You’re reviewing your checklist of needed materials for your new above ground pool and you see “pool cove” on the list.
“What the heck is pool cove?” You think. “Do I even need whatever that is?”
The answer is a resounding YES. Every above ground pool needs a pool cove. In the most general terms, a pool cove is a slight angle of material that acts as a berm or wedge that transitions the pool wall to the pool floor. Having the cove in place helps keep the weight of the water from pushing the liner out from under the pool walls and gives the liner a gentle transition down as it is stretched and stressed from people walking and swimming inside the pool. Without a pool cove, your pool liner would like rip or tear and the water would begin to gush out of your pool!
A pool cove is placed or built around the entire interior wall of the pool wall both outwards and upwards about 4-6 inches. Some coves may be made from sand or earth, but many people opt to used pre-formed, pre-made foam pool cove. Installing foam pool cove is quick and easy as each piece is about 4 feet long and has a sticky back strip of tape to adhere to the pool wall. Each piece is lined around the interior perimeter of the pool and any excess can just be cut with a razor blade or knife.
There are some other great benefits to using foam pool cove in your above ground pool. Using foam provides a uniform appearance around the entire pool which cannot be achieved as well with sand or earth. Foam holds a consistent shape and will not wash away over time like sand or earth can. By keeping a consistent shape, there is no additional pulling on strain on your liner which helps maintain its longevity. Finally, because foam cannot be washed out, it cannot hold any moisture against the metal components of your pool. Without moisture, less corrosion occurs and the longevity of the pools life increases.