The above ground pool thread

[shadow_man]

@WAslayer you've got the Intex version of my 4.57m Bestway.

How much paving do you think I'd need? Is 5m2 sufficient (given that there are no walls around the pool and i'd be able to traverse the circle to do any patch work if needed) or should I go slightly bigger like 6m2?

Thanks!

 

[WAslayer]

@WAslayer you've got the Intex version of my 4.57m Bestway.

How much paving do you think I'd need? Is 5m2 sufficient (given that there are no walls around the pool and i'd be able to traverse the circle to do any patch work if needed) or should I go slightly bigger like 6m2?

Thanks!

Think you are missing a "to the power of 2" there...

You would need 25sqm of paving, since the pool would cover an area 4.57m x 4.57m.. so at at 25sqm, you would have about a 400mm of paving around the pool still exposed.. if you want something like those pool chairs to bask in the sun, probably go up to 36sqm, to get a somewhat decent space around the pool for the chairs..

Make sure you let the paving guy know that you are planning to put your pool down on the paving.. paving is typically installed at a slight slope, to allow for adequate rain water run off and help avoid undermining of the area underneath the paving.. the pool must be installed, to avoid uneven stress pushing against one or two of the vertical rails and potential collapse of the pool.. if your paving guy is worth his salt, he'd be loathe to install the paving completely level without fair warning about what could happen if water can't drain away..

I opted to not do paving in the end, 15k bill was a bit steep for me at the time.. I leveled the area myself as best I could, made sure all sharp rocks and other bits were removed and then out down some weed mat, two layers of a vinyl material I got from brights and then the ground mat included with the pool.. my pool is very close to level now..

I have to add though, I did the above after draining the pool for cleaning.. the first time I set it up, I did just about the same as above but, because I couldn't compact the area properly, the weight of the water when filling the pool caused uneven settling and the pool leaned..

 

[shadow_man]

Think you are missing a "to the power of 2" there...

You would need 25sqm of paving, since the pool would cover an area 4.57m x 4.57m.. so at at 25sqm, you would have about a 400mm of paving around the pool still exposed.. if you want something like those pool chairs to bask in the sun, probably go up to 36sqm, to get a somewhat decent space around the pool for the chairs..

Make sure you let the paving guy know that you are planning to put your pool down on the paving.. paving is typically installed at a slight slope, to allow for adequate rain water run off and help avoid undermining of the area underneath the paving.. the pool must be installed, to avoid uneven stress pushing against one or two of the vertical rails and potential collapse of the pool.. if your paving guy is worth his salt, he'd be loathe to install the paving completely level without fair warning about what could happen if water can't drain away..

I opted to not do paving in the end, 15k bill was a bit steep for me at the time.. I leveled the area myself as best I could, made sure all sharp rocks and other bits were removed and then out down some weed mat, two layers of a vinyl material I got from brights and then the ground mat included with the pool.. my pool is very close to level now..

I have to add though, I did the above after draining the pool for cleaning.. the first time I set it up, I did just about the same as above but, because I couldn't compact the area properly, the weight of the water when filling the pool caused uneven settling and the pool leaned..

Thanks, yep...

I just couldn't be arsed to try and self level, as I know i'd struggle and mess it up.

I figure I'll pay for the paving to avoid that - and worst case scenario if the pools a flop, then I have a nice seating area

Looking at something like this for now.

 

[Icemanbrfc]

Thanks, yep...

I just couldn't be arsed to try and self level, as I know i'd struggle and mess it up.

I figure I'll pay for the paving to avoid that - and worst case scenario if the pools a flop, then I have a nice seating area

Looking at something like this for now.

You can just level the ground, buy sand and cement, and throw it down as a topping. Fyi this is a cheap solution i would say, and then maybe buy some of Artificial grass. If you dont want artificial grass, just but a nice paint, and paint that topping.

 

[WAslayer]

Thanks, yep...

I just couldn't be arsed to try and self level, as I know i'd struggle and mess it up.

I figure I'll pay for the paving to avoid that - and worst case scenario if the pools a flop, then I have a nice seating area

Looking at something like this for now.

Those pavers are expensive.. at 25 - 36 SQM you are going to spend some serious dosh.. especially for something mostly covered by a pool..

 

[WAslayer]

You can just level the ground, buy sand and cement, and throw it down as a topping. Fyi this is a cheap solution i would say, and then maybe buy some of Artificial grass. If you dont want artificial grass, just but a nice paint, and paint that topping.

Not cheap when your cement slab has to support about 15ton of water...

 

[Icemanbrfc]

Not cheap when your cement slab has to support about 15ton of water...

Well yeh depends on the size of the pool. But saw this a while back in terms of leveling the ground area quickly.

 

[WAslayer]

Well yeh depends on the size of the pool. But saw this a while back in terms of leveling the ground area quickly.

Rent a compactor, do initial level of ground, compact, check level, fill with sand where required, level and compact again until done..

Far cheaper than laying a cement slab..

 

[shadow_man]

Those pavers are expensive.. at 25 - 36 SQM you are going to spend some serious dosh.. especially for something mostly covered by a pool..

Yeah it's $$$ - but I'm leaning towards "goedkoop is duurkoop" and just biting the bullet

Costs I've been given are:

Paving: 5×5
100 pavers
500 cobbles
Material: R5500
Labour: R3000

Total: R8500
Price per square meter: R340

Paving: 6×6
144 pavers
720 cobbles
Material: R7918
Labour R3600

Total: R11518
Price per square meter: R319,94

 

[shadow_man]

This guys video's are pretty epic - in terms of how he upgrades his pool over time and just what's available (in the US only I'm sure...)

 

[WAslayer]

This guys video's are pretty epic - in terms of how he upgrades his pool over time and just what's available (in the US only I'm sure...)

That deck is very tempting.. very very tempting.. got the tools and skills to build it.. wood is just so costly though..

 

[shadow_man]

That deck is very tempting.. very very tempting.. got the tools and skills to build it.. wood is just so costly though..

Knock out one for me too - bulk buying and all that

My biggest problem is the damn coastal WIND... I lost my fight to put this in the granny flats garden (walled off within our own garden) - as the gf want's to keep it the way it is... So now it will go in our own garden and be more exposed....

I need to build some windbreaks - or just do as this guy does and take it down during windy season (but I bet that's painful).

 

[shadow_man]

Interestingly enough the paving company came out today and advised me NOT to pave for the pool.

That the pavers would crack over time and that the grouting would degrade due to the pool weight.

They advised to put down a gravel / rock dust as the base - then something softer like artificial grass, and then the pool.

I think I'm going to have them level it with the dust as the base, then look at getting some old rubber conveyor belting and them dumping the pool on top of that.

 

[WAslayer]

Interestingly enough the paving company came out today and advised me NOT to pave for the pool.

That the pavers would crack over time and that the grouting would degrade due to the pool weight.

They advised to put down a gravel / rock dust as the base - then something softer like artificial grass, and then the pool.

I think I'm going to have them level it with the dust as the base, then look at getting some old rubber conveyor belting and them dumping the pool on top of that.

Brights sell some nice rubber linings, 5mm thick that would be great for the pool..

 

[shadow_man]

Brights sell some nice rubber linings, 5mm thick that would be great for the pool..

Perfect - I've got one up the road from me. Any idea of cost?

 

[shadow_man]

Brights sell some nice rubber linings, 5mm thick that would be great for the pool..

Also I've got a fair ton of this in the garage (for 5x5m) - but I suspect due to it being PVC (as opposed to rubber) that it would a) be too hard and b) because of the bumps (pattern) that it wouldn't work well.

 

[shadow_man]

Yep - looks like the cheaper pump options are the Kreepy Krauly 0.25kw pump combo:

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If anyone's looking for a deal - this is R2999 on Everyshop and you can get R200 off when making use of their Payflex promotion - which brings the price down to R2799.

 

[WAslayer]

Perfect - I've got one up the road from me. Any idea of cost?

5mm is one of the thicknesses is available, think the other is 3mm.. cost I don't remember but, sold by the meter.. maybe 200bucks or so a meter and it's a meter or more wide..

 

[Stuey74]

Yep - looks like the cheaper pump options are the Kreepy Krauly 0.25kw pump combo:

Everyshop - HiFiCorp

Welcome to HiFiCorp....Widest Range Of TVs, Audio Devices, Home Appliances & More. Don't Miss The Best Deals. TVs, Electronics, Homeware & More. Everything at Great Prices. Buy Online Now. Nationwide Delivery. Click & Collect in Store. High Tech, Low Prices.

www.everyshop.co.za

OR

The Intex pump / sand filter

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The reviews for the Kreepy Krauly are shocking though - it sounds like warranty isn't actually a thing... I'll have to decide in the next 2 weeks when I have some time off to set it all up...

I had one of these for about 3 years on mine, then the pump started getting very noisy and a small leak started at the back. Just about ran the Shark cleaner, better than manual vacuuming. Decided to get another, quick swap onto existing setup. 2 months later it just stopped. Disconnected everything and opened up the top electronics housing, was full of water. Also water had got into the pump motor. Took it back to Makro, they sent it away and obviously found water damage and will not replace. Will definitely not buy again, also read the reviews but was really happy first time around, QC maybe dropped. Going for a bigger pump, with some modifications to get the pipes connected etc.

 

[Stuey74]

5mm is one of the thicknesses is available, think the other is 3mm.. cost I don't remember but, sold by the meter.. maybe 200bucks or so a meter and it's a meter or more wide..

Going to redo my base next year and looking for something to put under the pool, gets expensive to do the 25 sqm though