Oval Pool Set up with pics and tips?

[Aranon]

I will be installing my pool in a couple of weeks with a beaded liner. Tahitian 18' x 40' x 54" buttless resin frame with aluminum track. Made by Sharkline. I am thinking of using Styrofoam for the bottom with cove foam and gorilla pad.

I have several questions, especially about after the frame is set up and I add 2" of Dow Chemical Blue Styrofoam board (Blue Board) will my beaded liner be to high to fit, or do they make the liner shorter by design and assume you are going to add 2" of sand in the bottom. Please explain.

Does anyone have any pictures of setting up an oval. hrsdennis had some great pics of setting up a round pool on sand. Maybe Dennis has some of setting up an oval, or anyone else. I am sure several people here would benefit from these. And if possible, does anyone have pics of using Styrofoam for the bottom that could show some pics. Maybe someone is putting one up in the next week that could take pics of the install and share them and any tips, tricks and any other information on installing a buttress-less oval. And tips on the beaded liner would help too.

Thanks,
Aranon

Tahitian 18'x40'x54" Resin/Metal (Sharkline)
Rolling Rock beaded liner 25 ga
Pentair 150 cartridge w/ 2 speed 1 1/2 Dynaflo
Dolphin Pool Rover
Diamond solar cover

[matt4x4]

My Recommendation to you is to build a 2" wall base out of compacted screenings (crusher run), this will "lift" your walls to accomodate the 2" of styrofoam and put everything back on the same level. The compactor will likely run you about 30 bucks for the day, you'll probably need 2-3 yds of screenings since you'll want them to go well beyond the edge of your bottom rail.

[Aranon]

Compact Screening, Cursher Run? I'm so confused. Whats is that. Please describe. I thoght I might just pour a small concrete rail about a foot wide to set the rail and post on. What is Compact Screening?

Thanks

Aranon

[hrsdennis]

Aranon, I will go through some old photos. I am sure I have some that might help you. I don't feature an oval on my site because there are just to many styles of side brace setups. I think it would be to confusing.

Beaded liners are supposed to allow for a 2" base. But as I have said before that does not mean much. It could be big, small or just right. With an oval pool you cannot raise the outer level to allow for the foam. I believe you have straps with your oval pool and those must lay at ground level. And they must be covered by sand or foam.

later, Dennis

[Aranon]

This sounds like good news. You saying that I just put my pool up on my Laser Leveled ground that I scraped with a tractor and blade and used mason sand to make perfectly level.

If I understand you right I set my rails on the level ground and I will set my buttress-less post on leveled concrete or patio stones. I will try and get the patio stones perfectly level and at the same height within and 1/8 of an inch of each other. I have a couple of lasers ( rotary and split-beam) and a transit.

After I set up my track and sides. I lay (cut to fit) my 2" Styrofoam Blue board. Stick my foam cove on it and put in my liner and it should line up with the beaded receiver track because it expects 2" of something under the liner within the walls. Correct? When do I put in the Gorilla Liner? Do I put it on top of the foam cove or under it. I am assuming I go in this order:
1. Leveling sand
2. Styrofoam
3. Gorilla Liner
4. Foam cove
5. Liner
6. Water
7. Margarita
8. Suntan Lotion
9. Sun glasses
10. Jump in

Does sound about right Dennis?

Thank you,
Aranon

[chazzilla]

To be honest with you, I would skip the gorilla pad. Mine came in today, and I was kind of disappionted. It seems to me that it is just heavy duty felt, and yes it is a cloth, that is about 1/8" thick. The pictures on most website make it look like it is thick or has some substance, it doesnt. I am not saying it will not do it's job (protecting the liner!) whick is why we intalled anyway, but if I had it to do again I would have just used styrofoam instead. In my opinion you shouldn't need to use both.

Good Luck
Chaz