How to Install a Base For Your Above Ground Pool Liner
Learn multiple ways to setup your above ground pool base when installing your swimming pool liner.
Many do-it-yourselfers installing an above ground swimming pool for the first time have questions regarding how to properly install a base underneath an above ground pool liner.
This article will illustrate the correct way to accomplish this in order to make the installation go smoother and protect the pool liner and pool wall from being damaged.
The information in this article is provided and referenced directly from each swimming pool manufacturer’s installation and safety instruction manual (Wilbar International, Trendium Pool Products and Trevi).
Wilbar International, Trendium Pool Products and Trevi Swimming Pool Installation & Safety Instruction Manuals can be found by clicking on the link for each specific pool model below:
- Bristol Pool Model
- Boreal Pool Model
- Cameo Pool Model
- Daytona Pool Model
- Hampton Pool Model
- Intrepid Pool Model
- Melenia Pool Model
- Saltwater 5000 Pool Model
- Quest Pool Model
- Saltwater 8000 Pool Model
- Saltwater LX Pool Model
- Saltwater Aurora Pool Model
- Signature RTL Pool Model
- Tribeca Pool Model
One of the biggest problems that we see is with the height of the base beneath the above ground pool liner. When the sand base is not high enough there is excess strain put on the pool liner and pool wall, and this tremendous weight of the water can easily cause the vinyl pool liner to “blowout” and/or the metal pool wall to be pulled down.
Above ground pool liners are not built to withstand water weight, they are simply made to line the inside of a pool to hold the water. Therefore, when installing a new above ground swimming pool or a new above ground pool liner it is extremely important to make sure that the vinyl pool liner is supported by the proper base. There should be NO AIR SPACE between the vinyl pool liner and the base that it should be resting on.
Avoid Air Pockets During Liner Installation
View the diagram’s below to see how the CORRECT and INCORRECT ways to install your pool liner.
Simplified Installation, Better Results!
Select a topic below to expand each tutorial that demonstrates step-by-step various pool base configurations.
- Installing a Swimming Pool with a Sand Base and Sand Cove
- Installing a Swimming Pool with a Sand Base and Foam Cove
- Installing a Swimming Pool with a Sand Base, Foam Cove and Liner Floor Pad
- Installing a Swimming Pool with a Sand Base, Foam Cove, Liner Floor Pad and Wall Foam
Fine Mason Sand
Foam Pool Cove
Liner Floor Pad
Wall Foam & Spray
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.
Step 3
This is the completed above ground pool liner installation. The vinyl pool liner should be completely supported by the pool base to avoid any stress or damage to it or the metal pool wall.
Installing a Pool with a Sand Base and Foam 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
After installing a 3″ sand base, attach the pool cove (foam) by simply removing the adhesive backing and sticking it to the metal pool wall directly on top of the sand (where the base meets the metal pool wall).
Step 3
This is the completed above ground pool liner installation. The vinyl pool liner should be completely supported by the pool base to avoid any stress or damage to it or the metal pool wall.
Installing a Pool with a Sand Base, Foam Cove and Liner Floor Pad
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
After installing the 3″ sand base, lay the liner floor pad on top. Please note your liner floor pad is pre-cut to fit your pool’s exact dimensions.
Step 3
Attach the pool cove (foam) directly on top of the liner floor pad by removing the adhesive backing and sticking it to the metal pool wall (where the liner floor pad meets the metal pool wall).
Step 4
This is the completed above ground pool liner installation. The vinyl pool liner should be completely supported by the pool base to avoid any stress or damage to it or the metal pool wall.
Installing a Pool with a Sand Base, Foam Cove, Liner Floor Pad and Wall Foam
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
After installing the 3″ sand base, lay the liner floor pad on top. Please note your liner floor pad is pre-cut to fit your pool’s exact dimensions.
Step 3
Using spray glue or duct tape attach the pool wall foam to the metal pool wall. Start attaching the foam at the top of the pool wall. This will leave a small portion of the bottom of the pool wall not covered with foam but this area will be hidden with a sand or foam cove.
Step 4
After installing the pool wall foam, attach the pool cove (foam) by removing the adhesive backing and sticking it to the metal pool wall directly on top of the liner floor pad (where the liner floor pad meets the metal pool wall).
Step 5
This is the completed above ground pool liner installation. The vinyl pool liner should be completely supported by the pool base to avoid any stress or damage to it or the metal pool wall.
In conclusion, there are several ways that one can prepare their pool base prior to installing your above ground pool liner. If these steps are followed correctly they can help prevent issues with your above ground pool liner post installation and in years to come!
Above Ground Pool Installation Items
The following are links to various sections on our website ThePoolFactory.com where you can select pool liner installation items based off your above ground pool size.
Pool Cove (Foam)
Pool Cove is foam that easily peels and sticks to the inside base of the pool wall. The foam pool cove is 3-3/4 inches high and must be installed on top of 3 inches of sand. This will give you a total height of about 7 inches, the recommended height to support the liner and eliminate stress at the seam of the pool liner.
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Armor Shield Liner Floor Pad
Armor Shield Floor Pad provides an important protective layer between a vinyl swimming pool liner and it’s sand base. Unlike traditional foam padding, Armor Shield is a Polypropylene Geotextile material that prevents cuts and punctures to vinyl liners caused by rocks, roots, grass and even glass!
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Pool Wall Foam
Pool Wall Foam 1/8 inch thick x 48 inches high protects against punctures to your pool liner. Create a smooth wall surface with this closed-cell foam padding that helps prevent rust, corrosion and other wall degradation.
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While shopping on our website if you have any questions about any of the products or sizes that you may need please don’t hesitate to contact us via Live Chat or our contact us form.
How Much Sand Will I Need For Pool Installation?
| Table header 0 | 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 | 1.50 | 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 |
