Foam Bottom

[Ltvanloon]

I was considering using Foam as opposed to a sand bottom in the pool I am going to install. When I inquired at the lumber yard they said the dense Blue foam is only sold in 2' widths. Is this correct ? It would require a lot of taping.
What tape is best duct tape or the red insulation tape? Also the soil here is very sandy. Would tamping the sand down and placing the foam on be sufficient. Thanks in advance, Ltvanloon.

[Wayne LaBanca]

I was considering using Foam as opposed to a sand bottom in the pool I am going to install. When I inquired at the lumber yard they said the dense Blue foam is only sold in 2' widths. Is this correct ? It would require a lot of taping.
What tape is best duct tape or the red insulation tape? Also the soil here is very sandy. Would tamping the sand down and placing the foam on be sufficient. Thanks in advance, Ltvanloon.

Not so sure you want to do that, I can see one of two things happening:

1. The weight of the water will crush it flat and it becomes as good as having nothing there.

2. It doesen't crush flat but you end up with all kinds of foot dents in it from the swimmers. When you in the store push your thimb into a sheet, it does not come back up.

But I believe yes, 2'X4' is the size it comes in.

Wayne

[sevver]

You can get it in 4x8 sheets too, probably just not there, look around I am sure that you could find it. I used the happy bottom stuff, it is more forgivable.

[Getgo]

I was considering using Foam as opposed to a sand bottom in the pool I am going to install. When I inquired at the lumber yard they said the dense Blue foam is only sold in 2' widths. Is this correct ? It would require a lot of taping.
What tape is best duct tape or the red insulation tape? Also the soil here is very sandy. Would tamping the sand down and placing the foam on be sufficient. Thanks in advance, Ltvanloon.

Lets do some math...

20,000 gallons of water weighs 166,000 pounds

Lets say you have a oval pool thats 18' x 34', then you would have something like 612 square feet or 88,128 square inches of pool area....

Still with me?

So, 166,000 pounds of water distributed over 88,128 square inches = something like 3.17 pounds per square inch...

Now, the 1 inch thick PINK styrofoam from owens corning has a compressive strength of 25 pounds per sqaure inch...

I don't think the water will crush it.

From the Getgo

[hrsdennis]

So correct GetGo, I have used foam on a lot of pools, never a problem. No footprints either. I use 4 x 8 sheets and a lot of duck tape.

Dennis

[RavenNS]

SWEET... Science Rules !!!

[haze_1956]

I see 4x8 foot sheets at most Home Depot's, and you can usually find it at vinyl siding, supply houses.

[Ltvanloon]

I had calculated the water at about 1.8psi at about 4' deep so I wasn't concerned about the water crushing it, more concerded about kids jumping in off deck and landing on their heels hard. Not sure if that would dent it.
It looks like the foamular product from Owens Corning is what I'm looking for. I'll call around tomorrow. Thanks for your input. Ltvanloon.