How much sand for above ground pool. Aboveground swimming pools can save money and can also add value to your home, allowing you to score a nice pool without the headache of installing an in-ground pool.
Digging the hole for your aboveground pool is less intimidating than digging your own in-ground pool because there’s little or no effort required to prepare the area where an aboveground pool will be installed.
You’ll still need to measure out the floor of the swimming pool, but if you’re trying to decide whether above or in-ground is best, an above-ground option might be your most viable plan.
How much sand for above ground pool
That can be tough to calculate, but the general rule is that there should be a height and length of two to three inches under the pool liner.
If you know the dimensions of your pool area, then you can easily figure out how much sand you’ll need for the base using a sand calculator.
Depth of Sand
Sand is the recommended base material upon which a standard above-ground pool should sit.
The substance serves to protect a vinyl liner, which sits under an above-ground pool, from stones that may puncture its surface.
Also, sand serves as a cushion to the floor of an outdoor pool and gives legs something soft to rest on while swimming, making the experience more comfortable for swimmers.
The standard depth of sand required for an aboveground pool should be 2 inches, checked periodically through pebble testing.
Specify Type and Volume
Use masonry sand as the base material for an aboveground swimming pool. Make sure that any sand you use is free of rocks, twigs, leaves, or anything else that might puncture, rip or tear a pool’s vinyl liner.
An average 18-foot round aboveground swimming pool requires around 2 1/2 tons (approximately 2.5 cubic yards) of sand so ensure to have at least 1/3rd to 1/2 full ton on hand as nearly half of this will not be used once the water has been added to the base and leveled off with a rake.
The average cost per cubic yard of masonry sand ranges from $20 upward toward $50 but can change when there are other factors such as location and supplier shipment and supply incentives in place.
So it’s important to select a supplier you trust who won’t try to charge steep prices which can sometimes happen when suppliers take advantage of something like bad weather or unexpected demand for their goods during their busiest season.
An additional layer of Padding
For above-ground pool owners looking to take the extra steps necessary to ensure that their pools are going to last for as long as possible.
Experts typically recommend that they consider allocating additional funds towards the installation of a more advanced type of inflatable padding that is typically placed over a pool’s plastic base.
These days, it’s typically recommended that pool owners allocate an additional $50-$65 towards the installation of this extra form of padding over a typical swimming pool liner’s standard sand base.
Experts add, however, that always check both your specific model’s instruction manual before installing any additional form of protective padding on top of your aboveground ring.
Can you use concrete sand under a pool?
Concrete sand may be a favorite for leveling an above-ground pool because it is easy to use, but any under-the-ground pool typically requires silica sand instead.
The particle size of concrete sand is bigger than regular silica, which means there’s a chance of pockets and voids in the finished surface.
What is the best kind of sand to put under a pool?
For the base of your pool, you want very fine sand which is free from any rocks or pebbles. Mason sand and concrete are the two types of sand that are mostly used for these purposes.
Conclusion
Believe it or not, one of the most important things you need to take into consideration when purchasing sand for an aboveground pool is how much of it you’re actually going to use to prepare your pool’s base.
With your focus on the weight of the sand alone, you might purchase too little only to find that you ran out a quarter through laying down the rest of it and now have no choice but to leave the site for more sand.
A good way around this is by taking measurements beforehand using framing lumber, including the center and each side of your pool so that you’ll know exactly how much sand you’re going to need in order to cover your pool’s entire floor surface.
Lastly, since there are cases where some sand weighs a little more than others, it’s best if you commit yourself from the get-go to staying as close as possible while measuring as accurately as possible in order that spend unnecessary time making trips back and forth may be avoided.
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