Above ground swimming pool - Creating an area

[Bob_A]

I’d like to create a paved area in an area that is currently a lawn.
During the hotter months I want to use an above ground swimming pool like this one on it.
http://www.splasherpools.com/proddetail.asp?prod=56949
It’s has a diameter of 15’ and height of 42" and holds 17570 Litres of water.
During the colder months (eg most of the year LOL) the area will receive hardly any traffic.
I realise that amount of water weighs a fair bit but even with the kids jumping up and down in the water the load should be fairly static. What I would like to know is do I need to take any special precautions with the construction or will the instructions outlined in pavingexpert.com suffice.
Was thinking of using blockpaving but the missus is a bit bored of the stuff and wants slabs laid in a random fashion.
I haven't had a proper look yet but perhaps something like Wickes Hamilton Paving which come in 3 different sizes and are 38mm thick.
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Hamilto....0

[matt h]

ADVISE USE THICKER PAVING WITH THIS WATER WEIGHT.

[lutonlagerlout]

if its full thats 17.5 tonnes,i know its spread but would upgrade rather than chance it,
apocryphally you can bung your local fire brigade a drink to fill it up from a hydrant
but i never said that :;):

LLL

[Bob_A]

Thicker slabs, what are we talking about 50mm?
Can you get thicker slabs that look ok and come in 2 or 3 sizes or are they generally a bit bland. Any manufacturers to look out for.

Could I get away with 38mm slabs if I beefed up the base?
That would make buying and handling so much easier.

[lutonlagerlout]

i would use 50 mm pre stressed concrete flags for this laid on 100 mm of leanmix
be covered up, wont it?
LLL

[Bob_A]

i would use 50 mm pre stressed concrete flags for this laid on 100 mm of leanmix
be covered up, wont it?
LLL

When you say covered up do you mean the pool will cover it?
If so yes the pool will cover it but only during the warmer months. When the kids are older and no longer use it then the area will just be used as a paved area. So although I'm not after a showpiece looks will matter
Am I right in saying that there's not a lot of choice when it comes to Pre stressed concrete flags.
Do you think this project might best be done with paving blocks?
I know the missus wasn't imtially keen on blocks but she'll probably prefer them to plain flags.

[lutonlagerlout]

i guess you can use any flag you wish ,but seeing as it will be covered during the all important summer months,why go to the expense of nice flags that you rarely see
you can dress a patio with pots etc for effect,plus the 50mm prestressed have less trip hazards for younger kids
cheers LLL

[Bob_A]

The paved area is going to be flush with the surrounding grass so there shouldn't be a trip hazard.
Missus still not convinced by plain slabs and 50mm prestressed don't appear to readily available locally to DIYers in small quantities.
Am I right in assuming that I can use standard 200x100x50mm blocks for this job. (can someone give me a yes/no before I order some!)
As blocks are relatively cheap, easy to obtain and to handle I think I'll knock the flags idea on the head.

[lutonlagerlout]

go for it bob_a

i have only been doing it 25 years so what do i know :;): :;): :;):

LLL

[Bob_A]

Cheers and thanks LLL

I'm not sure what type of sub base etc I'll need so will start a new thread in the block paving section in the near future.
Thanks again
Bob

[slaine23]

I wouldn't worry about the slabs at all if I were you and would consider just place direct onto the lawn though with these sorts of pools you normally have to put some sort of a sand base down before putting the pool down itself. Between the liner of the pool and the sand you should also put somethink down to take the edge of the sand - even old carpet would do it but some sort of geotextile would be better. The actual weight isn't that bad - 1 cubic meter of water = 1 tonne but thats spread over an area of a meter squared - the average car would be a of a greater pressure load would it not?

Kids jumping in and out causes surprising movement especially if they are of the variety of some of my own big boned rellies, so if you're concerned about that then I would look at a different sort of pool - something like this - http://www.splasherpools.com/proddetail.asp?prod=pool0012 - or this - http://www.splasherpools.com/proddetail.asp?prod=pool0015 - would be better and normally you would only have to put the slabs under the ssupport struts at the sides. They're more expensive but you can make them look pretty good with decking and the like. Don't know where you are based, but you might consider having a look in France for these things - the supermarkets are just about to start selling them again for the summer, you can see what you're getting and if you get lucky you can get some great promos. The whole lot would fit into the back of a van and the likes of the pools linked above have much better pumps and filters.

[Bob_A]

Thanks for you input

Got the pool already, used it last year. We put some carpet down over the grass and set it up on that, worked well.
Not going to use flags/slabs now, going to use block paving for the pool. Not that it's essential just fancied it so when it's packed up for the winter it looks better than dead grass.
Also when the kids have outgrown the pool I can see myself with my feet up relaxing on it in the summer.
:laugh:
Those pools in your link look good.I might make the area bigger than necessary in case we go for an upgrade.

[slaine23]

No worries - didn't know you'd already got the pool ...

Have one of those like in the pics myself, one of the best things ever bought, well pleased with it. Keep it up permanently though so don;t have to worry about dead grass. BTW, you can ones like those in the links /i gave here in France for either the save figures except in euros or even less (1000EUR) so worth the trip if you can make it.

Good luck with the paving.

[Rich H]

There is another point here. Most block paving fades significantly with exposure to the sun. Even after a bit of Roger's magic, the dye is paler than when new.

In time, the 'shadow' of the pool will be clearly visible all the time.