Pool Base Made Easy
A long-lasting, puncture-resistant pool bottom, using foam insulation boards.
February/March 2001
By the Mother Earth News editors
When I installed my 12' x 24' oval aboveground pool seven years ago, I was daunted by the thought of hauling in and leveling out enough sand to cover the base two inches deep. Instead, I purchased 4' x 8' x 1" tongue-and-groove foam insulation boards (the type used under cement floors). I then cut and laid this over the leveled dirt area, then duct-taped the seams twice so that the weight of the water would not create a groove. After that, I only needed enough sand to slope around the interior edge before installing the liner. The end result is a long-lasting, puncture-resistant pool bottom with a bit of give.
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HAROLD LEACH
Jamestown, New York