Building protection mats are available in different designs and have a number of advantages as a base for the pool. However, for this purpose, various aspects must be taken into account.
What are building protection mats?
These special mats are a rubber base with cutouts. Visually, they are reminiscent of doormats due to their structure and material. These properties make them ideal as a base for a swimming pool.
Because they offer, among other things, these advantages:
- insulating and insulating effect
- sound-absorbing
- Protection against foreign bodies, such as stones or roots
- Stabilization of loose materials such as sand, gravel or gravel
Building protection mats on lawns
Inflatable pools in particular are often placed directly on the lawn. However, this presents a number of risks and disadvantages. These include:
- Rot and mold can occur
- Foreign objects such as stones or roots can damage the bottom of the pool
- Grass dies
- Insects are spreading
- Lawn changes color
- uncomfortable walking and sitting in the pool
- Weeds can grow through the mats
Removing the turf therefore makes sense in any case. Simply placing the mats is not enough. Although they create a distance between the floor and the pool, the disadvantages mentioned still occur.
Note:
Due to the structure of the rubber base and the existing recesses, it is not sufficient without combining it with other materials. Because in this case unevenness would arise again.
Building protection mats on concrete
A concrete foundation is a wonderful prerequisite for the base of a swimming pool. This applies to both inflatable variants and pools with a frame. However, when it comes to panels, the joints between the individual elements can be problematic. Because they result in various potential disadvantages:
- Breaking corners or edges
- penetrating weeds
- Unevenness, for example due to lowering of the plates
A building protection mat under the pool or under the slabs can have a balancing effect and maintain the flat surface. It also creates an insulating and cushioning effect. It is therefore ideal, especially for very hard surfaces.
Nevertheless, the rubber mat should not lie directly under the pool without additional support. Suitable materials, especially in combination, are for example:
- Pond fleece
- Sand
- gravel
- gravel
The materials used to cover or fill the recesses increase the insulating effect and can therefore, for example, keep the water warmer for longer.
Tip:
A combination of sand and covering pond liner or fleece in a low foundation is best. Additional plates can be placed on top. Concreting the foundation provides further stability.
Mats in the foundation
The building protection mats can also be used directly in a foundation. The following steps are required:
Staking & Excavating
The dimensions of the pool are staked out to provide guidance when digging.
The earth is being dug up. Suitable tools for this include a spade or a mini excavator, which can be borrowed.
Condense
The subsoil is compacted with a vibrating plate or a flat vibrator. If you don't want to borrow or rent this equipment, you can use boards instead and add weight to them in batches. A spirit level is used to check whether the surface is level.
Foil & Mat
Film or weed fleece are laid out and cut to size.
The building protection mat is also cut to size and placed in the foundation. If you have several pieces, make sure that the individual elements are not at a distance from each other. Otherwise they could move.
Refill
As soon as the mats are spread out, gravel, gravel and sand are spread. The lighter the pool is, the less filling material is necessary. For paddling pools, even quartz sand is enough.
fleece
Just like the foil, the fleece is also spread over the filled foundation and any protruding edges are cut off.
This is a very simple foundation that can be quickly dismantled.
Tip:
If the foundation is a little deeper, the pool receives additional stability. Just a few centimeters of projection is enough to adjust the pool. The distance to the edge can be filled with sand, for example.
Building protection mats with cover
A very simple variant of the underlay for the pool consists of building protection mats with a cover. It is sufficient to apply sand and fleece or foil.
It is important that the recesses in the mats are filled and a stable cover is chosen. A simple order is:
- Film to prevent weeds
- Mats
- Sand
- Pond liner or fleece
Tip:
Again, the lawn should be removed if there is one. Otherwise, mold and rot may occur.
