Buzz
Prior to setting up your pool, ensure the ground is leveled to prevent water spillage. For a secure and professional installation, utilize paver plates to elevate the pool on uneven terrain. Another option is to level the ground using a wooden beam, albeit this method is more labor-intensive. While professional assistance is available, leveling can be easily accomplished as a DIY project.
Key Considerations
- Excavate sod and level the ground using a shovel or rake.
- Position the pool's bottom rails and place square pavers underneath, filling gaps with sand and compacting it.
- Alternatively, distribute sand and lay a wooden beam, securing it with a central metal rod and compacting the sand.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Installation of Paver Plates
Clear the area by removing sod. Utilize a shovel to eliminate grass, rocks, and debris from the pool installation site. Additionally, eradicate any plant roots concealed beneath the soil.
- A sod cutter from a hardware store can expedite the clearance of large grass areas.
- Applying grass and weed killer now prevents future plant growth that could harm the pool.
Level the ground meticulously. Assess the ground's flatness using a level. Adjust uneven spots by excavating high points and filling holes with soil, then smooth the surface with a rake. Ensure no area deviates more than 2 inches from the rest. When leveling low spots, remember that pool weight will compact the soil, so it's preferable to dig rather than solely add soil.
Position and secure the pool's bottom rails. Arrange the rails in a circular formation over the leveled soil, connecting their ends securely according to the owner's manual instructions.
- Use a tape measure to confirm consistent spacing between the rails, maintaining uniformity.
Embed square pavers beneath the connected rails. Acquire 6x6 square paver plates from a home improvement store if not provided with the pool. Place a plate at each rail connection point, ensuring it sits flush with the soil surface.
- Use a level to verify the plates are even.
- Typically, the rails should fit into the grooves on the plates. Alternatively, leave the rails atop the plates.
- Substitute patio stones or blocks for pavers if necessary.
Layer sand within the enclosure. Begin with 2 to 3 bags of clean masonry sand available at the local hardware store. Empty it within the pool rails' circular perimeter, possibly removing one rail for ease. Add sand until reaching a uniform 2-inch layer.
- Distribute the sand evenly beneath the pool's base using a shovel or rake.
Moisten the sand using a hose. Attach a garden hose and thoroughly soak the sand to ensure solidification. Continue until water begins to drain outside the circle. Repeated soaking may be necessary after sand compaction.
- Test sand compaction by walking on it. If footprints remain, moisten and tamp again.
Utilizing a Wooden Beam
Level the soil using shovel and rake. Employ a level across various spots within the circle to ensure uniformity. Adjust soil levels if needed to maintain a maximum 2-inch difference.
- Alternatively, utilize string and stakes to gauge soil levels. Connect stakes with lowered strings; areas not reaching the string are lower.
Distribute sand across the leveled surface. Begin with 2 or 3 bags of sand, adding more as necessary. While concrete sand offers optimal durability, yellow or white sand can also suffice. Evenly rake the sand and add more to level lower areas.
- Concentrate extra sand in lower spots to achieve evenness.
Position a wooden beam over the sand. Procure a 2 in × 4 in (5.1 cm × 10.2 cm) wooden plank from the store, ensuring it spans the entire area to be leveled. If a single board is insufficient, join multiple boards using braces and deck screws.
- For instance, for a 15 ft (4.6 m) wide pool, connect two 8 ft (2.4 m) boards.
Attach a level atop the beam. Secure the level onto the plank using masking tape, facilitating its use as a guide during adjustment. An even alignment between the level and the board indicates a flat ground, suitable for the pool installation.
Insert a metal rod through the center of the beam. Drill a 3⁄8 in (9.5 mm) hole through the board, finding the center using a tape measure. Insert a 3⁄8 in (0.95 cm) rod from the hardware store into the hole and hammer it into the ground.
Rotate the board by pulling one end. Within the circle, pull one end of the board towards you as you step backwards, causing it to rotate due to the metal rod. Monitor the level to detect unevenness and use the board to even out the sand.
- As you rotate the board, your shoe prints will disappear. After rotation, fill any remaining prints with sand using a shovel.
Soak the sand to compact it using a hose. Wet the sand thoroughly to achieve compaction and levelness. Ensure the entire area is soaked to allow for effective tamping. If relying on rainfall, wait for approximately 1⁄2 in (1.3 cm) of rain to fully saturate the sand.
Tamp the sand until footprints vanish. Acquire a tamper from a hardware store or fashion one using a weighted wood block and heavy chain. Commence tamping from the perimeter towards the center, ensuring thorough compaction throughout. Test the sand by walking on it; when footprints no longer form, the area is ready for construction.
- Repeated soaking and tamping may be necessary for complete hardening.
Pointers
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Install pools directly on grass or soil surfaces only.
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To level the ground, disassemble the pool if already constructed.
Essentials
Using Paver Plates for Leveling
- Pool rails
- Measuring tape
- Shovel
- Level
- Wrench
- Pavers, plastic plates, or stone blocks
- Sand
- Hose
- Tamping tool
Leveling with a Wooden Beam
- Measuring tape
- Masking tape
- Shovel
- Level
- Long wooden beam
- Drill
- Metal rod
- Hammer
- Sand
- Hose
