It is necessary that you put the right material underneath any ground pool to protect it from corroding and rusting. There are several options that you can select from. The first thing to understand is that you can’t put one material everywhere. Based on the conditions, you have to go for the one that will hold strong and protect the pool. Though each pool installation is different, there are some general guidelines that you can follow while installing the above the ground pool.
Natural Earth
Nothing better than Nature! But you can just put the pool on the ground, though the cheapest option available, but there is some investment in terms of time. Before you could place the pool on the ground, you will have to clear the ground of all debris. It is necessary that there is no stone, glass or grass on the ground. Then you will need to smooth out the ground. Using a rake or shovel you could move the soil to make it smooth and even.
Sand
The most easily available material but should be used carefully. People often just go for sand because it is cheap and easily available. The biggest problem with using Sand base is that it doesn’t hold, that is, it is shifty. It is easy to make it smooth, but you have to make sure that you don’t make it more than 2 inches thick, or it would be difficult to keep the footprints away and hold the sand. While making the floor smooth with sand, it is necessary to avoid footprints as footprints don’t allow pool to vacuum properly.
Pool Floor Padding
There are two types of pool floor padding that you can use, Armor shield or Gorilla pad. These are by far the best material to use below the above the ground pool. Both, armor shield and gorilla pad are strong enough to keep any bugs or insects away, so that they don’t puncture the bottom of the vinyl pool. The second most important thing is that they allow the moisture to pass through. That keeps the pools from getting rusty.
Some Materials to Avoid
There are some materials that should be definitely avoided. Though considered as a good material to use below the pool, plastic sheeting should be avoided at all costs. Plastic sheeting does prevent the pool from bugs and insects, but because it is tough, it does not allow the water to escape. This makes the pool vulnerable to corrosion and rust.
You can ask a professional landscaper to help you with the installation of the above the ground pool and placing the best material that will hold the pool in place.