Permanent Cove, Floor Pads, Wall Foam: Essential Above Ground Pool Buyers Guide

easypoolacademy.com/buyersguid... for the complete FREE ESSENTIAL ABOVE GROUND POOL BUYERS GUIDE VIDEO SERIES

[@TheShiloah50]

I truly love your honesty. I've listened to several of your videos. I'm getting ready to order a 27 foot round pool since my 24 foot pool collapsed last summer. Going with a saltwater system this time resin pool. I enjoyed learning from you. You helped me to make the right decision on what to order to go with it. And for that I am very grateful. Thank you so much.

[@rileypost6460]

I just love listening to you.You are very knowledgeable and have taught me so much

[@dxflor29]

Thanks so much for helping understand floor pads. You are so right, the sales pitch is always about protecting the liner and all I could think about is what about the comfort! Definitely going to find a good, cushioned pad.

[@dannyjames7911]

after adding 10k gallons there will be no difference

[@kylemcphetridge5609]

Thanks for all the great videos. I’m replacing my liner this season because nut sedge came up and punctured my liner about 3 months after initial install. Hoping that after sterilizing the soil, adding foam cove, rhino pad, and new liner things will go better this year.

[@kathymcgraw4495]

Omgoodness! I wish with all my heart I would have found your videos BEFORE I had my pool installed. I was took to the cleaners!

[@LisaGGuinness]

Im loving all the information you are giving and honesty. I feel like im having a consultation about above ground pools which ive been wanting. I had a bad initial experience with buying a hot tub, basically going into stores and getting a car dealership high pressure situations until i found the right rep in the area who was great. Just like you, informative, they gave us the facts and let us decide, no pressure. We bought our hot tub from them and its been great, i buy chemicals from them to help small business and of course use them for service and maintenance as needed.

[@imabass77]

Great video. Very good info for newbies. I am planning a DIY install and the preformed cove is a win ease of installation. I originally planned to skip the floor pad but I am sold on them now. As far as the side foam, I am considering adding it for the small insulation that it provides. If I get a few more days use of the pool, that seems like a good investment given the overall price of the pool.

[@wrap513]

Haha! The Loch Ness Monster analogy was very helpful with shopping for a liner.

[@josephmingrino5103]

Thanks for the tips it was really helpful I will reply some more when I finish installing my liner

[@jflacasse2551]

Wow, that’s a great video explaining exactly all three topics I was searching for. In my case i do have a few mini Lockness monsters creeping under in my yard. might have to find a solution for these little gophers

[@billl8069]

Thanks - Nice thorough explanation - I'd add that above ground pools that are "panel" style such as Johnny Weissmuller, and Esther Williams - The Wall Foam is good to have. Have had issues with small leaks near beads along the length of the panels and the wall foam has alleviated that problem creating a smoother flexible surface for the liner to lay on.

[@abovegroundpros]

That's a real good point Bill. I love those pools but the wall can be bumpy and good for wall foam.

[@PassionRecordingStudiocoxnet]

Excelent. Answered all of my questions.

[@jayt2473]

Great information, 5+ years from it being originally posted still helpful stuff!! My pool was destroyed by the winter and looking to replace it and do the install! I will add these pieces to my purchase. Great Video - Cheers

[@gavett]

How was your pool destroyed by the winter? (Installing a new above ground pool and feeling anxious)

[@FrancisRoy]

Thank you for your passionate explanations

[@johnlamplugh5418]

Awesome video, very informative!

[@156aliciasy]

You sure know your stuff! Wanna come to CT.

[@rbierl]

Had a tree root come up inside my pool at the edge and puncture a small hole. Cut the root outside the pool and pulled it out. Patched the hole and drove a steel plate outside the pool to prevent any more from growing under.

[@chrisstephenson9973]

I have a 20 year old above ground Ester Williams 18' Round 54" tall. I had the cove put in before a new liner at the 10 year mark due to moles getting around the outside and then the bottom side liner would create sink holes. Now I have small pin holes on the outside metal panels, not a lot and a 1/8" hole from a rock about 1 ft from the bottom on one side. What I would like to do is carefully remove the top pieces to lower the liner so I can smooth out any rough parts on the outer wall holes, patch the holes and install the foam wall sides and patch the liner if it needs it in those areas (its a nice liner with a dark floor that looks like it has pebbles on it). Then get it all stretched back up and the tops rails installed and filled with water. Does that sound viable for me to do with one other helper? Oh and it is a fairly sandy area as well. Not hard clay thus the permanent cove. No bottom pad but not too worried about that other than foot and heel marks in the bottom sometimes. It is 20 years old after all. One company quoted $1,800 to repair Which is like the cost of a new pool anyway) when I can buy the parts myself and do for about $200 probably. Thoughts?

[@godgunsgutsnra1358]

I just had my 24 ft R X 52 in pool installed, and I had already purchased a floor pad, wall foam, and wall cove. I told the installer that I wanted ALL of them installed, but he then to talked to my husband telling him all kinds of "problems" that these they caused. He told my husband that the "wall coves" were "not a good idea," and that a sand cove was better. I caved on the cove argument, & the sand cove was NOT packed well, & it is NOT uniform around the bottom curve. He told my husband that the wall foam would make the wall rust because it would cause "sweating" between the foam and wall! Then he said the bottom liner would eventually "mold," and eat through the bottom of the liner. I INSISTED that the floor, & wall pads be installed. My point, Private installers DO NOT want to take the time to install these because they don't care about what is best for your pool, but about doing it as fast as they can. Because of the "extra work," they made $85.00/hr ea., instead of $100.00/h

[@TheJodassy]

Hello! I see this is a old post how is your pool doing now? I am installing a pool and curious if I should put the foam and floor pad

[@cherrytop9616]

You're the best!

[@aydenpolo3857]

Is there a specific brand you recommend? I’m have a 21’ round installed in NE Ohio and plan to use a salt system.

[@mkdsk101]

The bottom of my pool liner right now is terrible. Tree roots are underneath it growing all away across the and rocks are underneath it pushing up.

[@johnhiggins3084]

Another question do I need to bond my 12 ×24 × 52 above ground pool and when digging and leveling the ground do I create a cove around my square pool or just make it flat with sand and make it level

[@bethanymcdonnell6115]

Does the wall foam help to keep a pool cooler? That's what we are more concerned about in South GA.

[@teelmaroneyp.l.c.attorneys8689]

How do I protect my liner from moles in my above ground pool

[@alexh8402]

I'm getting the floor pad just as an extra step because we have moles and crawldads and lots of them.

[@NanaNan1]

We watched this 4 yea4s ago setting up an Intex pool. We would like to put a “cushion” underneath because the ground is like Concrete.. it’s had 15,000 gallons of water sitting on top of it for 4 years. Our question is what and where to buy? Amazon has a Rhino Cushion 1/8” thick but is described as felt. Can you recommend a underlayment or cushion? Any help appreciated. Thanks

[@mdr37129]

My sister inlaw had moles chew through the bottom of her line, will the bottom line protect from moles?

[@jennah5179]

Thank you so much for all the information and hardwork you share. I can't decide if I should put in a foam cove or keep the original sand cove. I am replacing the liner today following your videos. We live on an acreage and I'm worried about mics, ants and moles if I put in the foam cove. I'm going to get some ant deterrent like you mentioned in other videos and treat it as well. So many mixed reviews on the foam. I don't know what do? Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.

[@abovegroundpros]

Foam Cove is one of those things that's not absolutely necessary. Most of the time we just build a Cove at a dirt or sand and I think you'd be fine that same way

[@mediacave6935]

Made me laugh out loud when you said "its somewhat protecting you from the Lockness Monster" ROFL"

[@TheElectronMan]

Great information thank you I have a 7 year old pool that needs a new liner and with your information it helped me on my purchase of going ahead and getting the cove and pad.. Now the big problem how do you find a good professional pool person to install it.. I am at my wits end, I went to a couple pool places the one I bought mine from is no longer in business and I couldn't get single one to give me a name of person or company to replace my liner it's like taboo or something. I have tried everything I know find a honest professional to do the work.. I am in quite the mess I have the new liner bought the extra's to make a really nice job but got no one to do the work.. I am begging do you know of any company person that fits the bill... I am afraid to go to like the classifies or Craig's list as no telling what I could end up with and I have large investment in my pool. I live in Tulsa Oklahoma my pool is a 27' 52" all aluminium including the side walls high end pool. Went that way since I use a salt system.. Anyway I know this is shot in the dark but my grand kids are going to be really disappointed if I don't get my pool up here pretty quick.. The grand-kids and I would truly appreciate any contact or advise you could give me on me this...

[@abovegroundpros]

Unfortunately I don't know anybody out in that area. The normal steps are usually to call the local pool companies and see if you can find somebody. I agree with you I would be hesitant to try Craigslist cuz I've heard a lot of nightmare stories about it.

[@jewel2022now]

Hi, great information. I'm wondering if the floor mats help with mole tunnel issues? Thanks

[@abovegroundpros]

No unfortunately it won't. If they make Trails underneath the pool and those Trails collapse than any dirt on top of it will collapse as well and the pad will just fall into the trench

[@tammykoch1596]

what about on concrete

[@bethcook677]

How do you install the floor pad that goes under the liner? Do you need the permanent cove? Or can you use it when you build a cove with sand? At what step do you put it down? No videos on the pad installation that I can find.....

[@theleweycrew8686]

We got our pool installed August 2018 24’ above ground 7 days after install but grass took over the floor of our liner 😱 yes we had a professional and they did sand and cove like you said. Then it got a hole and kept growing. April 2019 we have drained it, ordered a 30mil, wall foam, cove and going to spray the crap out of our ground where liner use to be. You say nothing comes up but ours did. Can but grass grow through the floor foam?

[@abovegroundpros]

Yes it can. Youre best bet is a poison called Blast It. Google it and use that.

[@pokemon9826]

I have read that having a foam bottom, whether it be Happy Bottom or 4x8 foam insulation board will cause the pool walls to rust/corrode prematurely. The theory is that the temperature difference between the pool water and the air opposite the wall will condensation similar to a cold soda can. By using a floor liner that is breathable allows the condensation to be absorbed back into the ground. What are your thoughts on this? I like the idea of a foam bottom but not at the expense of my pool walls.

[@abovegroundpros]

I have used foam under the pool liner for probably 25 years now and I've never noticed that causing any premature rust

[@glennbrigan4434]

Are you familiar with Gladons perfect pool bottom, Hard Bottom for Above Ground Pools? I’m considering this for my 24’ Esther Williams pool due to moles and tree roots

[@abovegroundpros]

Yes I've seen it quite a bit. It's good stuff it's just not real popular cuz it's a little pricey

[@Bunkysworkshop]

What are your thoughts one putting an above ground pool on a level concrete pad and using a pool pad under the liner.

[@abovegroundpros]

I think thats perfect

[@samanthawalker74]

can I have a co concrete pad poured as the floor to an above ground pool and use the foam coves and pad?

[@abovegroundpros]

+Samantha walker yes

[@spfarris18]

What pool pad do you recommend. I'm about to install a 15x30 in the next few weeks.

[@spfarris18]

Above Ground Pros thank you!

[@oilheating214]

Can I use the cove and floor pad and side padding all together

[@abovegroundpros]

Yes

[@evelyneller9647]

I know that you have a 24' pool. I bought a 24' but it hasn't been ordered yet and my daughter wants to know if the power bill would be anymore for a 27' than the 24' since the 27' is only 200.00 more than the 24'.

[@abovegroundpros]

If the pump is the same then the power should be the same.

[@mattm6064]

Can you still do a floor main drain with a floor pad? Just cut hole in the proper spot?

[@abovegroundpros]

Thats correct

[@johnhiggins3084]

Is it possible to make a shallow end of a 52 inch tall pool by adding sand at one end to make one end about 3.5 feet deep

[@abovegroundpros]

Not unless you had a liner cut to those specifications. If you use a liner it would be full of wrinkles.

[@kmpusa1573]

I have 12' round above pool. What is a good floor pad to buy? Thanks.

[@abovegroundpros]

KMPUSA 15 I like armour shield or gorilla pad.

[@LucindaLyons1]

Hello, I have rocky soil that I'm levelling out and have bought the floor pads. My friend recommended laying 5cm of masonry sand dovvn under the floor pads, the Intex pool manual says don't use sand at all though. It's a 10 ft x 79cm metal frame pool. I vvas planning on getting the ground as level as possible and vvatering it dovvn a lot before adding the sand. Do you knovv vvhy they advise against sand please?

[@abovegroundpros]

What a lot of people do is try to build their unlevel yard up with sand maybe 6 inch or foot or what not. If you build a pool on top of this the sand will eventually eroded away and the pool will become out of level. That's what Intex is referring to when they say don't use sand. A thin layer of sand underneath the pool just to smooth out the floor would be no problem for you.

[@LucindaLyons1]

Thank you very much, that's very kind of you. Added a thin layer, pool is novv up and level. Please could I be very cheeky and ask another question or seven? Is it safe to add chlorine tablets to these vinyl Intex pools in a floater dispenser please? Intex aren't ansvvering my questions. VVe have a a Krystal Clear filter pump vvith it. Just filling the pool up novv. I have a ph test kit. Also should I run the filter for a fevv hours before I test the vvater. I'm quite keen not to kill the svvimmers.

[@kriswingert1662]

I had a 9x18x52 Intex Ultra frame and did exactly what AGP said. I only used enough sand to fill in an small areasa and a thin coat to be level ( not even an inch ). It lasted me 10 years like that. I just pulled up that pool 2 weeks ago and the sand was still there and solid.

[@Usherfriedman1]

Chad, what are your thoughts about using rigid foam instead of sand and a floor pad?

[@abovegroundpros]

That's fine just make sure you duck tape the seams of where the foam boards come together so that you don't have little ridges under the liner

[@MrCoolbreezetech]

good info, thx. I tried the link to your mentioned video series but it said its not available. Can you verify or re activate the link etc? thx :)

[@abovegroundpros]

Done

[@HuskyInfinite]

Does the wall foam get installed closer to the top of the pool or the bottom? And does sand get put over the foam cove? Thanks

[@abovegroundpros]

Zac Houghton Wall foam: closer to the floor (at the top of the cove). It's up to you if you want the sand on top of the cove or not. We usually do, but its not essential. Either way is fine, just do what's best for your situation.

[@lisahoughton4646]

Above Ground Pros Oh, so it goes on AFTER the cove? I was going to install it, then put the cove on. I should put the cove THEN the wall foam? Thanks

[@abovegroundpros]

Lisa Houghton That's right.

[@ddckecalcddc100]

i have discovered the waste pile from the construction of my home. its a hole they dug and buried drywall scraps. a whole in my first linear burrowed a hole 8" dia in the sand floor causing me to replace the liner and discovering a larger whole underneath filled with drywall about 1' deep... I dug it out and fill in the hole created by the water and bought a new cheaper liner.... now my new cheap liner has developed the same small hole in the floor. about 2' from the other first hole about 3" in dia. i am going to replace my liner again and I'm confident that this is another burrowed whole into this drywall filled whole. will a floor plan prevent a future hole to develop? or slow a pinhole prick from creating a new hole? i can not afford to tear down the pool and dig up the ground to address this drywall filled hole. i plan on placing multiple layers of plastic on top of the sand on this side of the pool only , then install a pool floor pad ? thoughts?

[@abovegroundpros]

No unfortunately in your situation that won't help you. If the ground underneath the pool is going to settle than anything on top of it is going to settle with it

[@ddckecalcddc100]

@@abovegroundpros. thanks. i did consider just tamping this spot down and just refilling it. I'm 270lbs so I can sling, an put some power behind a tamper bar

[@barbaral7957]

I can't find a floor pad that is 15 feet x 15 feet round. 😫

[@robertvosburgh7540]

I need a pool installed here in Upstate South Carolina

[@noravazquez896]

Hello... can foam cove be used on an above ground intex prism 15 ft pool? Or are coves only for pools with a “hard” wall?

[@abovegroundpros]

No it's only used for hard wall pools

[@debbieriles1607]

Hello. When we installed our 24' above ground pool, after the water level gotten way above halfway before the skimmer, the pool bugled out at the bottom and flattened my vertical. What do you think happened?

[@abovegroundpros]

My guess is the pool maybe a little egg-shaped and that extra pressure on the post flattened it out a little bit.

[@world_plus_you]

We had a hole in our liner and water got all in the floor pad. We took it out and dried it out, but can we re-use it when we replace the liner? It's moldy looking and stained, but we dried it out well. One side is more stained than the other...we thought we could put that side down.

[@abovegroundpros]

The mold is no problem. Everyones looks like that after a while

[@world_plus_you]

@@abovegroundpros thanks so much for the reassurance

[@2004dodge11]

What type of bottom pad do you recommend? I see a lot that are just felt.

[@abovegroundpros]

Yes sir thats the way to go

[@brandybryan9355]

So you’d still need a cove if you’re dropping the pool halfway in ground?

[@abovegroundpros]

Yes

[@dpdpres]

Can you use wallfoam on the bottom of the pool instead of a floor pad?

[@abovegroundpros]

Yes you could

[@ChrisleyJames]

So what’s the order? Wall foam then cove then floor pad over the cove?

[@abovegroundpros]

Floor pad, cove, wall foam

[@russmhunt]

my damn foam cove has about 1/2 gap between a few pieces guess I should of put duct tape on the foam joints

[@abovegroundpros]

Yes

[@davetankrange1]

How thick should wall foam be. Ive seen 1/8", 1/4" and even 1/2"?

[@abovegroundpros]

I prefer the 1/4"

[@kingyancey665]

I build my own pool it's 2 feet in the ground it's rectangle do I sto need a cove

[@abovegroundpros]

Yes

[@pammiesue7931]

also what liner should i get is 20 gauge ok or go with a 25 gauge?

[@abovegroundpros]

25

[@jenniferseiler706]

Chad I have an above ground pool - 30 feet round, 54 inches tall. Which floor pad would you recommend I purchase?

[@abovegroundpros]

I would recommend going with armor Shield or gorilla pad which is the same product from two different manufacturers.

[@jenniferseiler706]

@@abovegroundpros Thanks so much for the prompt response!

[@pammiesue7931]

have you heard of using the 2" foam insulation boards for the bottom and is it ok

[@abovegroundpros]

sure

[@derrickrobertson3334]

foam underneath a liner seems to make it more susceptible to holes, atleast in my experience. I've been in on alot of pool installations and repairs over the past 10 years. I've seen alot of ruined liners because of that foam.

[@pammiesue7931]

thank you...i'am just going to stick with sand then

[@dianabollmann1189]

Where do I buy the floor pad and how thick is it?

[@abovegroundpros]

+Diana Bollmann most pool sellers have it and it's either 1/8" or 1/4".

[@Jennifer951]

Hi, can I use the wall foam as a floor pad? Thanks!

[@abovegroundpros]

Sure

[@alishaphillips116]

Do I need to use sand if I use a padding or foam under the liner?

[@abovegroundpros]

Sand is only used to be able to make a nice smooth floor so if you can make a nice smooth floor with the dirt that you have then no you don't need it but if you can't then yes I would recommend you use it.

[@alishaphillips116]

@@abovegroundpros thanks so much for replying 😊

[@EndlessSummerr25]

Can I put a above ground pool on Asphalt?

[@abovegroundpros]

Yes

[@vrglcom]

Do you need a pool cove for semi in ground pools??

[@abovegroundpros]

You don't really need Cove. It's really a preference whether you want to use it or not

[@evelyneller9647]

I read that floor pads, coves, and wall pads will draw ants and termites. Is this true?

[@abovegroundpros]

I've actually heard that passed around the last few years myself. I've been using it for more than 10 years and I haven't found any proof that it's causing any of those problems. I personally had good success with it.

[@evelyneller9647]

Thanks for replying. Is there any way to keep water such as rain water from going under your pool? It has washed the sand out in a place or two in the pool we have now and left dips on the floor of the pool.

[@abovegroundpros]

That's a bit of a tricky thing to prevent. You could dig a small trench around the pool and fill it with concrete like a footer and that would probably help the rush of water from getting under the pool which is probably causing the erosion. Trying to keep rain water from getting under there at all would be tricky without pulling the liner out and doing some sort of hard floor.

[@abovegroundpros]

If the saint wasn't packed then that's probably definitely part of it. Gorilla pad isn't going to help you because if water gets under there and moves the sand it's going to move no matter what's on top of it much like it did when the pool was full and I had the liner on it.

[@paulanovak6736]

will the floor pad attrack ants

[@abovegroundpros]

No

[@bethriley2368]

What about moles?

[@abovegroundpros]

There isn't anything pool related to deal with moles. You have to do that through your exterminator.

[@pokemon9826]

Repellex is a castor bean granular that repels voles. Spread a band around the pool. It must be reapplied 2-3 x per year. I have reasonable success with it. Once in awhile I will have to pull out the trap if I forget to put down the repellex.

[@lindaburns1775]

Do the foam coves attract ants? Do you recommend a particular cove?

[@abovegroundpros]

I have used the foam cove for years and years and I haven't seen anything that would lead me to believe that it attracts ants

[@lindaburns1775]

@@abovegroundpros Great! That's good to know. Do you recommend a certain brand?

[@abovegroundpros]

Gladon

[@lindaburns1775]

@@abovegroundpros can I order through your website?

[@abovegroundpros]

No ma'am we don't sell online but you can find it from an online dealer very easy

[@dannyjames7911]

did you really just say an above ground pool loses heat quicker than in inground pool??? cmon man thats completely false.

[@2keeperv]

Same as saying you need a cove for an above ground pool, That's not true as well.. Nice to have but not a requirement for sure.

[@world_plus_you]

Dude, he is not wrong. We are in the south. I have had both and my above ground pool is COLD. the ground insulates an inground pool.

[@2keeperv]

Umm there are literally millions of above ground pools installed that are still standing without a cove.. And they have not all collapsed so.. Ya there's that..c'mon now

[@chrishedge887]

Did you not listen to his video?? He NEVER said foam cove was necessary & even says REPEATEDLY that he only used it on very specific applications. Come on dude!

[@JUDGEME5150]

Clicked off this crap asap

[@JUDGEME5150]

This video is just too long it’s pisses me off