New liner install, Foam cove, foam bottom, questions

[ThaChad]

Hey all,

I just had my pool installed in Sept of 2016. Thanks to all the information and advice from this forum and my SWG, my 2017 season was virtually maintenance free! However since the installer failed to put enough sand down and build a proper cove when he installed the liner, my liner ripped.

So now I am having to install a new liner.

When we bought the pool package in the first place, we bought it with foam cove. The installer told us he did not like the foam cove and preferred a sand cove. Going with the installers recommendation, we retuned the foam cove.

We called out a different installer to replace our liner and he said the pool doesn't appear to have any cove at all which is what caused the liner to rip.. and he suggests to get a foam cove!

It's less than $150 to buy the foam cove, so It's basically a no brainer, unless someone has some input as to why NOT to go with a foam cove? Also does the brand of foam cove matter? or are they all basically the same?

Also this installer suggested bringing in 3 tons MORE sand if we want to keep a sand bottom, but actually said he prefers using a FOAM bottom, which he said is a newer style but gives a flat bottom. I probably don't need to go into much detail about the foam as I'm sure the experts here have already heard of this.. But it's not a foam matting, but 3/4" high density foam.

What say the Hive? Good/Bad?

Thanks!

-ThaChad

 

[richierich]

First off I would definitely get the foam cove so you don't have to worry about it potentially getting washed away with heavy storms or something. I have the foam cove and my installer did a great job and he said 100% you want a foam cove. also, something you didn't mention, you want to make sure the legs are on patio blocks so they don't sink into the ground over time.

Regarding the sand base or foam base that is a preference, members have done both. I have sand and the key is that the installer tamped the base down good and solid, you can't just through the sand down. People on the board that use the 3/4" foam boards also like that but it must be taped extremely well otherwise it'll sag in between each board. I don't have a good answer for that. I've heard bad stories on both, that people haven't used enough tape so there are divots and I've heard people didn't tamp the sand down so in some spots its like walking on the beach where your foot goes into the sand slightly and there are divot footprints in the pool

 

[TomGallopavo]

There is a glue that is used to stick the foam to basement walls, it’s blue. You can use it to run a bead in the grove of the boards to help hold it together as well as taping. We put a gorilla liner over the foam as well. We love the way the bottom feels. I wish I had glued the cove ends as a few have a slight dimple line that collects dirt.

 

[DaneCE]

I just finished installing a new liner in a 15' x 30'. My old liner was over sand with sand cove. The sand cove collapsed after 4 to 5 years and caused the liner to fail prematurely. I used 1" EPS board this time with foam cove. It was more money and more work but easily worth the effort. I did double tape the joints in the EPS with Gorilla tape and filled in any flaws in the board with silicone caulking. At night with the pool light on I can see the thickness of the tape but everything shows with a pool light. I also added a second layer of 1/8" wall foam. I highly recommend using EPS over the sand with foam cove if budget allows.

I paid $78 for 21 pcs. of Gladon foam cove through Amazon.
1" EPS at Lowe's cost me approx. $20 each for 4' x 8' sheets.
Blue Wave Gorilla Guard cost me $51 through Amazon for a 48" x 100' roll.

 

[ThaChad]

The installer recommended 3/4" foam, is that thick enough? Will I have problems with that?

I was looking at the Gladon foam cove on Amazon. I wasn't sure if there are different quality foam coves, or if they are all basically the same?

Thanks,

-ThaChad

 

[DaneCE]

The installer recommended 3/4" foam, is that thick enough? Will I have problems with that?

I was looking at the Gladon foam cove on Amazon. I wasn't sure if there are different quality foam coves, or if they are all basically the same?

Thanks,

-ThaChad

I went with 1" board because it was only slightly more expensive than 3/4". My initial plan was to use 3/4" which should work fine. Getting the sand flat/level is a bigger factor I think than the extra 1/4".

The Blue Wave brand cove is priced slightly higher than the Gladon. I just chose the less expensive search result.The description for the Gladon did mention "Premium pool cove is rated to 1.8 pounds per cubic foot. Economy is rated 1.6 pounds per cubic foot." Not much difference. I didn't expect the sticky tape to be great and it wasn't but I did use Gorilla tape on top and bottom edges and also the butt joints. One reviewer mentioned using carpet tape for additional strength.

This is the cove I bought:

Amazon.com : Gladon NL104-21 Premium Peel and Stick Above Ground Pool cove, 48-Inch, 21-Pack : Garden Outdoor