Hey guys, new here but I have recently just put in an Intex 16x32 HDR rectangular pool and need some help. May yard is not level so I had to dig down to level it. I came down about 20 inches on one end and then it ends about level with the yard at the other end of the pool. I put 4x4 posts into the ground all the way around the dug out ground with 2x12 treated lumber just to keep the yard back. I was going to do another row of 2x12 above it and cut the posts off at the top of that 2nd 2x12, however now I'm rethinking my plans. The ground under the pool is packed with 1-2 inches of packed mason sand on top but I'm concerned about leaving it exposed as when it gets really wet it doesn't take much to leave footprints in the sand. I'd like to see what ideas you all have for ways I can cover this ugly exposed portion around the pool to make it less of an eye sore and to keep kids/dog from walking down there.. Any body have a similar situation and have any good ideas on what I could do? I purposely am not doing a pool deck as the top of the pool is still only 1 foot or so below the fence and I'm on a corner lot but maybe just build it up to be a deck/seat wall?
Help figuring out what to do around pool that was partially dug in to the ground
- Thread starter jeremyh11
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,018
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Welcome to TFP! 
Just to confirm, are you looking for something to go around the outside of the frame itself, or inside between the frame and the pool liner? @kimkats may have some landscape shortcuts to share.
Just to confirm, are you looking for something to go around the outside of the frame itself, or inside between the frame and the pool liner? @kimkats may have some landscape shortcuts to share.Thank you for the welcome! Something to hide the dugout ground between the wooden frame I built and the pool liner itself. If this had been a hard sided pool it would have been easy to just build some lower decking around it but with the legs on the soft-sided pool I'm not sure what the best option would be.Welcome to TFP!
Have you considered crushed oyster shells? Oyster shells have a mild pozzolanic action, meaning they will meld together and set up like weak concrete, but they still drain very well.. They are the traditional material used for bocci ball courts.
I wanted to do a parking area with them at my house, but shipping was insane to get them here to northern New Jersey. There may be a source closer for you. Just make sure you get ones that have been properly cleaned, otherwise they can smell like dead fish for a while. I did a bit of research on them, when I was considering them for my parking area.
Hadn't thought about that yet. Might be an option, my only concern is it would go right up against the liner and I don't know if rubber mulch would pose any risk to puncture the liner if one got wedged under it.
Never heard of that, sounds really interesting. Do you think that would be a potential danger to the liner though?
Not if you keep it outside the pool
Seriously though, you can get them crushed to a small size, even down to what they call "flour".Also this is a thing to consider: DOMINATOR Mulch Anchor - Mulch Glue and Pea Gravel Stabilizer, Ready to Use, Lasts Up to 2-Years, Fast-Dry, Non-Toxic (1 Gal.) LMA01G - The Home Depot
I looked into using it for pea gravel. I was going to buy it in 5 gallon pails, and mix it up in my cement mixer (come on, everybody should have a cement mixer), but it was pretty expensive.
haha! My concern is that the liner is exposed and pouring it in the dug down area would mean it would be right up against it. But I will definitely look into the crush options. I appreciate the feedback!Not if you keep it outside the pool
Also this is a thing to consider: DOMINATOR Mulch Anchor - Mulch Glue and Pea Gravel Stabilizer, Ready to Use, Lasts Up to 2-Years, Fast-Dry, Non-Toxic (1 Gal.) LMA01G - The Home Depot
I looked into using it for pea gravel. I was going to buy it in 5 gallon pails, and mix it up in my cement mixer (come on, everybody should have a cement mixer), but it was pretty expensive.
Ah, yes, I did not realize you have a soft side pool. Maybe something to keep the shell away from the pool itself - 6x6 (or even 4x4) landscape timbers would work.
I would not put anything other than sand right up against your liner, but if you put some plastic landscaping edging, the kind that you push down into the dirt about an inch or so away from the pool liner, I don’t think it would show that much if you then filled the area outside of the edging with some gravel or mulch or whatever else you choose to use. When I had my Intex, I did have pebbles around my pool and I put that black edging around the pool to keep pebbles from getting under the liner.