Intex XTR set up, foam, and pavers

[pfgiv]

Hello all,

My sloped yard is getting leveled tomorrow and putting up our 32x16 Intex XTR shortly after. I planned on using 16x16x2 concerte pavers under the legs, but have read some say they crack. Is the cracking usually do to non level or porous land? The pool area will be dug out, then filled with 2 inches of gravel process and 2 inches of mason sand, then compacted and leveled. Would these pavers be ok to lay directly on the area and not risk cracking? Since there would be a height difference, I'm planning on using 1-2" extruded polystyreine under the pool. Would that negate the issue with digging in the pavers? I obviously do not want to have to dig out an area for the foam and the pavers so I'm thinking having both at ground level is sufficient, but you all would know better than I as this is my first pool ever.

Thanks in advance

 

[Texas Splash]

Is the cracking usually do to non level or porous land?

Like all pavers, they are only as strong ad reliable as the base they are on. If the base is uneven, yes, they can crack. But if there is a level firm base, they will support just about anything. It's all in the prep.

Would these pavers be ok to lay directly on the area and not risk cracking?

One level, they should be good.

Would that negate the issue with digging in the pavers?

Because the soil under pavers can accumulate water from splashout or rain, I would still dig down and ensure you have a very good base.

You seem to have a good plan ahead. Take your time and double (triple) check for level. Nothing is more frustrating than to see the pool full and go "on-no!".

 

[pfgiv]

Thank you, I appreciate the response. My concern is having to dig a space for the pavers. As far as I know, after this is all compacted, it is going to be very firm, and may be hard to dig through but I don't really know. If I can dig them down an inch, then get the 1" foam, that would save quite a bit of money on the foam (2" board is like $56 a board, and I need 16 boards)

 

[Texas Splash]

Understood. You may be right. That might work for you. The thickness of the padding against the pavers on a firm base might work great and save you some time and manual labor. Hope that does indeed work well. Let us know and feel free to share pics as your build progresses. I'm sure it will help other AGP owners. Have a great weekend.

 

[pfgiv]

Oh, and I'm a Pat too. Good name to have

 

[pfgiv]

Understood. You may be right. That might work for you. The thickness of the padding against the pavers on a firm base might work great and save you some time and manual labor. Hope that does indeed work well. Let us know and feel free to share pics as your build progresses. I'm sure it will help other AGP owners. Have a great weekend.

When you say the thickness of the padding against the pavers, should the XPS be coming out further than the pool? Being a 16x32, I planned on buying 16x32 worth of XPS. Should I be buying more and having it come out beyond the pool bottom? Maybe the bottom of the pool covers a larger than 16x32 surface because of the design, and that is why you are saying the padding against the pavers. Could you please clarify as I do not want to mess this install up. Thanks

 

[Texas Splash]

Should I be buying more and having it come out beyond the pool bottom?

You may not have to. Some owners do have the pad extend a bit more, but not all. I suspect once you lay everything out you'll have a good sense of whether you need to or not. For some, the padding extending out to the pavers just helps to ensure the liner doesn't get "pinched" by a paver, but pool set-ups can vary a bit and that may not be an issue for you.

 

[pfgiv]

Background, had pool area dug out, they used a few inches of gravel as base then leveled off with sand. I was told this area was laser leveled and good to go.

I set up the pool (intex XTR 24x12) this weekend. 2” XPS foam under the liner, 15x15x2 concrete pavers on the sand, leveled each one and checked level to the neighboring pavers. Everything seemed level.

Today I’m filling the pool slowly, and after about an hour I go in to kick out any wrinkles that I can. I notice in one end there’s about 2 inches of water, and the ladder area is bone dry.

Is my ground level off, or could it just be that the construction of these pools and frames will cause levels to be off until everything settles? I’m assuming it’s the former, take everything apart, make the guy relevel the area.

https://tinypic.host/images/2024/07/09/IMG_0609.md.jpeg

 

[pfgiv]

 

[pfgiv]

All,

Recently made a thread, no responses, about my unlevel pool. I'm taking it down and having it releveled. The pool area was dug down about 4 feet on one side as we have a sloped yard.

The company I originally had set to do this said they would dig it out, 2" of gravel or crushed stone, then a layer of sand to level it. They couldn't get it done until August, so I had another company do it, and they seemed fine with the plan to dig out, stone, then sand. They did not use crusher run, just regular gravel, then sand to level.

Did we do this wrong? Since I have to take the pool down because it is not level, should I have them remove all of the rock and sand and get it back to soil? Or should I just have them tamp the heck out of it and level it. I know they brought a tamper originally, not sure if they used it or not.

 

[Texas Splash]

I think most of the hard work is already done. Have the company level and tamp it down really well. They should use a plate compactor at a minimum. After that, the base shouldn't move. If you still have reservations about the materials used for the base, you could always add some insulation panels or Gorilla Pads as another level of cushion and protection for the liner and swimmer's feet.

 

[Texas Splash]

I combined all of your threads so that the questions all stay together. Should make it easier to follow now.

 

[pfgiv]

Thank you, I was trying to find my threads and was so confused where they had gone. I have been discussing everything through PM with another well known intex pool guy on these forums, and he mentioned it's best to build on virgin soil after digging down. I remember reading that also, so I'm not sure why the landscaping companies that did the work said to do stone underneath (prob because they are not pool guys). I'm just concerned that after 70,000 pounds worth of water gets put on this, it may sink more, since I'm already severely off level after I was told it was leveled. It may be off level now due to settling, or maybe they actually did not have it level. I know a plate compactor was at my house, but I never physically saw it being used.

I'm not overly worried about the materials used as a base for protection of the pool, I'm worried about any further settling after the weight of the water is added. I used a 2" XPS under the liner with 2" pavers. I didn't want to dig down with the pavers at all since it's gravel under the sand. Only concern is gravel sinking into the dirt, but maybe a very long tamping will compact it so much that it won't move. That's really my question here.

Thanks

 

[pfgiv]

Pat, you kind of already answered this by saying have them use a plate compactor, but I want to double check, you think the base will be fine after doing so? If it's going to be risky, I'll have them remove all of the gravel. If compacting it will for sure make it stable and not erode, then I will do that. I just get concerned reading other posts now like from this thread, 3rd post Installing Intex 12x24 AGP,,,,,questions

You have to level your ground, not fill to level. You can never compact fill enough to make it not move under the weight of even a small pool, much less what you're planning.

This is going to be a permanent pool. The plan is to get a deck up around it ASAP, as we have a good number of black bears in the area, and a deck will help keep them from destroying the liner. So I really need to have this done right.

Lesson of the day is, don't hire landscapers who don't understand pool installs I suppose

 

[Texas Splash]

I understand your concern. Yes, we typically advocate for owners to dig down to a stable area to make it level. At the same time, digging down and installing base material and compacting as you have done is a bit different than someone who was simply trying to "build up" their yard to make it level. That we never encourage. But in your case, it sounds as though they dug down to stable soil. Adding gravel or base material to the top should only solidify that area IMO. Then a small layer of sand for final smoothing and/or comfort. As long as the contractor made sure everything is 100% level and compacted really, really well, it should be good.

 

[pfgiv]

I see, don't just build up to level, dig down then using something as a base is ok. Thank you for the input. I'm going to have him compact it for like an entire day, ha!

 

[pfgiv]

Guys were just back and leveled the area. I asked what he did before hand. He said he used the plate compactor on the gravel, then smoothed sand the first time, no compactor. This time they ran the skid steer over the area then raked the sand to level, again no compactor. He said if he uses the compactor on the sand then when he's done it likely will not be level, then he would have to bring more sand in and compact more.

Should we scrap this and have them dig out all of the gravel and sand? I'm concerned because there's areas that were soft and my feet would sink in a bit if I did a little back and forth shimmy from foot to foot (a bunch of the water went into this area when I drained the 2" of water that was in the pool). Maybe this is because I'm 240, exerting all that pressure in a small area. and the psi of the water in a given area will not be as heavy.

 

[Texas Splash]

He said if he uses the compactor on the sand then when he's done it likely will not be level, then he would have to bring more sand in and compact more.

Sounds like that's what he needs to do to me. I'd hate to see all of that work and product get dug up and start over, but you may know better just by seeing it first-hand. Go with your gut.

 

[pfgiv]

Sounds like that's what he needs to do to me. I'd hate to see all of that work and product get dug up and start over, but you may know better just by seeing it first-hand. Go with your gut.

he said they just did this exact same thing and put up a pool in another job. idk, I'm just nervous all around seeing how quickly one thing that you don't realize can throw everything off, ie the land not being level.

They also did not laser level. They used a 8 ft metal beam and checked various areas throughout. They showed them to me also and the areas were level, but that's an 8 ft segment. The sand also is not perfectly flat throughout, you can see in the photo it is not perfect. I don't mind running something over it to flatten it all, but I'm worrying about further settling.

 

[TinFoilHat]

You might consider raising your filter equipment up so that it doesn't get flooded by runoff that will certainly come down from the hill behind the pool.