Noob question about ground prep for AGP

[FinsFan260]

Hi all! I found this thread about setting up the famous costco bestway pool and am looking for a little clarification. I'm going to rent a sod cutter to remove the grass and it appears that leveling the ground is mostly a matter of taking a 2x4 and making sure things are smooth and level but if sand isn't recommended, what should I use as a base for the pool? Just the (cleaned up and leveled) dirt underneath or do I need to add anything else?

Thanks!

 

[BoringDamo]

I’m not quite sure why you can’t use sand under the pool as long as the legs don’t rest on the sand (or the pavers underneath the legs don’t rest on the sand). I had sand under my Intex 18ft x 9ft and it seemed fine.
I’m guessing the main problem is that the sand could wash away. I was ok as my pool was dug down into the ground by a few inches so the sand was boxed in.

TBH I’ve gone for foam this year anyway (but sat on a small amount of sand <1” to get levels exactly true)

 

[kellyfair]

Sand is fine in a thin layer to give a smooth surface for bottom of pool. If you don’t have rocky soil, you can get by without it. You just don’t want loose soil/sand that will shift and wash away. When you level, level down to the lowest point, instead of trying to fill low points in.

 

[Teald024]

For an Intex pool, level the ground under the pool. Put pavers under the legs so that the top of the pavers are at the same level as where the liner will be. you want all pavers level within 1” of tach other, but ideally within 1/4”.
I would suggest a tarp / mat / gorilla pad under the pool to prevent grass from growing and growing up under the liner. A layer of sand under the liner can be used to soften under the liner if desired.

 

[iwillhaveapoolthissummer]

For an Intex pool, level the ground under the pool. Put pavers under the legs so that the top of the pavers are at the same level as where the liner will be. you want all pavers level within 1” of tach other, but ideally within 1/4”.
I would suggest a tarp / mat / gorilla pad under the pool to prevent grass from growing and growing up under the liner. A layer of sand under the liner can be used to soften under the liner if desired.

hello, I was hoping you can help. I installed 1 inch foam . I'm getting ready to put the pavers in. I'm unsure if i should level pavers with soil or the foam. thanks for your help.

 

[Teald024]

Make the top of the pavers and the top of the foam board the same height.

 

[iwillhaveapoolthissummer]

Make the top of the pavers and the top of the foam board the same height.

Hello thanks for the quick response. Can you please look at my post just broke ground- need help leveling and prepping ground- I may have messed up

and help me out with something. I used a water level. And I'm within 3/4 inch leveled within all areas. I'm concerned the weight of the pool will push down the foam a little. Therefore i'm not really sure where to top of foam will be exactly since its not 100 percent leveled. How do i determine the top of the foam level? I might have to level the thing more. Just don't want to make the ground soft. thank you. I really need a pool

 

[Teald024]

The middle of the pool isn’t as critical. Just have the legs level and the middle close. The foam shouldn’t compress much, so just use best judgment to make the foam and pavers level.

 

[damibal]

Hi, I will be working soon on this same project and was wondering what are the thoughts of my plan below:
1.- Sod cutter to take the grass
2.- Use a tiller to soften the dirt and level as much as possible, then compact it
3.- Set a 3-inch depth with limestone screening
4.- Use the elephant pad on top of the compacted screening
5.- Install the pool on top

The manual of the bestway pool (it is a flexible one not too big - round 12 feet 39" tall) doesn't recommend using sand, I guess it is because it washes away, so I am thinking I could use the limestone screening well compacted. This way I could use the space to put a fire pit and lawn chairs around when the pool season is over. We live in Ontario, so pool season is very short.

Any suggestions and recommendations will be appreciated. it is very hard to find a definitive answer anywhere.

 

[kellyfair]

I really like your plan. One of my favorite AGP setups in this forum is done that way.

 

[damibal]

I really like your plan. One of my favorite AGP setups in this forum is done that way.

Can you point me to that link?

 

[Teald024]

@damibal , you want to use undisturbed soil as much as possible. If you use a tiller, only use it on the high spots to bring the ground down to level.

 

[kellyfair]

Can you point me to that link?

Here you go.

 

[damibal]

I finally got to work on my ground-level work...

Please see attached and let me know your thoughts. We are in Ontario, the pool is vinyl and must be taken out during cold seasons.
So my thought is to put a movable fire pit in the middle to use it when is not freezing.
You can see there is a section that goes deeper as the lawn is like a dome, terrible. It took us around 3 half days to dig to the lowest level.
Thoughts?

Thank you all!

 

[koffey]

Looks fine to me. I'm in Toronto and I dug out my area by hand as well. Your inner surface doesn't need to be 100% level but the support columns resting will.

Looks close to the fence.... a little too much for my liking but that's just me.

 

[damibal]

Looks fine to me. I'm in Toronto and I dug out my area by hand as well. Your inner surface doesn't need to be 100% level but the support columns resting will.

Looks close to the fence.... a little too much for my liking but that's just me.

Thank you, there will be 1.5 feet to the fence. Is it ok, or is it too close?

 

[damibal]

Looks fine to me. I'm in Toronto and I dug out my area by hand as well. Your inner surface doesn't need to be 100% level but the support columns resting will.

Looks close to the fence.... a little too much for my liking but that's just me.

Also, what did you put in the bottom, is HPB ok?

 

[koffey]

Personally, I would have at minimum a 2ft setback but again it is more of a personal preference.

I didn't put anything on top of the excavated site. On top of the ground I was going to just go with a few tarps and then foam but decided against it due to cost and storage space reasoning. I figured that I will see how the first year goes and take it from there. My build is the link in my signature.

HPB will be fine but personally, I'd forgo it. Just use the existing site, tarp, foam, pool tarp, pool.

 

[koffey]

Ah, you are not the original poster... Just read the thread.

 

[magiteck]

Thank you, there will be 1.5 feet to the fence. Is it ok, or is it too close?

Make sure to check local codes. Where I live, they require a minimum 10-feet setback from the property line- with an absolute minimum of 6 feet if surrounded by a 6-ft high privacy fence.