DIY Pool Ground Site Preparation

Pool Ground Leveling Site Preparation Tips And Tricks, how to, DIY

[@franny5295]

I'm trying very hard to not envy the tools and equipment carrying so much sand it didn't matter what the original ground looks like. I've been digging for 2 days. The grace of God has made it easier but it's tough. And slow. And my back is killing me. Hopefully, I'll be able to get it most of the grass out by Friday so I can start getting the high spots dugout and level with the lower spots. Y'all did good. I think I'd have to pay somebody to do anything bigger than the 15ft I'm doing.

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

I know how you feel!!!! Before we got the sod cutter and other guys to help we hand dug everything and still do in some areas! Keep it up it will be worth it in the end! Thank you for watching and have a great summer!👍😊

[@kevinlark1832]

What sucks is every video is multiple people. It will just be me and that's discouraging.

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Don't get discouraged it's just a time thing ,I have done pools as big as 33 round by myself!!! Just take your time do it right at your own pace, break it up do digging one day, leveling blocks the next etc, it may seem over whelming but it's not! I wish you the best of luck and thank you for watching! You got this!!!!!👍

[@mattkaiser8984]

Kevin, I’ve been doing it basically myself the past few days. My wife has been “helping” (trimming random bushes and raking random leaves everywhere except the pool area) lol. Like OP said, break it up into little doable chunks and go as slow as you need to. I have an 8” off level grade, a sprinkler system I have to dig down and cap as well as concrete pillars I need to demo. I’m feeling overwhelmed this morning and the sand company cancelled my order I placed three days ago… it’s out of stock but they’re just now telling me. 😩

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

👍😊

[@VDread]

You’re not alone man. Im picking up our 18’ x 48” pool tomorrow. And leveling a section for the pool is already gonna be a pain because nowhere in our yard is even remotely level. I will also be soloing that job. 💀

[@juliangallegos7627]

You're never alone mate! I'm here with you in spirit.... And also doing it by myself here in the Arizona heat of 111° 😂

[@thetwistedsisterme]

I need the guys to come prepare my lawn for a pool.

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

That should all be done by your installers hopefully you have good ones, good luck and thank you for watching!

[@swagsurfnkingdingalin9539]

Or stop being a lazyazz and do it yourself

[@marcelalizeca1933]

Hello, nice to see how you did it. I have a question. I just removed the grass, it was raining and the soil is wet. Do you think I have to wait it dry before put the sand? Thanks

[@marcelalizeca1933]

Can I put the sand when the soil is wet?

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Yes as a matter of fact you want to wet the sand to compact it or tamp it!👍

[@sandrikajackson9561]

If you wanted to take the pool down would you be able to regrow the grass in that spot if you wanted too? Would it be harder after digging up?

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

No it would be fine just level it out and add grass seed! Thanks for watching!

[@mattkaiser8984]

My yard’s high end is measuring 5” higher than the low end. Do I take 2.5” from the high end and disperse it to the low end? Then use sand to fill in all the gaps and smooth out the surface?

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Ideally you want all level, but you can do that just make sure everything is tamped down good the last thing you want is your pool to sink, but your not too far from level! And yes make sure you fill the gaps with sand!! Good luck and thank you for watching!

[@maggie4475]

I don’t have any machinery so I have to dig and do it by hand , wish me luck❤❤❤❤

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Definitely know what that's like!!! Best of luck to you thank you for watching and have a great summer!👍😊

[@gracehernandez1489]

Do you have to put down any weed/ grass killer after you cut out the sod? Also what If the ground is still not level after cutting out the 2 inches of sod? Like major dips?

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

No you dont need to put down any weed or grass spray because you removed all the organic material, and the ground still needs to be checked for level and dug out if need be, definitely should use a laser level! Thank you for watching!

[@SmileyJay810]

Great information 🎉

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Awesome! Thanks for watching!😊

[@marcotorres5338]

Great work guys! Could you possibly help me out with an estimate for a 16’-18’ area of land for the same purpose, to install an above ground pool. Just need the ground leveled/graded! Thank you!

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

On average someone would probably charge from 200 to 450 high for level ground then 200 for every 6 inches or more out of level if hand digging, if they are using a machine around 400 plus, thank you for watching!👍

[@noegonzales3167]

Thank you Sir for educating us first timers.

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Thank you for watching!😁, like anything just take your time and get your ground and blocks level because everything else depends on your base! the rest should go together perfect!😁👍

[@rochaelcharles1]

How many inches of sand should be under the pool or around the edges?

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Roughly about 3 inches and 6 inches for your cove! Thank you for watching!👍😊

[@ynnamduff5721]

What is the brand/model & specs on the pool (other than 24' around)? Thanks for sharing your work

[@aarontamikashugard2862]

Would this method work if you want to put your pool down in the ground some?

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Yes, but remember if you fill in the sides you will always need to have water in the pool equal to the outside or it will collapse it in, also it will rust at a faster rate buried.

[@yolandaswain1160]

What did you use for your center to measure the 12ft out with the measuring tape/rope? Hopefully that makes sense haha

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Lol no problem it was a metal stake! Thank you for watching!👍😊

[@MySqueezingArm]

I'm planning on popping up a metal frame above ground pool. Because I plan on collapsing the pool in 6 months, would you still recommend this process or would you recommend something like crushed limestone or concrete?

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Would I personally use that no but I know of pools I fixed that did, even for 6 months I would avoid anything but mason sand, why risk it for all that work, I never had issues using mason sand, always fixing liners where they used anything but sand, it can be done but I wouldn't recommend it, thank you for watching and I wish you luck which ever route you choose!👍

[@MySqueezingArm]

@@WhitehouseFarmVet Thank you so much, mason sand it is. I'll try to find a way to keep it from eroding away over the winter.

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Anytime!👍😁🍻

[@allanmccallum6350]

I’m preparing to install an above ground pool. Removing the grass there is a lot of roots. ???

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

No, grass removal is pretty simple, with surrounding trees you may have roots under the grass where you want to put your pool, so you may have to do some chopping and hacking to get them out of there and away from your site, you want to make sure the roots are gone because the can grow and damage your pool and liner! So if you can try not to build too close to trees, also alot of leaf clean up too lol, Thanks for watching!😁

[@dinastyvelazquez4861]

What is it he machine cutting off the grass called?

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

That's a sod cutter you can rent them from home depot if you need one! Thank you for watching!😁👍

[@biernabierna]

How did you made this perfect circle ?

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Sod cutter! Thank you for watching!👍

[@Sweetsensi666]

What is the machine cutting up the grass

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

It's a side cutter! You can rent them from homedepot pretty cheap definitely saves alot of work trying to dig and gives you a nice circle for your spot for your pool! Thank you for watching!👍😊

[@craigsgaragetrucking3956]

How much sand did you need? Im doing a 18x52 pool though

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

You need at least 2 and a half tons and get mason sand!!! Thank you for watching and good luck!👍😊

[@arandommanoftrueculture1997]

roughly how long did this take?

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Around 4.5, 5 hours for everything! Thank you for watching!

[@theginnor]

We took our side off by hand, but underneath we were left with chunky claylike soil which is super hard to breakdown. Is there a machine that can breakdown and help level the soil. Wish we had nice even soil like in this video. Thank you

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Yes you can rent gas powered tampers from home depot or Lowe's!

[@TheB33Hiv3]

Did you backfill?

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Yes you have to make sure the track is covered all the way around! Thank you for watching!👍😊

[@geraldford5573]

How much sand you recommend for a 18 ft pool?

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

2.5 to 3 tons max! Also make sure its mason sand!

[@geraldford5573]

We got 3.5 on the way 😐

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Nice just remember take your time get your blocks level and the rest should go together smoothly! Good luck and have a great swimming summer😁👍

[@geraldford5573]

Do you recommend a certain type of patio block for legs?

[@geraldford5573]

Was thinking of using plate compactor to level sand

[@skravex4100]

What machine is that ur running over the grqss

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

It's a sod cutter!

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

You need to remove all organic material where you build your pool!

[@skravex4100]

@@WhitehouseFarmVet I'm about to be putting up a 24 ft round one my yard is super uneven

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Make sure you get a laser level and get your ground level! You don't want a shallow end and deep end on your pool! Lol

[@jrod2500]

First

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

You get the Olaf appreciation goat!🐐😁 lol

[@davidlapanne]

roughly how much sand is needed for a 18ft round, fairly level yard.

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Around 2.5 tons!

[@RealPolymathian]

@@WhitehouseFarmVet 2.5 tons? 5000 pounds of sand is this correct? Appreciate your time.

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Yes 3 inches of base and 6 inch on coves!

[@mouloudbenboussetta3779]

Where to buy the pool

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Unfortunately pools are hard to come by right now but try online Amazon, ebay etc or the pool dealerships but obviously gonna be more expensive, some prices of pools have almost doubled! Its ridiculous! But good luck and thank you for watching!

[@kennyplay5982]

Following

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

Awesome! Thank you for watching!👍

[@brittanyrobinson7248]

How much sand?

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

24x52 round 3.5 tons of mason sand

[@LowLuvR117]

no sand crushed rocks so much better

[@WhitehouseFarmVet]

I would never use crushed rock!!!!!