Good good morning all. I know this question has been asked before. Sorry Im about to ask it again. I'm trying to figure out whether or not to go with the black pad or the foam board on top of the sand. I've heard that sometimes you are able to leave a footprint or heel print in the sand. And I do not want that. So what do you guys suggest. We should start installation in about a week or so.
Ground pad question
- Thread starter mmarmino
- Start date
Having done both, I would recommend the foam insulation board.
I used the 1" (white) eps insulation. I see lots of folks use the (pink) xps board. While the pink board is higher density, the white board density is enough for under a pool. And it's cheaper. I also used the metal duct tape instead of cloth duct tape. It's stronger and thinner.
If you go with the foam board insulation, I think you don't need the sand. Just make sure you have leveled and compacted the dirt and remove any exposed rocks or pebbles.
Don't put the vertical legs on the insulation. Notch out room for either patio blocks or PT lumber. Make sure the foam and support blocks are on the same plane.
Brian
I used the 1" (white) eps insulation. I see lots of folks use the (pink) xps board. While the pink board is higher density, the white board density is enough for under a pool. And it's cheaper. I also used the metal duct tape instead of cloth duct tape. It's stronger and thinner.
If you go with the foam board insulation, I think you don't need the sand. Just make sure you have leveled and compacted the dirt and remove any exposed rocks or pebbles.
Don't put the vertical legs on the insulation. Notch out room for either patio blocks or PT lumber. Make sure the foam and support blocks are on the same plane.
Brian
titleistseemore
Gold Supporter
White foam board has been under my pool for 4 years. The foam board and the 12x12 pavers are the same thickness which made my install a little easier. In my signature is a link to the build with photos that can help you.
Do it!! I really wanted to but did not plan ahead enough to order it and the installer said it was gimmicky and unnecessary... well... now I have at least 4 indentations or creases thanks to said installer and know he just didn't want to spend the extra time doing it even for the extra $$. All that to say.... Do it!!!
Would the 1/2 inch thick foam be enough?
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Would the 1/2 inch foam board be ok?
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Would the 1/2 inch foam board be ok?
Yes, in terms of keeping "divots" from forming. Just make sure the ground is smooth with no pebbles or small rocks showing. You may feel them through the foam.
Since you live in LA, you don't have to worry about frost heaving.
Since you live in LA, you don't have to worry about frost heaving.
i used the anti fatigue mats from harbor freight. these worked really good for me. this is the second year of the foam and still working great.
Hayseed
Bronze Supporter
I am not familiar with this white 1 inch foam. Can anyone tell me it's name and where to purchase. The only white foam I have seen, that I am familiar with was very fragile and not very strong, is this what it is like? If so it would seem that you would have to be very careful when standind and maneuvering on this material when installing the line.
It's an eps foam- expanded polystyrene foam board. It's called Insulfoam or R-Tech at Lowes and Home Depot. Not as dense as the pink Foamular 150 xps (extruded polystyrene foam board) but also nearly half the price. The xps foam is rated at 15 psi, while the eps foam is rated at 13 psi.
Both of them can be dented when walking on them, though more so with the white board. A person with shoes flat on the board creates about 7 psi, but that goes up as your shoe flexes while walking.
Try and walk flat footed, watch your knees and it is fine while working on it.
Once the pool is full, the weight of a person is a fraction of that. The water itself is about 1.3 psi.
In areas that don't have cold winters, it might be harder to find.
Both of them can be dented when walking on them, though more so with the white board. A person with shoes flat on the board creates about 7 psi, but that goes up as your shoe flexes while walking.
Try and walk flat footed, watch your knees and it is fine while working on it.
Once the pool is full, the weight of a person is a fraction of that. The water itself is about 1.3 psi.
In areas that don't have cold winters, it might be harder to find.
Hayseed
Bronze Supporter
Thanks Brian for your help. One more thing though, the sections, are they to be joined together with tape to avoid gaps? If so what type. Duct tape, metal foil real duct tape,??
I used the metal foil tape, but I think others here used cloth duct tape.
As others have said, it's important there are no gaps between sheets of foam.
As others have said, it's important there are no gaps between sheets of foam.
I had an old Sears brand "good" (as opposed to "better" and "best") pool set up on concrete with some not-very-well-sifted sandy dirt for the base and cove, that thing had pebbles and small rocks under it and roots growing across in the dirt. It never leaked from the bottom except where the bottom of the metal and wood (!) ladder eventually made a small hole (that was easily patched). It did have a few foot prints.
Doing that over, I might put foam panels under and definitely foam cove, but that wasn't available in prehistoric times. Now I have this little Intex and I used the 1 inch rigid foam 4 x 8 sheets with gorilla tape on the joints. I am in the minority, but I don't actually like the "cushy" texture/feel of it and I would use something else like a gorilla pad next time. (and I somehow still got a pebble under there! LOL)
Doing that over, I might put foam panels under and definitely foam cove, but that wasn't available in prehistoric times. Now I have this little Intex and I used the 1 inch rigid foam 4 x 8 sheets with gorilla tape on the joints. I am in the minority, but I don't actually like the "cushy" texture/feel of it and I would use something else like a gorilla pad next time. (and I somehow still got a pebble under there! LOL)
Speaking of floor pads and pool floors may I mention a couple things?
1) In Florida I trust you need have no concern about nutsedge? Here in NE Texas that had red flag warnings all over the place while we prepped for the installation - because it grows up through the ground like a needle and penetrates even hard pavement surfaces, and because it's just about as killable as stickers/prickerburrs/crabgrass/choose your own name (little balls of PAINFUL spikes). Point being both are hard to kill/prevent, and nutsedge not a friend to pool floors.
2) In fear of insulting you by stating the obvious - pick people's brains here, watch videos, research research research best practises re liner installation. I learnt some great little nuggets of 'how to' just AFTER installing mine because I was still geeking out watching/reading about pool stuff. Hey - said geeking-out is what got me to TFP so no complaints!
:study::bowdown:
Titbits like leaving the liner hanging taut because the water weight will stretch it to fit ie NO WRINKLES
(I'm almost looking forward to the first liner change to correct that little error
)
1) In Florida I trust you need have no concern about nutsedge? Here in NE Texas that had red flag warnings all over the place while we prepped for the installation - because it grows up through the ground like a needle and penetrates even hard pavement surfaces, and because it's just about as killable as stickers/prickerburrs/crabgrass/choose your own name (little balls of PAINFUL spikes). Point being both are hard to kill/prevent, and nutsedge not a friend to pool floors.
2) In fear of insulting you by stating the obvious - pick people's brains here, watch videos, research research research best practises re liner installation. I learnt some great little nuggets of 'how to' just AFTER installing mine because I was still geeking out watching/reading about pool stuff. Hey - said geeking-out is what got me to TFP so no complaints!
:study::bowdown:
Titbits like leaving the liner hanging taut because the water weight will stretch it to fit ie NO WRINKLES
(I'm almost looking forward to the first liner change to correct that little error
)
Hayseed
Bronze Supporter
I am in the minority, but I don't actually like the "cushy" texture/feel of it and I would use something else like a gorilla pad next time
i would not have thought it would fill coushiony with all that weight pressing down on it.
i would not have thought it would fill coushiony with all that weight pressing down on it.
someone with actual math and physics skills can probably explain it better but the actual weight per square inch isn't as much as you might think and so since it is distributed for the whole bottom of the pool, it lets the foam still have a little "give" or cushion to it. I will say it has compressed a fair amount in the 6 years since it was installed but it still has a softer feel than the hard ground around the outside of the pool.
Can gorilla pad be used on a hard clay soil surface or should I get the pink pads? Difference?