Base layer foam or sand please comment. Is foam as soft as sand for aboveground pool

[scoggs1]

Base layer foam or sand please comment. Is foam as soft as sand for aboveground pool?

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Also if I go with foam would I need a liner like a gorilla pad beneath my pool?

 

[zea3]

Sand will not give a soft feel to the floor of the pool. The weight of the water compacts the ground under the pool like nothing else! It will feel "softer" than a plaster pool, but not by much. If you intend to leave the intex up year round and you want a soft feel to the floor then I would use a pool liner like gorilla pad or happy bottom. If you take it down at the end of the season you can use construction foam sheets under the pool. You would not want to use construction foam for a long term install as it will break down after a season or two.

 

[nelson411]

We had a base of sand with foam board on top of it. Then we placed a blue tarp over the foam board. It had a good soft feel to it. I think we first had to dig out all of the tree roots and then use sand to level the ground. We installed an Intex 12 by 18 foot pool. Very enjoyable to swim in. Best to you in your swimming adventure!