Calling All INTEX Pool Owners (all AG pool owners welcome of course) - Please help

I just finished excavating a flat area in my back yard to put the pool. (intex 18' above ground metal frame)
I thought I had this all planned out but now I am second guessing and I am not sure what my next step should be.
Intex says these pools are assembled directly on the ground. SO....
Do I Just smooth out the dirt very well and assemble the pool??
Do I seed grass and wait for that to come in nice and then build the pool?
Do I buy all the rock and sand and create a typical pool base as you would a "normal" AG pool?

Thoughts:
---I probably don't want just dirt under the pool right? Wont rain/pool water seep under and create mud/other issues?
---I want to keep the cost down but more importantly... This is my first pool. I don't know yet if pool ownership will be for me so I don't want to fill my yard with rock/sand etc.. if I don't have to. Know what I mean?

All suggestions and expeirences welcome!



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Hi firstpool, and congrats on becoming a pool owner--you're gonna LOVE it this summer!!

Forum traffic is very slow this time of year so it may take several days before you get useful responses to your post. I have zero experience with AG pool foundations, so I'll defer to the others to help you with your questions, but I at least would put a sheet of vinyl down under your pool to help prevent weeds, rocks, etc from penetrating your pool liner from the bottom. There are some posts around the forum that may be helpful--try the google link in my sig to search for pads under AG pools.

Here's an old thread that might help: http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/archive...hp/t-4488.html

Level is critical - well less than an inch difference in height around the perimeter of the pool. The soil must be compact - your going to stand about four feet of water on top of it - it will be a problem if the pool water or frame compacts the soil in one area sending the pool out of level.

No need to grow grass under the pool, the pool will kill it.

Block and sand are used for traditional rigid side AG pools, check your instructions but I don't think that Intex calls for them for soft side pools.

I would definitely put a barrier under the pool and the frame. There are several materials available for AG pools but I cut up a couple large tarps for under my old Intex donut.

Remember: Level and compact soil are critical to success. Measure for level, nobody's eyes are that good.

Hi and welcome!

You've gotten good advice. It's not just level ground you need, but you need it, it is stable level ground that won't wash away. If your newly level area is stable I would, at a minimum, put a single tarp bigger than the pool under it to prevent rocks from cutting the bottom. Intex inflatable pools are tough but the sides are much more heavily reinforced than the bottom because they are structural. You could also put a few inches of gravel followed by 2 or 3 inches of sand, but, again, it has to be stable so it doesn't wash away.

It's one of the traps of the Intex pools. You are intrigued by the low up-front cost to get a pool...but if you do not have a level surface you have make one. You've done it the easier way, going down rather than up, so it's more likely to be stable. When I had a 15' Intex donut, one of the earliest ones, I had to build a base. Even doing most of the work myself (I'm able to use a level and even a transit), it still cost me about $400 for my base and I had to "refresh" it every year to make sure it was level.

I hope this helps.

Carl

Sorry for the late response. I was out of town on work.
Thanks for all the comments and the welcomes!
Level: - I am a surveyor by trade so I was able to make it level to the hundreth. The hurdle I need to overcome is Keeping it level. That is why I was wondering about growing grass first as it would hold the soil from washout. If I skip the grass and lay down a few tarps between the pool and the bare soil would that be enough to prevent washout? That is the way I would like to go if it sounds reasonable to do so. I little sand may help but I am afraid a few inches of it would cause more problems than it solves with washing out especially considering the slope of the yard. (BUt i don't know so please advise)
Cost: - Would be ridiculous for me to complain so far. LOL - $100 for the pool (complete and brand new. Purchaser thought it was to much work after beginning to set it up.) -Grading was free (neighbor owed me a favor) -$160 for new 2500gph pump and 25 filters
Will need to purchase: Taylor Kit, BBB chemicals, odds and ends

Summary: Sounds like the way for me to go would be to cut several tarps to place under the pool and go to extra lenghts to stabilize the ground around the pool.

Thoughts? Concerns?
Thanks.

I think if you can get a single tarp that would be better.

Carl

Meaning more than one could be a problem or just simply "more is not better"
Thanks.

It sounded like you were going to piece them together rather than having one continuous whole. I'm thinking thick seams would be created which might stress the bottom vinyl. Intex inflatables have tough, reinforced sides, but the bottom is simply sheet vinyl.

Carl

For me, I used a couple layers of tarp each covering the entire area under the pool. I believe Intex says not to use sand as it can wash away. I did use sand contained in a level ring made of that black, tubular landscape edging. I checked for level, added sand and re-graded each year when I assembled the pool. If you don't have a way to contain the sand, stick with the compacted soil - the sand will wash away if it can. Also, I would avoid putting the metal frame parts on sand, the sand will let then sink right through.

Sorry for questioning your level - but... (as I'm sure you know) - to many (many many) people 2" across 18' would look perfect.

Another thought. If you're considering sand for a better feel under foot, you might consider foam - 1/4" closed cell foam in rolls is available from Internet pool supply places. Tape the seams and put it under your tarps. We put up a small (10') donut on my parents irregular (but pretty flat) concrete drive and first laid down the styrofoam insulation you'd use under vinyl siding. It worked well for protecting the pool bottom and for a slight cushion.