Many first time pool owners are who installing an above ground swimming pool for the first time have questions regarding how to properly install a base underneath a pool liner.
This article will illustrate the correct way install a swimming pool with a sand base and sand covein order to make the installation go smoother and protect the pool liner and pool wall from being damaged.
Avoid Air Pockets During Liner Installation
View the diagram’s below to see how the CORRECT and INCORRECT ways to install your pool liner.
Installing a Pool with a Sand Base and Sand Cove
Step 1
Using fine sand (free of rocks and debris), lay a 3″ thick bed of sand across the entire inside of the pool (wall-to-wall) this will form your base.
Step 2
Build a sand cove against the pool wall by creating a 4″ angle of sand (on top of the 3″) sand base giving you a total sand cove height of 7″ inches where the base meets the metal pool wall.
How Much Sand Will I Need For Pool Installation?
| Amount for Sand Base with SAND COVE | Amount for Sand Base with FOAM COVE |
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pool Size | Yards of Sand | Tons of Sand | Yards of Sand | Tons of Sand |
| 12' Round | 1.00 | 1.40 | 0.75 | 1.00 |
| 15' Round | 1.50 | 2.00 | 1.00 | 1.50 |
| 18' Round | 2.00 | 3.00 | 1.50 | 2.00 |
| 21' Round | 2.50 | 3.50 | 2.00 | 2.50 |
| 24' Round | 3.50 | 5.00 | 2.50 | 3.50 |
| 27' Round | 4.00 | 5.50 | 3.00 | 4.00 |
| 30' Round | 5.50 | 7.75 | 4.00 | 5.75 |
| 33' Round | 7.00 | 10.00 | 5.25 | 7.50 |
| 8' X 12' Oval | 0.75 | 1.00 | 0.50 | 0.75 |
| 8' X 14' Oval | 1.00 | 1.40 | 0.75 | 1.05 |
| 8' X 15' Oval | 1.00 | 1.40 | 0.75 | 1.05 |
| 8' X 16' Oval | 1.00 | 1.40 | 0.75 | 1.05 |
| 8' X 19' Oval | 1.00 | 1.40 | 0.75 | 1.05 |
| 10' X 15' Oval | 1.00 | 1.40 | 0.75 | 1.05 |
| 10' X 16' Oval | 1.00 | 1.40 | 0.75 | 1.05 |
| 10' X 18' Oval | 1.25 | 1.75 | 1.00 | 1.40 |
| 10' X 19' Oval | 1.25 | 1.75 | 1.00 | 1.40 |
| 10' X 21' Oval | 1.50 | 2.00 | 1.25 | 1.75 |
| 12' X 16' Oval | 1.25 | 1.75 | 1.00 | 1.40 |
| 12' X 17' Oval | 1.50 | 2.00 | 1.00 | 1.40 |
| 12' X 18' Oval | 1.50 | 2.00 | 1.00 | 1.40 |
| 12' X 20' Oval | 1.75 | 2.50 | 1.25 | 1.75 |
| 12' X 21' Oval | 1.75 | 2.50 | 1.25 | 1.75 |
| 12' X 24' Oval | 2.00 | 3.00 | 1.50 | 2.00 |
| 12' X 27' Oval | 2.50 | 3.50 | 2.00 | 3.00 |
| 14' X 20' Oval | 2.00 | 3.00 | 1.5 | 2.00 |
| 15' X 23' Oval | 2.50 | 3.50 | 1.75 | 2.50 |
| 15' X 24' Oval | 2.50 | 3.50 | 1.75 | 2.50 |
| 15' X 26' Oval | 2.75 | 4.00 | 2.00 | 2.75 |
| 15' X 30' Oval | 3.50 | 5.00 | 2.50 | 3.50 |
| 16' X 26' Oval | 3.50 | 5.00 | 2.50 | 3.50 |
| 16' X 32' Oval | 4.00 | 5.50 | 3.00 | 4.00 |
| 18' X 33' Oval | 4.50 | 6.50 | 3.50 | 4.50 |
| 18' X 40' Oval | 5.50 | 7.50 | 4.5 | 6.00 |
| 21' X 43' Oval | 7.00 | 10.00 | 5.25 | 7.50 |
If you buy the foam cove and floor pad with your pool, do you still have to put sand on the bottom? Thanks!
Hi Joanna,
Yes, we recommend a 3-4″ sand base (wall to wall), the liner pad on top of the sand, and the foam cove on top of the pad around the perimeter.
Tom,
I have all those components and the wall padding. Will the wall padding go first, then sand, liner pad, foam cove? Where in the sequence does the wall padding fall in?
Hi Shawn,
We would recommend installing wall foam after the liner floor pad but before installing the foam pool cove.
Please go to the following page for more info and pictures:
http://blog.thepoolfactory.com/how-to-install-a-base-for-your-above-ground-pool-liner/#sandbase-foamcove-linerfloorpad-wallfoam
Is it a good idea to put couple of inches Gravel and then sand for base of pool? I’m installing 15X30 oval pool
Hi Paul,
Do not use gravel underneath a pool liner, the water weight will push the gravel up through the vinyl liner.
Please follow the directions in this article when installing: How to Install a Base For Your Above Ground Pool Liner