Hello everyone. We're having issues with our above-ground pool sinking on one side. The pool came with our house which we bought a little over a year ago. It's 18 foot with metal sides/frame and a vinyl liner. We're located in SW Oklahoma and anyone from this area knows the clay here will dry out and cause all sorts of problems with pools and even home foundations. We hope to replace the pool for next season but we want to prevent the same issue from happening again. So our question is once we level out the ground, what steps should we take to prep the area to avoid large cracks in the clay from forming under the new pool? I agree with using some sort of A2 material, compacting it and then using either sand or foam for a smooth surface. We don't know how the ground was originally prepped. We're just wondering if we follow the steps I mentioned will that help prevent our current situation from happening again?
Pool sinking due to hard clay cracking from the dry heat
- Thread starter March_couple
- Start date
- Apr 23, 2017
- 2,400
- Pool Size
- 22000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Welcome to TFP...
I don’t have the answer to your question but some really smart folks will chime in soon...
I don’t have the answer to your question but some really smart folks will chime in soon...
- May 3, 2014
- 58,570
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Welcome to the forum! :handshake:
In some areas with that issue folks have used soaker hoses to keep the clay damp. Do not have to be run all the time but on occasion.
I suggest you read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Trouble Free Pool School book.
In some areas with that issue folks have used soaker hoses to keep the clay damp. Do not have to be run all the time but on occasion.
I suggest you read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Trouble Free Pool School book.
- Jul 3, 2013
- 9,028
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool SJ-40
I just run the sprinklers every 2 to 3 days and no issues in 4 years, pool is sitting directly over rock hard clay slab 3 feet below pool... (no issues with the house slab also)
Keeping the clay moist is really the only guaranty that the soil around it won't shrink again. For the new pool you can lay mulch around the pool and cover it with a layer of rock chips and water it well during the summer. The mulch will help keep the ground moist. Just don't pile mulch next to the metal pool wall. Leave about a 1" gap w/o mulch next to the pool. You can carefully fill in the gap with rock chips.
Thank you for everyone's input. I figured keeping the ground moist would be the only way. Hopefully the area under the pool isn't so far gone that it needs a ton of work. Thanks again.
i have a soaker hose that is run around my pool. i run it every other day for 15mins.