are replacing the liner this year because the seam started to come up. The base was not level to begin with and the support bars are starting to be felt through the liner. How do I fix the base when I do the install of the new liner? I appreciate all the help and information as everything I am finding is when the pool is first installed.

Hi Natasha Once the old liner is removed you will know if you need more sand, it sounds like you will. There are many methods used for smoothing the sand, I use a push broom with good results.