AGP Underlayment Issues!!! Please HELP!!!

mattgregory1981 · May 31, 2014

Hello, my name is Matt Gregory. I'm currently in the process of setting up a 26' Intex Ultra Frame AGP. I've been reading about what a lot of you all use as underlayment. I was interested in using the pink foam insulation that I've read that so many of you all use. My question is this. That stuff is expensive. I've figured that to cover my pool I would need no less than 25, 4x8 sheets of this stuff. The 2" insulation is $36.73 per 4x8 sheet. That's roughly $920 before taxes. That's more than I paid for the pool itself. What gives? Am I missing something? What did you all use? Is there anything more cost effective?

Thanks Ahead,
Matt

b15nut · May 31, 2014

From what i have seen others have used 3/4" and 1/2". Some use the white stuff which is a lot cheaper but also seen recommendations not to use the white.

duraleigh · May 31, 2014

Welcome to the forum. :wave:

Recheck your math....I don't think you need 25 sheets.

laceygirl · May 31, 2014

I managed to find 30mm thick sheets 2500mm x 600mm wide, for $10.77 a sheet.... I only need 11 sheets of it though so its about $119.00...

jcp · May 31, 2014

Definitely use the blue or pink stuff. Same thing just different brands. I did mine with 1", but I think 3/4" would have been fine. I tend to over do things.

I'd recommend you tape the seams with Gorilla duct tape. I used the house wrap tape and I noticed areas where it's coming loose when I put up the pool this year.

I figure 24.5 sheets to do a 28'X28' square. 7 sheets wide in the 4' direction and 3.5 sheets in the 8' direction. I'd stagger your half sheets so you don't have a continuous seam. $11 bucks a sheet at Menards for 3/4" or $15 for 1". Plus tape and tax. Well under what you have figured.

jcp · May 31, 2014

I just looked at the layout in ACAD, and you could actually do it with 23 sheet. You can eliminate a 4'X4' section in the four corners.

jcp · May 31, 2014

Staggering your half sheets probably isn't really necessary, if I remember right I think there is a tongue and groove for both directions. Obviously there will be a continuous seam in one direction anyway. Like I said I just over do things.

duckcmmndr · Jun 1, 2014

If the pool was 26x26 square, that is 676 sq. ft. A 4x8 sheet is 32 sq. ft., so if it were square it would take just over 21 sheets. So...since the pool is round it will take less than that. The area of a 26' circle is 531 sq. ft., so that is 16.5 sheets if there were no waste. There will be some waste, I'd guess there will be 15%-20% waste. I think 18 or 19 sheets would do it.

I think 2" is way overkill and will be much harder to trim/cut. I don't think I'd even go with 1" unless the cost difference in 3/4" and 1" was minimal. I'd re-figure with 19 sheets of 3/4" and start there if it were me.

Just my .02