Anti-fatigue mats used outside of pool?

[nina_online]

Hi, I got the tip off this forum to use the interlocking anti-fatigue mats instead of foam boards under the pool:
Anti-Fatigue Foam Mat Set 4 Pc (terrible picture)

Our 14' Intex Ultra Frame pool (and in the winter our trampoline), will sit on a square platform (contained by a low retaining wall). The base will be of compacted 3/8" crushed limestone-to-dust. No sand. Rather than foam board under the pool and pea gravel outside the pool, we are now considering whether it would be okay to use just mats across the entire square (not just under the pool). The trampoline would sit on the mats too.

Any feedback on whether this is a bad idea, namely:

1) durability of the mats outside (but NOT protected) under the pool. Product page says "indoors or out"

2) how hot the mats would get in the sun - they are dark grey (fortunately the spot has afternoon shade)

3) how long they might last

Any feedback appreciated.

Thanks,
Nina

 

[cowboycasey]

Nina,

I am not sure if anyone has done any tests on those type mats under a pool or outdoors..

I can say my 3/4 inch foam boards are fine 3 years later

 

[domct203]

I would think that the 30,000 lbs of water in your pool would squish those soft foam mats down to nothing.

 

[danpik]

in a 48" deep pool you are looking at less than 2 PSI of weight/pressure on the pad. Heck, a quick ballpark estimate has me imparting almost 3.5 PSI on the ground. I think I need to go on a diet!

Dan

 

[Teald024]

in a 48" deep pool you are looking at less than 2 PSI of weight/pressure on the pad. Heck, a quick ballpark estimate has me imparting almost 3.5 PSI on the ground. I think I need to go on a diet!

Dan

Dan for the win....

 

[chayne]

i have them under my pool. they hardly "squished" down at all it is very nice to walk in the pool, so very soft. just make sure you put plenty of tape on the seams. i wished i had put more on mine. i only put one down the middle of each seam. i get so bottom of the pool buildup because the tape does actually "squish" down in the seam. like i said we love ours.

 

[Teald024]

Chayne, we cant see your pic. Bad PhotoBucket, Bad!!

 

[chayne]

 

[domct203]

Still not working....

 

[chayne]

showing up on my end. i switched it over to Imgur

 

[Teald024]

You are probably still logged in or PhotoBucket knows it's you, so it shows for you.

Now the pic shows.

 

[nina_online]

I read a bunch of reviews of the interlocking mats on Amazon.com, and even the thicker (3/4" - 1") ones seem to get indented (e.g. chair legs, exercise equipment, high heels), so I figure our trampoline legs will indent them.

So I am back to foam board:

1) 1" foam board under the pool with 1" layer of pea gravel surrounding the pool

or

2) 1" foam board covering the whole square "platform"

We would keep the foam board out in winter with the trampoline on top of it. People here have said nothing seems to indent it - even the pool legs...[Can anyone confirm this?]? so it would be okay to place sand filter on top of? SWG?

Any thoughts on how the foam board surrounding the pool/trampoline would fare (durability) year-round? Anyone have experience with foam board not protected by the pool? How easily does it crumble out in the open when stepped on near the edge?

Thanks,
Nina

P.S. Anyone know how to get 1" thick blue board? Home Depot sells pink board and Lowe's sells 3/4" blue board.

 

[chayne]

i got mine from harbor freight, not off of amazon. no indentions what so ever. not trying to lead you in one direction or the other. just thought i would let you know. i think i ended up buying around 16 packages. each package had 4 pads in it.

 

[nina_online]

i got mine from harbor freight, not off of amazon. no indentions what so ever. not trying to lead you in one direction or the other. just thought i would let you know. i think i ended up buying around 16 packages. each package had 4 pads in it.

Thanks for your response. That was my original plan. They are on sale for $9 this month, so that's a great deal.

Do you have them just under your pool, or outside of it, exposed? Do you have your pool legs on them (and what type of legs? Mine is Intex Ultra Frame, so small legs with, I suspect, a high psi). Do you use pavers?

[The other thing is, I think I need a full inch of padding, because as empty nesters, we would get rid of pool/trampoline and fill that area with pea gravel for a "patio", and I think I need 1" rather than 1/2" for the pea gravel. I wonder how 2 layers of Harbor Freight mats would work. Maybe mildew would build up in between...?]

 

[nina_online]

i got mine from harbor freight, not off of amazon. no indentions what so ever. not trying to lead you in one direction or the other. just thought i would let you know. i think i ended up buying around 16 packages. each package had 4 pads in it.

Charles, thanks for posting the picture. What tape did you use? I was reading reviews of extra tough, extra wide gorilla tape which claims to work on uneven surfaces but a reviewer said it is too thick to conform to uneven surfaces.

Or maybe you turn the mats upside down and apply the tape to the smooth side? I guess ideally you would tape both sides, if you can do so without introducing dirt.