Hello everyone!
Today is an exciting day for our family! Pool setup day! It is finally here!
I will start with the work I have done up to this point. Sorry, I do not have pics of the first few steps, but they would be boring anyways...
1. MARK THE POOL LOCATION
2. DIG OUT THE GROUND
3. PLACE PAVER STONES
4. ADD SAND
Next post will be once the pool actually starts going up!
Today is an exciting day for our family! Pool setup day! It is finally here!
I will start with the work I have done up to this point. Sorry, I do not have pics of the first few steps, but they would be boring anyways...
1. MARK THE POOL LOCATION
I first tied a small loop onto a piece of rope. I then measured out the radius of the pool plus 1 foot from this loop and tied a knot. This made a 10 foot long rope for my pool.
I found where I wanted the center point of our pool to be and marked a dot with spray paint. I inserted a long screwdriver into the loop and the pushed it into the ground at my center dot. I then swung the rope around in a circle and sprayed spray paint where I tied the knot to mark the outline of the pool.
I found where I wanted the center point of our pool to be and marked a dot with spray paint. I inserted a long screwdriver into the loop and the pushed it into the ground at my center dot. I then swung the rope around in a circle and sprayed spray paint where I tied the knot to mark the outline of the pool.
Note: On hindsight, I would have made this a little wider. Somehow the pool managed to exactly fit in the hole and not have an extra 1 foot on all sides.
2. DIG OUT THE GROUND
First I sprayed weed and grass killer down over the entire area. This was probably unnecessary because I ended up having to put down another coat later.
I then assembled a leveling stick. I used 2, 2"x4"x8" boards and placed them end to end. I then used a few extra scrap pieces to join them together. I raised these scrap pieces up about a half inch to create and indent to place my level in so it would stay put easier.
I then laid the leveling stick down on the area I just marked off. I placed my level on top and then lifted one end of the stick off the ground until it became level. I then knew that the end that was still on the ground needed to be lowered by this distance. For me this was about 4 inches.
I wanted a 2 inch layer of sand under the pool so I dug out the low side 2 inches deep. The high side I dug using my 4 inch measurement plus the 2 inches for the sand. This was dug 6 inches deep.
I used the leveling stick the same way I originally used it to gauge how well I was leveling. I would lay it on the ground and then dig out any high spots until the ends would both touch the ground. If I was not level I would lift an end to find out how far off I was and the dig the opposite end down. I probably spent way to much time doing this, but in the end it worked!
I then assembled a leveling stick. I used 2, 2"x4"x8" boards and placed them end to end. I then used a few extra scrap pieces to join them together. I raised these scrap pieces up about a half inch to create and indent to place my level in so it would stay put easier.
I then laid the leveling stick down on the area I just marked off. I placed my level on top and then lifted one end of the stick off the ground until it became level. I then knew that the end that was still on the ground needed to be lowered by this distance. For me this was about 4 inches.
I wanted a 2 inch layer of sand under the pool so I dug out the low side 2 inches deep. The high side I dug using my 4 inch measurement plus the 2 inches for the sand. This was dug 6 inches deep.
I used the leveling stick the same way I originally used it to gauge how well I was leveling. I would lay it on the ground and then dig out any high spots until the ends would both touch the ground. If I was not level I would lift an end to find out how far off I was and the dig the opposite end down. I probably spent way to much time doing this, but in the end it worked!
Note: Don't be cheap like me! I didn't have a wheelbarrow, so I used a dolly and a bunch of rubbermaid bins to haul dirt away. This was a horrible experience to haul away 3+ cubic yards of dirt using this! I bought a nice yard cart to bring in the sand in the end.
3. PLACE PAVER STONES
Next I put together the top rail so I could figure out where my paver stones would need to go.
I placed paver stones under each leg. The stones I used were 8"x8"x2". I made sure to use stones that matched the height that I wanted my sand to be. I had made the hole for the pool so small that I had to dig out a small notch to fit most of the pavers in.
I then used a 2"x4"x10' board to fine tune my leveling. I found the center point and placed a paver down. This paver must be at the correct height and must be perfectly level.
I then placed the board across the center paver and one of the outside pavers and checked to see if it was level. I also checked to make sure there were no high spots of dirt in between. After lowering the outer paver as necessary and digging out any additional dirt I would move on to the next paver until they were all level.
I also noticed that I already had some weeds sprouting in my newly dug hole. I sprayed some more weed killer down, this time using the stuff that claims it will keep killing for the next year.
I placed paver stones under each leg. The stones I used were 8"x8"x2". I made sure to use stones that matched the height that I wanted my sand to be. I had made the hole for the pool so small that I had to dig out a small notch to fit most of the pavers in.
I then used a 2"x4"x10' board to fine tune my leveling. I found the center point and placed a paver down. This paver must be at the correct height and must be perfectly level.
I then placed the board across the center paver and one of the outside pavers and checked to see if it was level. I also checked to make sure there were no high spots of dirt in between. After lowering the outer paver as necessary and digging out any additional dirt I would move on to the next paver until they were all level.
I also noticed that I already had some weeds sprouting in my newly dug hole. I sprayed some more weed killer down, this time using the stuff that claims it will keep killing for the next year.
4. ADD SAND
Now I had some sand trucked in. They could not bring it all the way to the pool site, so I had to move it myself. Thankfully I learned my lesson from moving the dirt out and bought a small 3cf yard cart. The wheelbarrows at this price point had horrible reviews and I can use the cart for other things as well. I used 18 heaping carts of sand, so just over 2 cubic yards.
I used a 5/8" masonary drill bit to drill a hole in the center of the center paver. I also drilled a 5/8" bit to drill a hole in my 10' leveling stick. I placed a 3/8"x24" metal rod into the ground inside the hole in the paver leaving about 8 inches sticking out. I placed the leveling stick on this rod as well.
I raked the sand out and then leveled it off. I would use the pavers as leveling points. I placed the leveling stick on a paver, then slide it over until I reached the next paver. If there was a high spot, I would allow the board to scrape it off. If there was a low spot I would add a little sand. After each section was level I would rake away any extra sand the board pushed along before moving to the next section until the whole pool was completely level.
I then tamped it down with a hand tamper. Once it was firm I removed the center paver and rod and filled it in.
I used the backside of a rake to remove any imperfections.
I used a 5/8" masonary drill bit to drill a hole in the center of the center paver. I also drilled a 5/8" bit to drill a hole in my 10' leveling stick. I placed a 3/8"x24" metal rod into the ground inside the hole in the paver leaving about 8 inches sticking out. I placed the leveling stick on this rod as well.
Note: If I were to do this again, I would cut off any remaining wood on the leveling stick after the hole.
I raked the sand out and then leveled it off. I would use the pavers as leveling points. I placed the leveling stick on a paver, then slide it over until I reached the next paver. If there was a high spot, I would allow the board to scrape it off. If there was a low spot I would add a little sand. After each section was level I would rake away any extra sand the board pushed along before moving to the next section until the whole pool was completely level.
I then tamped it down with a hand tamper. Once it was firm I removed the center paver and rod and filled it in.
I used the backside of a rake to remove any imperfections.
Next post will be once the pool actually starts going up!
