This is split off from this thread: http://www.troublefreepool.com/foam-bottoms-t40876.html#p333379
linen EDIT: Since others, especially supertune and jrh1010 have added greatly to the thread...it has been given a new title...they are "(+ others)"...for posterity the old title was: "One fool's method for doing a round AGP deep end..."
First off, I am not sure if I have any good pictures before I filled, I tend to be bad at that when I a focused on getting something done. When it thaws this spring I could snap a couple, but that might be too late for you. Instead I will describe what I did.
A caveat: This is my first AGP install, and was done without outside consultation other than reading a lot on the web. I did some things that may not be common practice, but the pool has survived for 1.5 years now, and has worked well.
My pool has 48' sides which I love (compared to higher pools) since it allows me to easily work over the edge of the pool and it is a nice depth for the smaller ones. My deep end is about 6' at it's deepest.
Basically my pool is split into thirds...1/3 is shallow, 1/3 slopes to the deep end, and 1/3 is deep. Around the perimeter of the deep end and the slope I left 2 ft not dug, which gives the walls ample support and makes for a great walking ledge. It is a steep slope from the walking ledge down to the deep section (~45 degree), but the slope from the shallow to deep end is quite gradual. I used 1 1/2 inch pink foam insulation (extruded Polystyrene) on the shallow end and walking ledge. Under the foam and on the slope and deep end I put heavy landscaping fabric. I considered a pad, but new it would not stretch as deep as I wanted to go (and I am cheap). So basically there is just thick landscaping fabric between the dirt and the liner in the deep end and slope areas. So far it has worked great and I think the key to it was I worked hard at smoothing and tamping that dirt before I put the fabric down. I sculpted/filleted the edges of the foam where it met with the fabric just before fabric heads down the slope...that turned out better than I had imagined...very smooth transition.
Regarding the pink foam and my walls...I used 6"X12"X1.5" patio blocks that I made a circle with so that my wall track was supported 1.5" off the ground the entire circumference of the pool. The pink insulation foam was the same thickness as the blocks so instead of loosing the 1.5 inch depth (or more) due to using foam and or sand inside the walls, my expandable liner stretched to 48 inches in my shallow areas. I use foam cove which extended over my patio block to pink insulation butt joint.
I know this was brief, but maybe if needed this can be a back and forth conversation. Chuck, what questions do you have?
linen (the fool)
linen EDIT: Since others, especially supertune and jrh1010 have added greatly to the thread...it has been given a new title...they are "(+ others)"...for posterity the old title was: "One fool's method for doing a round AGP deep end..."
Chuck,supertune said:
First off, I am not sure if I have any good pictures before I filled, I tend to be bad at that when I a focused on getting something done. When it thaws this spring I could snap a couple, but that might be too late for you. Instead I will describe what I did.
A caveat: This is my first AGP install, and was done without outside consultation other than reading a lot on the web. I did some things that may not be common practice, but the pool has survived for 1.5 years now, and has worked well.
My pool has 48' sides which I love (compared to higher pools) since it allows me to easily work over the edge of the pool and it is a nice depth for the smaller ones. My deep end is about 6' at it's deepest.
Basically my pool is split into thirds...1/3 is shallow, 1/3 slopes to the deep end, and 1/3 is deep. Around the perimeter of the deep end and the slope I left 2 ft not dug, which gives the walls ample support and makes for a great walking ledge. It is a steep slope from the walking ledge down to the deep section (~45 degree), but the slope from the shallow to deep end is quite gradual. I used 1 1/2 inch pink foam insulation (extruded Polystyrene) on the shallow end and walking ledge. Under the foam and on the slope and deep end I put heavy landscaping fabric. I considered a pad, but new it would not stretch as deep as I wanted to go (and I am cheap). So basically there is just thick landscaping fabric between the dirt and the liner in the deep end and slope areas. So far it has worked great and I think the key to it was I worked hard at smoothing and tamping that dirt before I put the fabric down. I sculpted/filleted the edges of the foam where it met with the fabric just before fabric heads down the slope...that turned out better than I had imagined...very smooth transition.
Regarding the pink foam and my walls...I used 6"X12"X1.5" patio blocks that I made a circle with so that my wall track was supported 1.5" off the ground the entire circumference of the pool. The pink insulation foam was the same thickness as the blocks so instead of loosing the 1.5 inch depth (or more) due to using foam and or sand inside the walls, my expandable liner stretched to 48 inches in my shallow areas. I use foam cove which extended over my patio block to pink insulation butt joint.
I know this was brief, but maybe if needed this can be a back and forth conversation. Chuck, what questions do you have?
linen (the fool)
When I open my pool, I will try to take a pic that shows my deep end.
Does it come with a filter?
