Patio block question

[NWMNMom]

Thank you. I appreciate the help. We bought all those patio blocks because the install instructions called for them, then read that they shouldn't be used in frost areas. I am going to return them.

[csevel]

Before you return them, I would ask an excavator or a contractor. Even though our pool has very wide base assembly...I feel much more confident setting the uprights on a footer-type foundation instead of directly into the mud precisely for the freeze/thaw effect. We get fairly harsh winters here in Ohio and it just seems like using patio blocks makes sense & would give much more stability to the installation.

[kevkline]

I live in Southeastern Michigan and my installer will not install without them.....I never asked for specifics, just asked if they were necessary and was told yes.

[huskerfan]

Definitely USE them! For sure on the long sides where the side uprights/buttress free are, and get the largest ones you can. Use the solid ones, not the ones with holes in them. There is a lot of pressure on those sides that a round pool doesn't have. Plus - it's much easier to level your pool using the patio blocks. If you have to fill under them, though, use stone dust/crushers/screenings, to have a solid base. Do not fill with dirt!

I'd recommend them under all uprights, for round pools too. If there's that much heaving that your pool wall buckles - it's not going to matter if there is a patio block there or not anyway. Only problem I can see with heaving is if you have a deck built above or below the top rail. My pool wintered great - use them for extra insurance!

[NWMNMom]

We went yesterday and bought the heavier blocks (4x8x16 solid) for the side uprights the straps run from on our buttress free. We will use the 12x12x1 for the remainder of the uprights. The left over eight 12x12s will be used for the ladder area on the outside of the pool to help keep it neat and sand free - we don't plan on a deck any time soon. Thanks Donya for the heads up on using them. If you and Matt did not have issues with frost heaves and using them, then I am comfortable that we should not either as long as everything else is installed correctly and level.

[pkzmf]

Buying a 27" ag round tonight they provide the blocks at install time...I live in west pa along the oh line. heavy frost lines here...I was not able to open my screen door this past winter (which was mild) all of the way do to the rise in the patio bricks. I would also check with the warranty with the pool if installing it yourself...one less thing they can say you did wrong if anything would go wrong.

[ShelleyAnn]

Our instructions for our buttress free oval said they could be left out completely on the round ends. We didn't put them in. I have read there is no downward pressure on the walls, only outward, but we did had some bulging of the metal side in between the uprights where the dirt was too high, so something's moving somewhere. That was simply resolved by removing a tiny bit if dirt with a pocket knife (I'm still amazed).

Shelley