Base for above ground pool

[Langy3366]

Hi,
I've just got myself an above ground swimming pool (Intex). It's 18foot by 9foot and 4 foot deep. I plan to replace the climbing frame area and put this in its place. Currently the flooring is weed supressent and wood chip. I'm looking for advice on the best product to prepare a base for the pool. Size would be in the region of 22foot * 13foot.

I'm a reasonable DIYer, so I'm guessing paving on a sand base wont be able to take the weight. I wonder if some sort of tarmacadum surface is worth doing. Unfortunately money is finite! Some sites even say go with compacted soil base, but I worry about the roots and potential damage to the pool side material.

Many thanks!

[Bob_A]

I’ve got a 15ft round above ground pool Intex pool.
http://www.h2ofun.co.uk/metal-frame-swimming-pool.htm

I was considering using flags/slabs
http://ext.pavingexpert.com/cgi-bin....l=bob_a


Then I considered block paving
http://ext.pavingexpert.com/cgi-bin....l=bob_a

Then I considered using concrete but made with grano
http://ext.pavingexpert.com/cgi-bin....l=bob_a


In the end I went for ordinary concrete.
Concrete isn’t much to look at but to make it more interesting I made the area an octagon shape and got help from a friend who gave it a nice smooth finish.
The area is a very light grey colour and I keep on meaning to acid stain it to a different colour but haven’t got around to it ‘cos I’m worried about the results

Has anyone acid stained plain concrete if so what was the result?

[Langy3366]

Thanks bob,
What base layer, thickness and concrete strength did you go for? I can get a load in rather than use a mixer. I'll need to work out the amount needed for my 22*13 foot area. Could be a good size for table tennis if the pool doesnt get used!

Off topic slightly... how often do you use it and do you heat it?

[irishpaving]

About 3 cubic meters concrete should do that for you. Depends how deep you want the base.

[Tony McC]

Acid staining of concrete is a whole science in itself, Bob. Different "acids" (actually acids and metallic oxides) give varying colours and the effects produced can be amazing.

However, like many other decorative techniques for concrete, in the wrong hands, it can turn into an abortion!

See PICS website for some ideas

[Langy3366]

Irish,
I guess it depends on the weight of the pool. Doing a quick google I see that 1foot of water exerts .5 psi. So a 4 foot deep pool would exert 2psi.

So I guess the question is how deep the concrete and what consistency. Unlike a shed or summerhouse the footings would need to be uniformly deep across the area rather than deeper around the edges. Can anyone recommend the best supplier around the North Wiltshire area (Chippenham)?

[Bob_A]

I went for 100mm of type1 and 100mm of concrete.
The concrete went down springtime 2008 and we left it about 6 weeks before the pool went on it. The pool was removed September that year ready for the winter.
In 2009 the pool went back up in spring and was put away in the autumn.
Will do the same for 2010
Not problems as yet.

Depends on what you want but the pools are designed to go straight on the grass but when you remove the pool the grass will be yuk. Perhaps laying it on tree bark may be a cheaper option. Concrete is cheap but when you add it all up it's still a works out to be a few quid.

As for heating I don't bother.
It's the only the kids that get in it and they are mad enough to get in whatever the weather.
A thermal cover (bubblewrap) is a good idea though.

[Bob_A]

....However, like many other decorative techniques for concrete, in the wrong hands, it can turn into an abortion!

I can well believe that!

If I do get around to doing it I was going to go for one colour and hope that the concrete itself would impart enough variation.
Was going for a green at first as the area is surrounded by grass.
Then I thought about a natural garden colour, summink like a shade of medium brown in keeping with fences and things.

By the time I make up my mind the pool will be on it and then it'll be winter No doubt this time next year I'll still be contemplating :laugh:

[Mikey_C]

i make that 19(metric)T spread over 15m2. concrete is brought with a compressive strength based on newtons/mm2. how you convert one to other i have no idea? whether it's worth calculating I don't know?

your (22*13) 286ft2 = approx 26m2 @100mm = 2.6m3
@150mm = 3.9m3

so I guess irishpaving was think 100mm thick.

as for the cheapest Hanson premix is always the cheapest down here due to them having/supplying there own aggregate

[TheVictorianCobbleCo]

Most vinyl pools here are put on 100mm of soft sand, the approx 1ton/cum water keeps the bottom fairly flat. Its more important if you put down concrete that there are NO sharp objects/small pebbles, bitsand pieces under the plastic - sweep vigorously before placing pool. (100mm concrete is fine, water table/clay content/undergroundwater flow more important.) If you want to colour your concrete use 1/4 kg per wheelbarrow mix of Sandstone colour pigment, for variation add 5litres charcoal mix to 1 wheelbarrow sandstone mix, turn over 2 -3 times only (rough mix) lay and trowel smooth, it will give a realistic finish. You only need to colour the top 20mm of concrete.