Gorilla Pad & Vermiculite

dsierra · Mar 6, 2024

I hate to ask dumb questions but I am confused by the ambiguous posts that I have read.
So, my question is: Does the Gorilla Pad go against the ground with Vermiculite on top or vice versa?
Thanks.

Newdude · Mar 6, 2024

dsierra said:
I hate to ask dumb questions

The only dumb question is one you don't ask. If you foul something up, we have 2 issues. It's better for all parties if we only have 1 fish to fry.

dsierra said:
Does the Gorilla Pad go against the ground with Vermiculite

As far as I know, it's either/or and not both. Both provide a little cushion for the liner. (As would a sand base). All 3 have +/-s and an equal share of fans of them.

Let's see what @Mdragger88 has to add.

Mdragger88 · Mar 7, 2024

If using both I would think you’d want to do vermiculite then gorilla pad then liner.
Thats how you do if using sand + the pad so vermiculite would be no different.
This would accomplish 2 things:
*Prevent any hard/ sharp rocks etc from getting through to the liner if they happen to migrate/form.
* give a softer underfoot feel (which is why people buy gorilla pad)
That said - it is totally ok to just use one or the other. They are both fine standalone solutions

SecoSteve · Mar 7, 2024

I would not use the Gorilla Pad at all. When we had an AGP, I thought the pad would be great. Our installer did not like the idea of the pad and he was right. Our liner had wrinkles on the bottom, and somehow, water got between the pad and liner which made the liner "float". The wrinkles could be moved around, but never went away. I put up with that situation for many seasons, and it was a great day when I tore that thing down!

Mdragger88 · Mar 7, 2024

Without the pad that can happen too with ground water/drainage problems. Lots of vinyl lined pools suffer from a “floating” liner without a pad.
So I wouldn’t blame the pad persay.
I have no pad - just sand base & my pool is very wrinkly in some areas due to a drainage issue which disrupted the base & cove.
The best prevention for this is ensuring that all water from any source (from the fall of your land, gutter/roof drainage from your house) is routed out & away from the pool. For many this means a french drain type system around the pool.

phonedave · Mar 7, 2024

I had a sand base with no pad under my last pool. Last time I changed the liner I spent a LOT of time making the sand smooth, level, and compacted. It was beautiful - for about a week. Then I started getting the same old heel marks, ripples, etc.

I used a pad for my new pool (not Gorilla, just a generic pad). I have not swam with it yet (I installed the pool, filled it, and winterized it). I cannot imagine it being worse than the sand.

Me, I would put the pad OVER the vermiculite.

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Gorilla Pad & Vermiculite

dsierra

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Newdude

Mdragger88

SecoSteve

Mdragger88

phonedave

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