What To Put Under Intex Pools - 4 Ideas For Longevity And The One ...

Last Updated on June 21, 2024

Intex pools are a great way to add family fun to your backyard this summer. Swimming pool games will be a great memory for your family! If you are ready to buy your Intex pool (or you already have it) you may be stuck on the question – “what should I put under my Intex pool?”

This article will cover 4 ideas of what to put under Intex pools:

• GOOD: Use the Intex ground cloth
• BETTER: Use a third-party ground covering
• BEST: Use interlocking foam tiles for the most protection
• ALTERNATIVE: Use a roll of old carpet – it’s FREE!

What to use at a glance

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After reading this article, you’ll be able to answer the following questions.

• What kind of products or materials can I put under my Intex pool?
• What are the products or materials you should avoid putting under your Intex pool?
• Where’s the best place to put my Intex pool?

Why Do You need to put ANYTHING under your pool?

Temporary above-ground pools like Intex, Summer Waves, Bestway, or Coleman all have one thing in common. They have a thin vinyl liner that is susceptible to punctures if installed incorrectly. Roots, stones, pebbles, and anything else on the ground below the pool are potential sources of leak-causing punctures.

For this reason, it is important to not put your temporary pool directly on the grass, dirt, or concrete.

No matter what style of Intex Pool you are installing, this decision can make a big difference in how long your pool will last.

Avoid this common mistake – SAND

One of the most common mistakes that new Intex pool owners make is that they put sand under their pool. We understand why! It is easier to level, which is very important for your pool. However, sand easily washes away from under the pool during hard rain. For this reason, Intex VOIDS THE WARRANTY if you in fact had sand under the pool! Please read the warranty carefully to avoid this problem.

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Here are 4 Ideas of What to Put Under Intex Above Ground Pools

There are a handful of things you can put under your Intex pool to make sure that it lasts longer, but we only recommend the following materials to put under your Intex pool. Keep in mind that Intex pools vary in size. See our article on Intex Pool Sizes to learn about all the different pools available.

The Intex Ground Cloth

The Intex Ground Cloth is included with most Intex Pool sets. It provides added protection for the pool bottom from rocks, twigs, or other items that could potentially puncture the liner. However, even though Intex Pools, in general, receive good reviews from the owners, the Ground Cloth is generally described as a sub-standard item and is too thin to provide much real protection. This is why many Intex Pool owners decide to opt for another option.

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Third-Party Pool Pads

There are many companies that manufacture alternatives to the Intex Ground Cloth that provide more thickness and therefore more protection for your liner. Make sure you choose the right size for your pool. If your pool is 15′ diameter, then choose the 15′ diameter pad. There is no benefit to having a larger pad than the pool, and in fact, the excess can be cumbersome to manage and you will just have to cut it off anyway.

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• My Intex Pool Is Unlevel By A Few Inches - What Should I Do?
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• Pool Fence Ideas: 10 Ways To Improve Your Pool's…

Interlocking Foam Tiles – OUR FAVORITE

This is a good way to add a decent amount of padding under your pool bottom. Without lots of padding, you can feel every texture of the ground under your feet in the pool. This bothers some people and foam padding feels great under the pool. It also makes cleaning the bottom of your pool using an Intex pool vacuum much easier since you have a more uniform surface without dips and divots for the dirt to get trapped.

Pro Tip: A common question is whether your pool legs should rest directly on the foam tiles. The answer is NO. Your pool legs should rest on wood blocks or concrete pavers that are set level with the foam pads. This avoids undue stress on the liner.

You simply need to calculate how many squares you need for your pool. Here are some quick calculations using 2’x2′ foam tiles.

• 10′ diameter pool = 35 Tiles (140sq.ft)
• 15′ diameter pool = 60 Tiles (240sq.ft)
• 18′ diameter pool = 80 Tiles (320sq.ft)
• 20′ diameter pool = 115 Tiles (460sq.ft)
• 24′ diameter pool = 145 Tiles (580sq.ft)

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What Real World Users Say…

“we put it on a concrete slab with only a tarp and regretted it“

“I put down a tarp and the pool but I could feel little clumps of dirt that were hard enough to feel like rocks. So then I put down the interlocking gym pads and a tarp (since I already had it) on top. I’m glad I did. When I walk around in the pool it’s nice and cushiony.“

“So far ours have held up really well. Tape them together with the wide black gorilla tape“

Old Carpet – A free option!

This is another good material that will help you decide. We really like this solution since it can be FREE if you can find someone disposing of their old carpet. Just put the carpet down under the pool, with the plush side up. The carpet provides good protection from the stones and pebbles that could cause a tear in the liner, but it does not provide as much cushion and uniform surface for cleaning as the foam tiles do.

What To Put Under Intex Pools - Own The Pool

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use sand under my Intex Pool?

The folks at Intex are fairly clear that you should NOT put sand under your pool. The sand can easily wash away, causing voids under your pool and risking your pool leaning and even collapsing.

Where’s the best location to put my Intex Pool?

The most important point for choosing a location for your pool is that it must be a flat, level, and stable surface. That is the most important thing when choosing a location.

Can I put my Intex Pool on the driveway or concrete patio?

YES. As long as your driveway or patio is level, this is a great place for an Intex Pool. If you do choose to put your Intex Pool on your driveway or patio, then we highly recommend the We Sell Mats interlocking foam floor tiles mentioned above as a way to provide cushioning for the bottom of the pool.

What should I put under other types of above ground pools?

These tips are the same for any type of above-ground pool. Bestway, Summer Waves, and Coleman are great alternatives to Intex Pools and this advice is the same for those brands.

What should I put under the legs of my Intex pool?

The stability of the legs is vital to a sturdy Intex pool. You should NOT put the legs directly on the ground, they will sink in once the weight of the water is pushing down. You SHOULD put a wood block or concrete paver under each leg. The paver should be at least 1ft x 1ft in size and should be level with the ground.

Conclusion

Those pretty much sums up everything we could discuss on this topic, and hopefully, we were able to answer your question earlier, “what to put under Intex pools?”.

Intex Pool Reviews and Buying Guide

If you want to upgrade your Intex Pool, you should check out this comprehensive review we made just for you.