How to Level Out My Back Yard Grass With Sand for a Pool
To install an above ground pool in your backyard, you must provide a level surface for the pool's foundation. A level surface will ensure your pool does not slant to one side and extend the life of your pool. You can create a level surface for your above ground pool using filtered masonry sand. This sand layer also protects your pool by preventing sharp objects such as rocks and roots from puncturing the pool liner. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Yard stake
- String
- Spray paint
- Spade
- Wheelbarrow
- Level
- Herbicide
- Mechanical soil tamper
- Masonry sand
- 2-inch by 4-inch boards, 3
- 4-inch wood nails
- Power drill
- Drill bits
- Water hose
Instructions
-
-
1
Choose a site for your above ground swimming pool. Locate the pool at least 10 feet from overhead wires, subterranean wires, plumbing and your septic system. Drive a yard stake into the center of your chosen pool site.
-
2
Tie to the yard stake a length of string that measures two-feet longer than the radius of your pool. Pull the string taut and use it as a guide to spray paint a circle around the yard stake. Remove the yard stake and string after spraying the line.
-
-
3
Excavate the sod from the area inside the spray paint circle. Place the sod in a wheelbarrow to transport to another area of your property. You can use the sod for another landscaping project or discard it.
-
4
Check the levelness of the excavated area. Move the level around in all directions and all over the pool site. Remove high points in the area by removing additional soil with a spade.
-
5
Spray herbicide over the excavated site to thwart grass and weeds from growing under the pool liner. Run a soil compactor over the soil until the ground does not shift when you walk across the pool site. Fill the excavated area with a two-inch layer of filtered masonry sand.
-
6
Build a leveling device for the pool site from three pieces of 2-inch by 4-inch boards. Use a miter saw to cut one of the boards in two equally-sized pieces. Butt the ends of the two full-length pieces together and set the two short pieces on the outside of the two boards. Drive nails into each of the shorter boards and into the longer boards to create a long board for leveling the pool site.
-
7
Drill a hole through the middle of the leveling board, between the ends of the two longer boards. Drive a yard stake into the hole and through the sand layer into the ground below. Push the boards around in a circle to smooth the sand layer level.
-
8
Remove the boards and yard stake and mist the sand with a water hose. Run the soil compactor over the sand to produce a firm foundation for the pool.
-
9
Check the levelness of the sand layer and add more sand in low areas. Wet the sand several times over a span of three or four days to thoroughly compact the sand layer before assembling the pool.
-
1
References
Resources
- Photo Credit boy in a swimming pool image by Wimbledon from Fotolia.com
