Intex 24' Round Pool Ground Leveling

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E

entis

Member
May 18, 2021
8
Royal Oak, Michigan
I have been reading all the threads here and I have been following the fantastic advice.

I have cut the sod out and I am beginning to level the ground using a 14' 2 x 4 with my level attached to it on a nail in the center and rotating it.

What I have found is the the majority of the area is just a bit high, which is great, but in the center, or just a bit off of center there is a rough circle that is approximately 3 inches low and about 5' in diameter.

I have two choices. Keep brining down all the dirt all the way around another 4 inches or so which is a tremendous undertaking, or just fill in this 5' area in the center with Mason Sand I have and everything else will be leveled to virgin earth.

Would the second choice be Ok to do?
 
Welcome to TFP! :wave: While we normally don't recommend filling or trying to lift an area, in this case it appears to only be a relatively small area in the center and should not directly impact the stability of the pool since the outer portion for the pavers sounds like it's prepped and firm. I would say go for it. Fill, tamp, repeat, and press-on. Wait for a couple other AGP owner replies if you like as a sanity check.
 
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Well we are digging all day and about 65 - 70% of the way with the initial leveling. Wow, a lot of work. I tool it down within a few inches with a Dingo, and we are doing the rest by hand so I don't gouge the area.

You can see the center is lower by circa 2".

Also the plan is to put 2" Concrete Landscape 1' x 1' pads down on the virgin dirt. Then, since we have a bumps hear and there and dug out some rocks and roots and such, I was going to put down 1" of Mason Sand. Which I already have. And then use the 1" XPS Foam board from Lowe's as been suggested in other threads.

Looking for some confirmation if I am doing things ok or not. We are wore out from digging but want to make sure we won't have any problems.

Any advice or information, criticism, words of encourage, etc. would greatly be appreciated. This is our first pool and the kids are very excited but the work leveling is rough.

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It is most important for about 2' of the outside edge where the pavers for the uprights are resting to be on level undisturbed soil. The center of the pool can rest on soil that has been built up a few inches. I think you have a good plan going forward. Hang in there! All this work will be well worth it!
 
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My pool is an Intex Ultra Frame XTR 24' x 52" round.

I am having some issues now and I am not sure what to do and looking for some wisdom on it and advice.

When I laid out the pavers, I put the top rail together and and set it down on the ground. I put pavers under each one under the "T" at 1" from the inside as I have read other doing, in the center of every paver. We then used a Water Level and got all pavers level within 1/8" or less on virgin ground. Filled in some areas with sand to 3/4" below the pavers and then put in the XPS Foam Board at 3/4" which is now level with the pavers, triple taped the seam with Gorilla Tape.

We put up pool and noticed that the bottom of the liner where it goes from flat to the wall in some areas is further away from the pavers. Also some of the legs are leaning top in significantly, at least I think so. If I make them vertical they will go off the paver on the inside. We first put about 1" in the pool and started noticing this, so we drained the poll completely and pull the liner tight again. We started filling the pool again and I have about 3-4" in the water. The same thing is happening. Everything is level from the ground and the top rail is level as well. It almost seems that the where the wall and floor meet is smaller than where the top rail. Additionally all creases are gone and the floor of the liner is tight all the way around.

I am very concerned. I was thinking of moving the pavers In, in the morning by carefully cutting the foam board then digging out a bit and sliding them forward till the legs are vertical, checked with my level. I can still lift the rail a few inches off the paver right now with the water that I have in it.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

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Water does tend to push the legs out as the pool fills, but I think if you bring the pavers in toward the center of the pool 1" it will help to have the legs completely on the pavers as it fills. The liner will push out more as it fills up.
 
Just an inch? The bottom of the liner where wall meets the floor is about 5 inches away in those pics.

Also, how much can I fill the pool before I won't be able to easily move the leg up to move the pavers? I was wondering if I waited till it started bowing out so I would see where I need to move them.
 
I don't know how much you are able to lift without injuring yourself. A gallon of water weighs approximately 8 lbs. You don't want to hurt yourself and you don't want to hurt your pool. It is not designed to hang from the frame without the ground bearing the majority of the weight. Filling it above the outter strap that ties the legs to the pool should give you an idea how far out the legs will go.
 
Just to update what I did. I went through today and moved just about every paver. I leveled the legs, while the pool is still filling, - 10 inches roughly now, side to side and front to back. I moved every paver so the are about 1" from inner leg foot for room to expand. I also used my water level and have every paver within 1/16" - 1/8" on virgin soil all the way around the pool Took me about 6 hours but I hope the time pays off in stability.

Also put together the pump.
 
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Well I have the Rough Electrical Inspection for tomorrow, for the 120' of underground conduit and new circuit for the pump as well as bonding around the perimeter of the pool and to 4 legs. Put in a 16' 4 x 4 so I could mount the receptacle, have a camera and lights.

Pool is about 4-6" from full. I have checked all legs again with the water level and they are less than 1/8" maximum. Pool is quite sturdy with this much water. I am surprised.

Put together pump and turned on with a heavy gauge extension cord till after inspection.

Shocked the pool water this evening and will have water tested at pool store for free on Thursday.




Intex Pool 1.jpg
 
You have done a good job with this. That dip in the center is no big deal, and to be only 1/8” out of level on your pavers is near perfect. And I have to say, amazing trench!
 
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I don’t have input other than lights may attract insects you don’t want.
 
entis said:
I am now looking at an Area Light to put up high on the pole so that it will light up the pool area but not much more. Does any one have any suggestions as to a light, or lumens and how high to mount it?
Click to expand...
Not an area light but Intex sells a pool light. I’ve got two. They have a light on the inside of the pool plus one on the outside to help light up the area. Both can be turned on or off independently. Here is my 26’ Intex. This was before I opened so it was a bit messy inside.
full

full
 
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I got a new A frame ladder the same one I believe @jseyfert3 has with slide up stairs and I ordered the magnetic light. Will plug it into the GFCI outlet on an Alexa power plug so I can put it on a schedule.

I was also reading you can diminish bugs to the light if it is more in the cool range between 2500k and 3000k
 

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