Pool-Krete Base Resources
Pool-Krete is a premix of vermiculite and Portland cement that you mix with water and trowel into a hard base under a vinyl liner. Here are the key figures, plus the full mixing and application guide.
Before you start
Important: Pool-Krete contains Portland cement, and wet cement can cause caustic burns. Wear proper gloves (not cotton or leather) and eye protection, and wash any wet mix off your skin with clean, cool water.
- Wait if the excavation is very wet. Pool-Krete will not stick to mud, so after heavy rain, postpone for at least a day or until the walls dry out. Ground that is only moist is fine.
- Do not install Pool-Krete in the rain. If rain arrives mid-job, cover the pool area with polyethylene if you can. Heavy rain can pock-mark or wash out wet Pool-Krete.
- Fine grade the bottom and hopper walls to your string lines and rake out loose dirt and rocks. Do not tamp or pack loose debris, because it makes an unsuitable base.
Pool-Krete at a glance
| Topic | What to know |
|---|---|
| Thickness | 1" to 2". Follow your dig spec for excavation depth. |
| Water per bag | About 5 to 6 gallons, poured into the mixer before the bag. On a hot, sunny day, up to 2 to 3 extra quarts. |
| Mixing time | No more than 2 minutes in a mortar mixer, or 1 minute in a Pool-Krete mixer. Overmixing breaks down the vermiculite and makes troweling harder. |
| Where to start | In the hopper, working toward the shallow end. |
| Liner | Can go in as soon as the base is finished. |
| Foot traffic | Keep off the base for about 2 days, depending on temperature, to avoid indentations. |
| Filling | The pool can be filled right after the liner is installed. |
Full mixing and application guide
For the tool list, mixer setup, fixes for hopper seepage and mud, and step-by-step placement, read Pool-Krete: How to Build the Base for Your Inground Swimming Pool.
Related
- What Do I Use for the Bottom of My Inground Pool? compares Pool-Krete with sand, sand and cement, and vermiculite.
- How Do I Trowel the Pool's Base?
- Shop Pool-Krete premix and other inground pool base material.
Still need help?
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