If you check for vermiculite, make sure to get the MEDIUM grade, not fine, not course. We got the wrong type initially and had to pay the restock fee and cart it back to the supplier. Ugh.

THe good news is that even though we live in Maryland, I found a vermiculite supplier in Ohio -- love the internet! Even with the delivery charge, it was less expensive than what we originally got at the local farm store. You might find something similar.

One note: we got a lot more than we needed to make sure we didn't run out. The guidelines on the Schundler web site were exactly what we needed, but we also had a very exact dig. We used the leftover vermiculite for landscaping.

Vermiculite is often available at farm supply stores, through landscape companies or pool construction stores.

By the way, a friend who had a gunnite pool said she really liked the feel of our pool bottom -- it was softer than hers. The difference may not be as much as the difference between a concrete floor and wood, but I hope you get the picture. Jo