Backfilling an Above Ground Pool

[94ukgrad]

I recently installed an AGP on my sloped back yard. I built a 2 ft. retaining wall out of railroad timbers and backfilled with dense grade aggregage to sit pool on. After doing this, I still had to dig down approx. 2 ft. next to my house (within 4 feet of house) to level area for pool. Pool is now installed and I am wondering if I could backfill with dirt the 2 ft. trench around 1/2 of my pool. Also, will it hurt the pool for water to stand up against the wall if I don't backfill this area?

Thanks for any comments.

Mark.

[Jim_G]

we used to have an AG buried half way in the ground. I used a 2" drainage pipe around the bottom edge to eliminate excess water from collecting around the bottom of pool when it was backfilled. You will want to make sure your pool is at least half full when you start your backfill.

[Watermom]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I didn't think you wanted dirt piled around the sides of an AG pool and thus it wasn't recommended to backfill around one. Not sure about that, though. ????

[Jim_G]

im certain the mfg's dont want you to, it may void any warrentee you have if it is a new pool..I may have posted hastily and not thinking my AG was 7 yrs old when i moved it closer to the house and burried it 2 ft. My Apologies

[Laenini]

We have a 24' x 48" round AGP that was installed 2 years ago. We purchased the pool from Watson's (its their in-house Mighty Sun brand) and basic installation was included in the purchase price of the pool. Both the in-house salesman and the actual installer specifically instructed us to back fill around the pool using the dirt that had been disturbed during the leveling process. We were told to go about 10 inches or so up the base of the pool wall, and then slope the soil away so that water would run away from the pool. We followed their directions and everything has been fine.

[TMan]

I'll tell you we had set our AG pool 'in-ground' below grade and after 10 years the side wall rusted thru. Now be aware we only put in mulch about 1' deep but after many years it turned to dirt. Even with the small amount of rain here in central tx. it was enough to corrode thru the wall from the outside-in. When we (IF) we replace the pool as it sits, I will ensure that no backfill touches the pool sides and keep the trench clean. That way even though water may temporarily fill up on heavy rains, it will drain and dry and no dirt or backfill will touch the pool wall to rust it again. Of course with the resin pool we're looking at it shouldn't take much if any maint. at all re:dirt or backfill agains the pool wall. Lesson learned.