How To Level The Ground For Your Pool
Above ground pools are an affordable alternative to inground pools, but you have to install it correctly to make sure it can last you for years to come. One of the most important considerations is having a level surface for your swimming pool to sit on.
Below, Ill cover the step-by-step process to level your backyard and confidently install your above ground pool. Later in the article, Ill also discuss why its important to level the ground underneath your pool. Lets dive in.
Select An Area You Want To Level
The larger the area, the more challenging it will be, so dont make it too huge. Mine was 12 x 12 and it was a pretty big job. Also keep in mind that most pools arent that big. Our pool was about 9 x 9 so we made sure there was extra room within our flat surface.
Build a box the size of the space you want. Remember that if you want the inside to be a certain area you need to account for the size of the wood. For my 12 x 12 box I used 2 2 x 4 boards that were 12 long and 2 that were cut to 124 to fit the 12 x 12 carpet I already had.
The measurements below assume youre using the same size wood. If not, adjust as needed.
Pre-drill holes slightly smaller than the diameter of your screws on the 124 board 1 from each end.
Place the 12 board against the pre-drilled holes perpendicularly and screw together using 3 deck screws. Do the same until you have a box. This is the easy part.
How To Level Ground For A Pool Like A Pro
Every summer, when youd look outside your window, you crave a swimming pool sitting in the heart of your yard where you can have a warm bath and enjoy the hot afternoon with your family.
Youve tried everything. But it looks like theres never going to be a possibility of a pool there because of the uneven terrain.
No! No! No! Theres a solution. In this article, Im going to walk you through the whole process of how to level ground for a pool. And trust what youre going to read because after reading this article, youll heed the call to invest in an above ground pool.
You and your kids will enjoy this summer like never before. But first, understanding how to level the ground for a pool and why you should level ground for your pool is a crucial one on this journey.
Its one of the requirements for your pool, so its important that you know why such a step is vital.
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Materials And Tools You Need To Level Your Backyard
Theres a lot of discussion about the tools you need to level a pool. One school of thought is that the more basic the gear, the better. Others believe you cant level ground for your pool without heavy-duty equipment. Ive done both and for most simple above ground pools, I think the reality lies somewhere in the middle.
To level the ground in preparation for your pool, youll need:
- Shovel
- Hose
Landscape Clearing And Excavating
Land must be cleared before leveling. Excavation may be necessary when grading a steep slope or mountain property.
- Land clearing costs$125 to $1,500 per 1/4 acre, depending on the density of trees, shrubs, rocks, and stumps.
- Excavation costs $1 to $5 per square foot, depending on the terrain complexity and volume of dirt.
- Removing a single tree costs$100 to $1,800, depending on the size. Grading around a tree may cause root damage and the tree’s death.
- Removing a tree stump costs$160 to $360 on average.
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What Is Grading A Yard
Land grading is the process of leveling the ground or contouring the slope to ensure proper water drainage. Grading often involves moving dirt from the highest areas of the yard to the lowest places to remove a slope.
- Grading corrects the yard’s slope to drain water away from the home’s foundation.
- Leveling is a form of grading that creates a smooth, even surface.
Overbuild Or Smooth It Out With Sand
After clearing the ground and the only thing left is to layout the lire, one could opt to overbuild the yard. This is also another way of leveling the ground by use of six by six-inch standard thickness square pavers blocks. The major drawback of this method is its quite time-consuming and it can result in the blocks not being all at the same level.
Alternatively, you could bring in a truckload of sand which will be used as a base then pour sand over the lower areas with the majority of the sand. This is also more accurate as you are now leveling the actual track and not the blocks. Use a minimum of a 2-inch thick layer of sand across the whole area of your pool site.
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How To Level The Ground For An Above
BackHow to Level the Ground For an Above-Ground Pool
- How to Level the Ground For an Above-Ground Pool
How to Level the Ground For an Above-Ground Pool
Above-ground pools are a cheaper and easier alternative to installing an in-ground swimming pool. They allow you to enjoy last-minute summer bathing thanks to their quicker and easier installation process.
Installing an above-ground pool will still require some time and effort as you will need to prepare the garden by levelling out the ground of its designated location. This can be done by yourself, but for much larger pools its recommended to employ a professional.
Here at 1st Direct Pools, we not only supply an extensive range of pool products and above-ground pools, we also like to share our swimming pool expertise on our blog and through helpful features such as our solar pool cover calculator!
Diy Yard Leveling Cost
DIY yard leveling costs $120 to $280 for tools to level a small area like a walkway or patio by hand. Grading larger areas involves renting heavy equipment, precise measuring, and intense physical labor. Incorrect grading can cause drainage issues and water damage.
DIY cost for yard grading tools and supplies| Tool |
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Follow these steps to flatten or level a sloped yard:
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The Tools You Would Need To Level The Yard/ground
Leveling the particular area/yard you mapped out to install your above ground pool isnt an arduous task. It can be as easy as mowing a lawn. However, the job would be faster and easier to complete with the right tools. So, highlighted below are the tools you would need to level the ground you intend to install the pool.
Smooth It Out With Sand
After leveling the ground, you need a truckload of sand. The sand creates a base, protecting not only the liner of your pool but to provide a buffer against grass and weeds, or any other sharp objects you may have missed in the dirt.
Getting sand delivered is as easy as a phone call to a landscaping supply company or your local garden center. Ask for enough to create at least a 2-inch thick layer of sand across the entire area of your pool site, though if you end up with 6-inches or more this is totally fine.
Once its been delivered, use a rake to spread the sand evenly, then give everything a good water, and leave it to dry. Id leave it overnight to flatten and dry out.
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One: Choose The Most Suitable Location #
Swimming pools are not easily removable. So, you have to make sure you select the best location before you install the swimming pool. Pool professionals often advise finding a flat area in your yard. Also, the area should not be directly under a tree. Otherwise, you would be exposing your swimming pool to dirt. And this will make it harder for you to clean and maintain your pool. Also, avoid placing your pool near sewage lines or underground cables.
Three: Use Sand To Level Your Ground For Pool Installation
Before you pour the sand, you will need to secure the boards to the ground. Drill a hole that is 3/8inch through the center point of your boards. Next, drive a metal stake through the hole into the land, securing the boards.
Now its time to pour your sand over the area. You will want to pour the sand at the point where you lifted your board to measure. The reason for pouring it here is to raise the ground until it is level.
You will know that its level when you rotate your boards, and they do so smoothly across both the sand and ground. Now that your ground is level, you will want to seal your sand. You can do this by wetting your sand and using a tamper. The tamper will compact your sand.
Do this around the entire circle of sand that you poured. You will know when the sand is ready when you walk on it, and there are no shoe impressions on the surface.
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How To Fix It
Leveling a pool after it has water in it is very difficult. Some people will tell you that you have to empty the pool, disassemble it, and start all over at the beginning. This is why we stress the importance of using the appropriate tools to get the ground prepared, and double- and triple-checking that its level before you install the pool for the first time.
There is a way, however. It is a hard job that will take at least two people to do. Keep in mind when you take on this task that your goal is to get the majority of the weight off one side and evenly distributed throughout. It is impossible to get a pool with water in it perfectly level, so do the best that you can.
Since you will be handling rough material, we recommend that you wear a pair of work gloves to avoid any injury to your hands. They will also give you a better grip.
- Hose
Solutions On How To Level An Above Ground Pool
On a hot summer day, it is hard to beat the refreshment offered by a cool swimming pool. The cool refreshment, however, is only possible when the swimming pool is properly installed and level. If the pool is not level, you will end up with an unnatural shallow end to the pool. Besides being unsightly, improperly installed pools are unstable. They risk the injury of bystanders and swimmers in the event of a collapse.
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Taking your time to ensure that your above-ground pool is level guarantees a safe swimming experience. In this article, we will show you how to level an above ground pool.
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The Importance Of Yard Leveling
If you are looking for information on how to level a yard you probably know it is instrumental in keeping your landscape aesthetically pleasing. A level yard provides stability to your outdoor landscape. It also allows you to avoid serious damage and costly repairs to your foundation.
Your lawn must slope away from your home gradually to allow rainwater to drain away slowly from your foundation. If rainwater runs toward your home, the water will accumulate around the foundation walls. This will cause moisture to build up. Weakening your foundation. It may even become more serious. Seeping through foundation walls and filling your basement with water.
If your home does not have a basement or is built on a slab, moisture can seep into the wooden floor joists. The water will rot the joists. Threatening your homes structural integrity.
The problems dont end there though. Poor leveling will also damage your gardens, trees, and landscaping.
As well as potential standing water issues. A breeding ground for mosquitos. Which are not only pests but carry disease.
Working With The Slope For Spectacular Features When Building A Pool On A Hill
Although you might see building a pool on a slope as a problem, there are some ways that we can really use it to your advantage. As we mentioned, terracing and retaining walls can be aesthetic additions even though their main purpose is to serve a functional goal. These are both great examples of making the most out of what you might view as a problem or a challenge.
But we can go even further than that and really use the slope to an advantage by creating multi-level areas, creating a swim-up bar area, or adding an infinity edge.
Lets look at these 3 possibilities.
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Pro Or Diy Above Ground Pool Installation
Though demand has eased since the height of the pandemic, pool contractors are still busy. So if youre planning to install an above ground pool this year, you might have to do it yourself if you want to be swimming by summertime. Whether you install the pool yourself depends on the type of pool and your DIY skills.
- Inflatable pools. Installing an inflatable pool is usually as simple as finding a level spot on your patio or lawn, pumping up the pool, filling it with water and plugging it in.
- Temporary above ground pools. Putting in a seasonal above ground pool is doable for most people with a few tools, basic DIY skills and a reasonably level backyard.
- Permanent above ground pools. Installing a pool thats a permanent backyard fixture is an involved process requiring greater site prep and mechanics. Youll probably want a deck area surrounding the pool as well. The job can be done by an experienced DIYer, or you can pay for professional installation.
Five: Remove Any Obstacles
After you achieve a level ground, get rid of any large particles, stones, and rocks in the area. Use a rake for this. Once the area is spotless, spray water across the surface to make the soil moist. Afterward, compress the moist surface using a rolling tamper. At times, the pool instruction manual may require you to even out the area using sand after compressing. So, before you do this, confirm with the manual.
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How To Level The Ground For Your Pool A Step
- |May 7, 2019
Your kids have been pressuring you for a swimming pool every single summer, and youve finally caved and invested in an above-ground pool for your yard.
But before you can start throwing up the walls and filling it with water, you need to do a little preparation work on the bit of ground your planning for your pool to call home.
Read on to discover why leveling the ground for your pool is such an important step, and understand the steps required to make the job as easy as possible.
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What To Use For Leveling An Above Ground Pool
Over the years Ive seen my share of horribly built above ground swimming pools. Many of them were severely misshaped, all their uprights leaned to the side and the resin connectors were cracked and did not hide the screws. The biggest way to mess up an above ground pool installation, though, is for it not to be level.
The most off level an above ground can get is around three to four inches off. This means when the pool is filled, on the one side the pool structure is three or four inches higher above the waterline than on the other side. Chief Obvious nature fact: Water is always level with the earth. Since water can only be level, an off level swimming pool will look really bad when you fill it.
I dont usually see above ground pools that are off more than four inches, because they will almost always cave in when the level is off by more than that. Most above ground installation manuals will say that a pool should be level within an inch, but I try to get it level to an eighth of an inch or so. Above grounds with liners that have patterns or tile lines will start to look off level at about the half inch mark as the naked eye can compare the level pool waterline against the pattern of the liner.
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