Harley's Pool

[harleyl7]

Hey all, I just found this forum and did some reading on levelling.
Anyways, I am looking to do an AGP (18X48 Sam's club best way).
There's two spots I can install it in my yard. One is the preferred location by me and my wife, but the slope here as you can see in the pictures gets bad. All the rocks there is a French drain also. Will it work in this location? I'll have to dig down to the lowest point to try and get as level as possible. I don't want to do sand. I think I'll do the harbor freight flooring taped together.

Other location is relatively flat, but blocks my shed and gate.

The whole yard when it rains gets pretty damp and idk if that is a concern too. The French drain really helps clear it out though.

 

[AUSpool]

Geday harley and welcome to the forums.

I would put it where you want it even if that means a little more work to get it level. If you block the gate or shed I’ll guarantee something will come up that needs access. I don’t know about the harbour freight flooring but I would stick with the sand.

We do things a bit different here, based on science and experience, instead of sales and marketing. As your getting ready have a look through Pool Care Basics and Pool School

 

[harleyl7]

Thanks! I will check out those articles. For leveling, do I just dig down and then make it level? By adding sand or clay. Under my yard is all clay after you get through a little top soil.

 

[AUSpool]

I would dig it level, compact it then add sand and level again. You don’t want anything under the pool like timber etc. that’s likely to rot and cause subsidence over time.

But I’m really out of my depth hear, I’m thinking about general construction and have never read any above ground pool instructions. Maybe @kimkats might know or know how to ask.

 

[kimkats]

Hi! I would put it in the 1st spot for sure. You NEED to be able to access you shed and gate so that spot is really a no go.

How are you going to dig to level? Will you be doing it by hand or renting a diggy machine? Either way it is not going to be a lot of fun as you will end up doing the finishing digging by hand to get it just right.

Do not over dig. You want to try to keep the ground under the pool virgin ground as much as possible. You should use sand to help with the finish level. Using the flooring under it would be the cherry on top. Make sure to triple tape them though. Down the middle of the seam then on either side to make sure they don't separate.

There are a lot of videos on how to level the spot. THAT is the MOST important thing for building the pool. Let us know how it is going and we will cheer you on!

 

[harleyl7]

Thank you! I chose a third location that should work. I will be using a shovel then compactor. Will do the 2x4 with level on it spinning in circle lol.


Going to dig to remove the grass and see what I'm working with.

 

[kimkats]

Make sure there some adult beverages in the fridge before you start working LOL

 

[bkp22]

Thank you! I chose a third location that should work. I will be using a shovel then compactor. Will do the 2x4 with level on it spinning in circle lol.
View attachment 584396

Going to dig to remove the grass and see what I'm working with.

If you have rocky soil at all, pay a landscaper to level the area. It will be well worth it.

 

[harleyl7]

Little update! Dirt is pretty solid underneath it and this is just me with a shovel lol but my technique is improving and I don't have a truck to pick up a a sod cutter machine lol

 

[harleyl7]

Another quarter done haha time to take a break until later. Starting to wonder what I'm gonna do next to make it level

 

[harleyl7]

Okay, so all the grass is removed. Should I just bring in sand and level it out?

Edit: I think I need to level the ground I currently have now. I'm thinking maybe if using a tiller? The left side slopes down still so I'll have to dig down? I read a little on older posts and saw people put pavers down level those with water/laser level and then level everything in between

 

[kellyfair]

Okay, so all the grass is removed. Should I just bring in sand and level it out?

Edit: I think I need to level the ground I currently have now. I'm thinking maybe if using a tiller? The left side slopes down still so I'll have to dig down? I read a little on older posts and saw people put pavers down level those with water/laser level and then level everything in between

You need to be level - a thin layer of sand is fine for providing a nice smooth surface, but shouldn’t be used to level. You need to dig out any high spots.

I’m having flashbacks about leveling my first couple of pools <shudder>. I hired someone to install my permanent AGP, including leveling. Best thing I ever did!

 

[harleyl7]

Another question - so when I'm leveling, I was gonna put the pavers level with the ground. Like in the ground and flush. But I plan to do a floor matt floor or insulation board floor. Which the pavers would need to be level with the boards..

Kinda confused of which way to level it with pavers on ground or with boards?

 

[harleyl7]

I read some posts from 2013-2014 and plan to not use sand at all if possible. Goal is to use my current ground and use a water level to set all the pavers up. But then add insulation board or floor mats. That's the part I'm stuck on I guess.

How much did you pay for leveling?

 

[kellyfair]

Keep in mind you will have thousands of pounds of water sitting on top of mats or boards. That is a lot of pressure, so I wouldn’t sweat too much about having pavers be perfectly level with boards. If you are planning to extend the flooring beyond the diameter of the pool and past the legs, you can put the pavers on top, but be sure that no tough edges will rub against your liner.

I prefer pavers flush with the ground, myself, so I wouldn’t extend the flooring past more than an inch or two past bottom of pool.

My guys did it for only $600 - it would likely be triple now!

 

[harleyl7]

Keep in mind you will have thousands of pounds of water sitting on top of mats or boards. That is a lot of pressure, so I wouldn’t sweat too much about having pavers be perfectly level with boards. If you are planning to extend the flooring beyond the diameter of the pool and past the legs, you can put the pavers on top, but be sure that no tough edges will rub against your liner.

I prefer pavers flush with the ground, myself, so I wouldn’t extend the flooring past more than an inch or two past bottom of pool.

My guys did it for only $600 - it would likely be triple now!

Oh yeah definitely triple lol

So you're saying - just do pavers flush with the ground?

 

[kellyfair]

Oh yeah definitely triple lol

So you're saying - just do pavers flush with the ground?

It’s up to you - but that is what I would do.

 

[harleyl7]

Picked up 18 concrete blocks today. Need to make the water level and start leveling these blocks. Trying to see how far off the points are and then decide if I'm using a tiller or getting a pick axe out.

Waiting for the pool to show up so I can space the blocks out.

 

[kellyfair]

Picked up 18 concrete blocks today. Need to make the water level and start leveling these blocks. Trying to see how far off the points are and then decide if I'm using a tiller or getting a pick axe out.

Waiting for the pool to show up so I can space the blocks out.

It won’t be long before you’ll be happily floating!

 

[harleyl7]

It won’t be long before you’ll be happily floating!

Thanks! Haha trying to get these concrete blocks in the ground for the legs, but can't even get my first one level