If you have an uneven surface on the ground pool, it could weaken or damage the area in the long run. This is why leveling the ground is important. Once you remove the sod, plan out the leveling by identifying the high spots and slopes. Try on always digging out the higher patches rather than filling the lower areas. Once the ground has been leveled, take the debris out and tamp up the soil, then put a layer of sand over it. We will guide you through the various stages of leveling the ground for a pool in this article.

Part 1

Leveling An Uneven Spot

1. Identify The Higher Spots: If you want to check the unevenness in levels without the use of a special equipment, just look for them. You could check for spots that are higher or lower than the rest of it. Once these areas have been cleared, place a wood plank over this area. Tie a 6ft carpenter’s level over this plank and hereafter move the plank through the entire area to look to test most of the spots.

Position the plank from the center of the area in such a way that it resembles a clock’s hand. Inspect the levelness of the area once again and then rotate the plank for about 2 to 3 feet. Proceed with the shifting while you check the levelness every 2 to 3 feet.

2. Take Stakes To Make High Patches: It could so happen that a side of the edge becomes sloppy significantly which is why it is important to place stakes or even sticks over areas which are sloppy. This area has to be dug out so that it creates level ground for the pool.

3. Rather Than Making Low Patches Dig The Soil: Dig the slopes or any spot that is high so that it levels with the lower areas. When you fill up an area with sand, the weight of the water in the pool will compress it and this could cause problems in the future.

4. Dig Out The High Ground: When you notice any high spots in the area just dig the spot well with a shovel or spade. You could dispose of the soil or even use it for gardening purpose – whatever suits you best.

5. Keep A Check On The Level For Further Progress: Whenever you notice unevenness, lay a wooden plank on the area every now and then. Keep digging and also do not forget to keep a check on the progress until the entire area has been leveled out well.

Part 2

Finish Leveling The Ground

1. Remove Any Debris, Rocks Or Branches From The Area: Rake the area so that when you have finished leveling it, you do not find any debris around. Having debris around could puncture the lining of the pool.

2. Concentrate Soil In The Area: If you want the pool ground to be strong the soil over it has to be firm to support the pool area. Once you rake up the area of debris, clean it by watering the soil and then run a tamper through it so that the soil becomes compact. If you want the soil to become compact, sprinkle water over it at low pressure for almost an hour before you roll a tamper over it.

3. Spread A Layer Of Sand Over This Area: You could lay sand upto 1 to 2 inches deep across the entire area before you roll the tamper over it. If you want to level the area further, make use of limestone rather than sand to make the area more compact. Whether you use sand or limestone, do ensure that it is free of rocks, large grains or any kind of debris before you spread it across the area.

4. Use Fungicide And Herbicide Over The Area: The ground for the pool will always remain wet so ensure that you use fungicide before installing the pool. When you will use herbicide as well, it will make sure that no plants will sprout in the area to cause any damage in the pool in the long run. However, always keep it in mind that whatever product you use, it is petroleum free and it does not require dilution rather than using concentrates that have to be mixed with water. Wait for at least two weeks after using fungicide and herbicide before installing pool.

Part 3

Clear The Sod Before Leveling

1. Spread A Plastic Sheet Over The Area Two Weeks Before Installing Pool: If you want to kill grass from growing over the ground, then the best option is to spread a plastic sheet two weeks before installing the pool. This is going to make the process of removing sod a lot easier. However, when you install the plastic sheet make sure that you weigh down the edges with a heavy object such as rock, bricks or some blocks.

2. Remove The Sods Through Thorough Watering: If you feel the ground is not completely clear, you will have to remove grass from it before leveling the ground. It could either be by thorough watering or a day after heavy rains. So check on the weather forecast because dry sod gets really hard to remove.

3. Dispose of The Sod: Removing sod manually can be a hard task and could get messier for you so you can even hire a power cutter to do the job for you. Once the sods are removed, dispose of them in a lawn bag or you can even add the sod to the compost heap. If you hire a power cutter to do the task for you, you can even use the disposed of sods for laying it on a bare patch in your yard and then fertilize and water it daily for at least 1-2 weeks.

Part 4

Choose A Good Site

1. Check The Codes Of Your Building: When you are looking for a good spot for your ground pool ensure that you choose the flattest spot possible. However, it has to comply with the local codes of your building. See if the pool has to maintain a certain distance from a certain tank, road, or property line. For this purpose, contact the local recorder or access officer in your area if need be to find the property lines. One important thing to remember here is that your ground pool should not be close to an easement where workers might have to work on accessing power. Also, avoid power cables overhead or underground for any damages in the future.

2. Keep Away From Trees: If your pool is under a tree, there are chances of more leaves and bugs falling in the water and making it impure. This will make it extremely difficult for you to maintain the pool on a day to day basis. Another hindrance here is that the branches from the trees, could affect the leveling of the ground, which could get difficult to remove in the long run.

3. Check The Drainage In The Area: The drainage in the area where you would be installing the pool needs to be a good one. In the absence of this, you could end up with swamp in your backyard. See how the water drains out after a heavy spell of rain. Do not create a ground over an area that is waterlogged for a long time otherwise there are high chances that this water will divert towards your pool.

What Are The Things You Will Require

  • Sand
  • Levels
  • Wood Plank
  • Measuring tape
  • Hoe
  • Spade or shovel
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Rake
  • Lawn roller
  • Fungicide and herbicide

Creating a ground for a pool is not a task of a night, it will take you time but if you want to know how to level ground for pool in the right way, go through this article well because it is in the details that you will realise what kind of difference it can make to perfecting the process of making a ground for pool. If you have any further queries, drop in a line in the comment section below.

Similar Posts