Is Backfilling Critical For Above Ground Pools?
An above-ground pool can add hours of enjoyment every year to your property, connect family and friends, as well as provide a refreshing oasis out of the heat. There are several benefits to having an above ground pool, and many choose these over their more permanent counterparts, inground pools, because of cost. However, for each of these, backfilling is almost always required as part of their installation.
Why Do You Need Backfilling?
The process for backfilling an above ground pool is very different than inground pools but is very necessary. Many homeowners don’t even realize that they need to backfill for an above ground pool. The amount of backfill will vary depending on the unique situation, but a small amount will always be required. Some of the reasons you’ll need to backfill your new pool include:
● Corrosion prevention
● Preventing rust
● Stop the pool from collapsing
When To Backfill Above Ground Pool?
There are two significant reasons above ground pool installers will use backfilling when setting up a new pool. The first being to mask the rails and plates of the pool bottom. The backfill creates a barrier for moisture. As water runs under the pool, the sand bed won’t be washed away. The second primary reason to backfill is that almost no yard is level. Some amount of excavation will be needed to level the yard, the holes created from this process will be larger than the pool and therefore need to be filled.
What Materials Are Used For Backfilling?
When most people think of backfilling, they think of taking the soil excavated and moving it back into the hole it originally came out of. Hence the term was backfilling. While using the ground already available is the most cost-effective route both because the material is readily there, and having the soil removed will cost money, there are other options. A slurry mix can also be an excellent material for backfilling. Using cement and plaster sand, the slurry mix can be used strong support without added support. The combination will rest against the sides of the pool. Yet, there is still another excellent option in the form of gravel. One common misconception is that when backfilling for an above ground pool is that you can use gravel as a backfill. You absolutely, 100%, don’t want to use gravel for your backfill material when installing an above ground pool. In doing so, the likelihood of ripping the pool liner is significantly higher, if not guaranteed, in addition to a rough pool bottom.
Can You Use An Above Ground as an Inground With Backfilling?
This is a tricky question to answer. As most manufacturers strongly discourage the use of their above ground pools as inground, homeowners, and even contractors will do so. The process can be done successfully, but great attention to detail, notably that the ground surrounding the pool wall is appropriately backfilled, providing the correct support for the pool. Not only would you need to worry about the pool floor but also the support structure for the walls, otherwise risk a cave-in. To reduce a pool wall collapse when using an above ground as an inground, you’ll need to fill the pool first, then backfill. Remember, the water level in the pool should always be higher than the ground by at least afoot. The material will mater, and you should almost exclusively use a slurry mix for burying an above ground pool.