Wood Under Intex Rectangle Pool Legs

[nenah]

Hello everyone,
I recently bought a 16x32 rectangle Intex pool. I underestimated how much work the initial set up would be (especially compared to my little 10ft round starter pool I had last year).

First and second time, we put 15x15x1.5 inch pavers and several cracked. Even after having everything completely level (first time water level was 3.5 inches off, second time about 2 cm).

This time we're getting pressure treated wood. I can't find any 15in wide so we were considering either 12 inch wide (so 12x12x2 cuts) or getting a 2x8 and doubling them up side by side so it would be perpendicular to the grain and 15 inches actual size BUT I'm worried the point/gap where they sit together will mess things up. My hesitation with the 12 inch width is that it'll be cutting it close on ground contact with the legs and if we're off by a little bit, the leg will hang off a tad. My dad suggested just getting the 2x12 lumbar, not cutting at all and running it long ways under the legs so nothing would hang off but we're not sure if the wood would split since it would be parallel with the grain.

Any suggestions or experience with any of these methods? I don't really want to get 4 inch concrete blocks because we're honestly tired of digging but if any of the options for wood wouldn't be advised, then we'll get to digging again!

Thank you!

 

[Newdude]

Hey nenah and Welcome !!!!

we put 15x15x1.5 inch pavers

Those are stepping stones, not pavers. (Everyone calls them pavers though so it's a common misconception).

They cracked from being too thin, the ground settling, or both.

don't really want to get 4 inch concrete blocks because we're honestly tired of digging

4 inch actual pavers are 3.5 inches thick, only 1/2 inch more than the doubled up 2x lumber and it would ensure you only have to do it once.

Lumber is fine for 'temporary pools'. By the time it rots it won't be an issue, but it's no real savings in cost or effort IMO.

 

[nenah]

Thank you!
I meant double up side by side, so the 2x8s would make it 15 inches wide with two side by side, 15 inches in length (we'd be cutting at 15) then 1.5 inches in actual depth or whatever you wanna call it. So we wouldn't be digging anymore with this scenario but have to dig another 2 inches with the bigger blocks.

 

[Newdude]

Planks need to be doubled just the same IMO or you risk cracking a couple of those too.

 

[nenah]

Ahh, okay so either way we gotta dig more! Thank you!

 

[Newdude]

I'd be pretty heated if I had to do it a 3rd time. If it was an easy fix, nobody would spend the effort doing it right.

Keep us posted.

 

[nenah]

I keep telling myself this time we'll get it! Plus I'm 7 months pregnant so most everyone else is doing the heavy work so I really hated we had to do it again but I'd much rather get it right than risk the pool collapsing while we're in it. Sure will!

 

[Newdude]

Plus I'm 7 months pregnant

Congrats and keep us posted on that too.

 

[Bperry]

I keep telling myself this time we'll get it! Plus I'm 7 months pregnant so most everyone else is doing the heavy work so I really hated we had to do it again but I'd much rather get it right than risk the pool collapsing while we're in it. Sure will!

Be careful. My wife went into labor with our first child laying pavers in the side yard. She was nine months though so maybe the pavers were just a coincidence.

 

[Newdude]

Mine had to pee both times. Try to avoid that just in case.

 

[dannybye1]

Hello everyone,
I recently bought a 16x32 rectangle Intex pool. I underestimated how much work the initial set up would be (especially compared to my little 10ft round starter pool I had last year).

First and second time, we put 15x15x1.5 inch pavers and several cracked. Even after having everything completely level (first time water level was 3.5 inches off, second time about 2 cm).

This time we're getting pressure treated wood. I can't find any 15in wide so we were considering either 12 inch wide (so 12x12x2 cuts) or getting a 2x8 and doubling them up side by side so it would be perpendicular to the grain and 15 inches actual size BUT I'm worried the point/gap where they sit together will mess things up. My hesitation with the 12 inch width is that it'll be cutting it close on ground contact with the legs and if we're off by a little bit, the leg will hang off a tad. My dad suggested just getting the 2x12 lumbar, not cutting at all and running it long ways under the legs so nothing would hang off but we're not sure if the wood would split since it would be parallel with the grain.

Any suggestions or experience with any of these methods? I don't really want to get 4 inch concrete blocks because we're honestly tired of digging but if any of the options for wood wouldn't be advised, then we'll get to digging again!

Thank you!

Maybe you will see this. In April of 2021 I installed a 16x32 Intex pool. First mistake like yourself used concrete slabs. All but four of them broke. I then went out and bought 2x10x16 pressure treated planks 6 of them. 3 plus years later they are in perfect shape and pool is still level as I set it up. I'm in Florida my back yard can be close to swamp like at times so compaction of a pad was difficult for me. Another story. My pool frame I suspect will fail before the wood fails. If I get 5 years out of the pool i'll be thrilled only 1.5 years left. Then for $2,000 or so replace the pool with a new one ... much cheaper than the $40,000+ it would have cost for an in-ground pool

 

[nenah]

Update: We ended up doing the wood, doubling the 2x8's perpendicular to the grain.. almost a year now and so far so good! Just in case anyone ends up in my same position and wondering.