Backfill - skimmer and suction pipes

[jakerex]

Hey all. I’m having my skimmer and suction pipes replaced in my unground Vinyl pool. The concrete deck will be repoured once the work is done.

my question is, what should I backfill around the skimmer with. How about all the piping?

I dug out clay and rock, big and small, which was a royal PITA.

Though I don’t plan on doing this again, I was thinking of using sand for ease of digging if ever need be in the future, and also sand would continue to support and fill in around the skimmer and pipes.

lastly, how long should I wait after I replace the skimmer and pipes, and backfill, before concrete? Was thinking on waiting a week or tow to let things settle and add more fill. I don’t know

thanks for your thoughts

 

[ajw22]

Sand does not give support and will wash out. Use gravel for backfill.

Gravel Around Pools - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

I think gravel properly placed does not require time to settle. @jimmythegreek can provide more details.

 

[jakerex]

Gravel. Makes sense. Any gravel better than another? Will typical crushed limestone driveway gravel work? Something smaller? Pea gravel?

 

[ajw22]

89 stone or 57 stone.

You read the link?

 

[jakerex]

Missed the link. Got it now. Thank you

 

[Aquaman7]

Missed the link. Got it now. Thank you

I had a friend who had a leak at the skimmer pipe suction pipe. His pool company dug a small tunnel under the concrete pool deck to the skimmer and made the repair. All without breaking the concrete decking.

 

[duraleigh]

Backfill with clean rock or gravel......not sand. 57 or 89 as ajw22 says.