Hardware Cloth as Ground Prep to Combat Voles

[SeaSun42]

Hey Everyone!!
We've purchased our first pool, an Intex Ultra XTR pool in the 24' by 52" size. Ive got all the tools and have started digging out the sod for where we're going to place it. Ive also purchased 2 very thick ground cloths to go under it.
We have a big problem with what I assume are voles running tracks all over the yard right at the surface (We dont have any big entrances with piles of dirt, just a bunch of shallow tunnels) My question is, would it be worth it to buy a bunch of 1/4" hardware cloth to put under the pool right up against the leveled dirt and under the thick ground cloths? Or would that be a bunch of expense and effort with little return? Im trying to prevent them from digging up under the pool and chewing at the liner or at the least give the liner a buffer against sharp angles and stress if they do tunnel under. It makes sense in my head but if anyone has tried this with little result, I don't want to waste money on it. I do know preventing them from feeling at home in the yard is a more permanent solution and I will absolutely get to that, but since we already have the pool I'm looking at solutions for the meantime.
Thanks!!

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Interesting, two members with the same hardware cloth question today. I don't know how resilient this cloth will be for your issue(s), but many owners do place Gorilla Pads or home insulation panels on the ground before laying down the liner. Helps with critters, sharp sticks, stones, etc.

 

[phonedave]

Welcome to TFP! Interesting, two members with the same hardware cloth question today. I don't know how resilient this cloth will be for your issue(s), but many owners do place Gorilla Pads or home insulation panels on the ground before laying down the liner. Helps with critters, sharp sticks, stones, etc.

Hardware cloth is metal like chicken wire, not like weed block.

It has square holes (1/4" hardware cloth has 1/4" holes) and it is welded, not twisted like chicken wire.

I wonder how long it would last in the ground, even though it is galvanized. I assume the voles would just dig right up to it, creating tracks just under the wire.

 

[Mdragger88]

My concern is that its pokey - pokey things & vinyl liners are not a good mix.

 

[Mdragger88]

Are you sure its voles?
Voles eat vegetation & roots- clearing & treating the ground & keeping the area around the pool free of roots & vegetation is best practice.
Moles on the other hand are after grubs & such so spreading a granular insecticide to prevent them as well as ants, termites etc. is recommended under pools.
Along with using nutsedge killer to prevent it from growing up through the liner (which would also prevent vegetation seeking voles)

 

[SeaSun42]

Welcome to TFP! Interesting, two members with the same hardware cloth question today. I don't know how resilient this cloth will be for your issue(s), but many owners do place Gorilla Pads or home insulation panels on the ground before laying down the liner. Helps with critters, sharp sticks, stones, etc.

Thanks so much for the reply!! I had actually seen the other post right after I posted mine and then immediately felt bad for probably breaching forum etiquette and resigned myself to getting silence in return. Haha!
I had seen the gorilla pad thing suggested but couldnt quite nail down exactly which one everyone was talking about. The two pads I ordered are about 3/8" thick each, giving about 3/4" total padding and seemed to have pretty good reviews so hopefully it works well enough. The insulation panels also seem like a really good thing to add though!

 

[SeaSun42]

Hardware cloth is metal like chicken wire, not like weed block.

It has square holes (1/4" hardware cloth has 1/4" holes) and it is welded, not twisted like chicken wire.

I wonder how long it would last in the ground, even though it is galvanized. I assume the voles would just dig right up to it, creating tracks just under the wire.

The longevity was something Im a bit concerned with as well. Also the voles still creating tracks under the wire was definitely a main concern. In my head though I thought even if they did do that, the wire plus padding would provide a little resistance to falling all the way into the tunnels maybe? Or would the weight of the water just negate that altogether?

 

[SeaSun42]

My concern is that its pokey - pokey things & vinyl liners are not a good mix.

I think I could prevent the pokey element of the cloth itself with enough padding and careful placement. Fastening the wire rolls together though, Im not sure about, given that the main suggestions for the size wire is basically sew it together with pokey wire or clamp it together with pokey clamps. And honestly, doing all that without the guarantee it would even help much is making me lean towards not bothering with it.

 

[SeaSun42]

Are you sure its voles?
Voles eat vegetation & roots- clearing & treating the ground & keeping the area around the pool free of roots & vegetation is best practice.
Moles on the other hand are after grubs & such so spreading a granular insecticide to prevent them as well as ants, termites etc. is recommended under pools.
Along with using nutsedge killer to prevent it from growing up through the liner (which would also prevent vegetation seeking voles)

Im pretty sure its voles because the pictures of vole tunnel patterns seem to match the look of the disturbances to our ground. We dont have any entrances that look like what a mole or rabbit apparently make and everything is always right up at the surface. Adding a layer of granular insecticide is a fantastic point though and I definitely need to add that to the ground prep list.

 

[Mdragger88]

I would prep the ground with insecticide granules & herbicide that includes nutsedge & go with foam boards. Be sure to tape the seams.
Also be sure to read

How to level above ground pool - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Intex Pools - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[phonedave]

The longevity was something Im a bit concerned with as well. Also the voles still creating tracks under the wire was definitely a main concern. In my head though I thought even if they did do that, the wire plus padding would provide a little resistance to falling all the way into the tunnels maybe? Or would the weight of the water just negate that altogether?

Water is heavy. About 2 psi on the bottom of a ABG.

 

[phonedave]

I think I could prevent the pokey element of the cloth itself with enough padding and careful placement. Fastening the wire rolls together though, Im not sure about, given that the main suggestions for the size wire is basically sew it together with pokey wire or clamp it together with pokey clamps. And honestly, doing all that without the guarantee it would even help much is making me lean towards not bothering with it.

I have a thing I built for pumping off my pool cover. It is a 5 gallon bucket lid with a 2' high section of hardware cloth attached around the perimeter. When I have a lot of debris on the cover, I put my pump in this thing, and it helps to keep the leaves from clogging the pump intake.

I use it on my cover, and I spent a LOT of time bending down and tucking in all of the pokey bits - it still makes me a little nervous to use it around my pool.