Looking at a 18x33 Lomart

[Dave45n]

Looking at the Whispering Wind with a 6' deep end and buried into the ground.

I’m worried about putting the pool into the ground. My installer says to use sand as back fill and most other's say just to use the dig as back fill, which will be mostly clay. What is the pros and con's of sand.

Also does anyone know anything about Lomart by Hoffinger?

Thanks to all in advance for any help.

Dave

[CarlD]

Lomart is a well-known and respectable brand. I THINK it's related to Dough-boy, but don't bet the farm on that.

I'm always leery of burying AG pools. They are not designed for it. There are IG pools than can be fully exposed, with steel walls, that naturally can be buried, or used as AG pools too. About half of my neighbor's pool is out of the ground, but it's hard to see because of the deck.

[Dave45n]

Thanks Carl for your opinion.

Still looking for opinions on sand or dirt as backfill.

Thanks

[maureenc26]

Carl, which inground pools can have walls exposed? I thought they had to be completely ground level...
We're getting close to installing our 16x32 doughboy 2' in the ground with a 6' deep end and using the Doughboy-corporation-recommended method of backfilling with slurry. Have I missed an option?

Maureen

[hrsdennis]

Hi Dave, Hoffinger Corp owns both Doughboy and Lomart and their pool are almost identical. They both have many different styles and grades of quality. But no matter what the price range they are all quality products. A good choice.

As for backfilling with sand, I would not do it. Use dirt or something that will pack firm and solid. When it comes time to change a liner in five or ten years you do not want the walls collapsing. Sand will never pack solid.

Maureen, their are two types of vinyl pools. Above ground pools are not designed to be self supporting without water. The steel wall pools Carl is talking about are disgned to support the weight of the dirt without water. The only time this really becomes a factor is at liner changing time. Doughboy came up with the slurry idea as a way to backfill around a pool with something that would not collapse the walls if the pool were left empty.

If money is not a big problem Carl is very correct. There is a reason, however, that so many of us want to put our above ground pools inground.
the price

later, Dennis

[Dave45n]

Thanks Dennis, didn’t think about changing the liner that makes sense.

I thought going with a little higher priced pool might help out with it being in the ground, lasting little longer.

Do I need to use an in ground pump? How about the Pentair Sand Dollar Filter system, SD 40?

Thanks,
Dave

[hrsdennis]

Hi Dave, if you are talking Doughboy or Lomart the walls are the same regardless of price. I could, I guess, say that about all above ground pools. They are not designed to stand without water against the pressure of dirt. I will say, however, that I have installed many hundreds of above ground pools in the ground. I have also changed liners in hundteds that have been buried. There are several factors that make the thing work. Always keep your water level above the ground level. Backfill with something that will back solid in a year or two. When doing a liner change, drain pool, change liner and refill within a day or two. The worst cave inns I have seen have been caused by pools being left empty for the winter or a bad rain storm , or sprinkler mishap, while the pool was empty.

As for pumps and filters. Above ground pool filter systems are meant to be gravity fed and sit close to the pool. Inground systems, however, can be installed above water level and a greater distance from the pool.

Hope this helps some, Dennis

[Dave45n]

Hi Dennis, Been out of town. Good to hear that burying your pool has been done with good results. I appreciate yours and everyone else’s insight. What’s the best way to deal with the skimmer below the ground?

Thanks Dave

[hrsdennis]

Hi Dave, I have seen many with wood boxes built around the skimmer and return. Works great.

Dennis

[Dave45n]

How will this affect winterizing?