Leveling sand for install of an Intex 26x52 soft side above ground pool

[@BenFoilHat]

great video thanks for sharing. If anyone is looking for ideas, I drilled 6 holes and used zip ties to secure the board to the broom stick that I jammed into the ground. Worked great.

[@chrislu9574]

You are a genius. Look like a giant crepe grill.

[@stephenburks7895]

Good Video !! Thanks we are going through the same thing now. Thanks again!! Good job!

[@Calvertron]

Ingenious design.

[@thewoodworkersjourney3314]

Very informative video, thank you for making it and sharing.

[@greenout13579]

Great thanks I'm doing same job

[@FelixV.]

Hey great video what kind of sand did you use for this project.

[@mizzannie001]

Can you show us how well it worked when you put your pool up?? This looks so easy!

[@danielguerra4447]

I have several videos going up in the next few days!! Please subscribe so you get notification when I post the new videos. My pool is perfectly level 👍🏼

[@IoTSecurity]

That makes it uniform and flat, but how does it make it level? If you have a 10 degree slope, for example, how does that make it level?

[@danielguerra4447]

If you actually watched the video you would know the answer to your question. I mention this is to level small imperfections of 1-3”. If you are not level you have to do down first. Sand is just to fill in imperfections and have a slight cushion under liner.

[@DNA2000-8bit]

@@danielguerra4447 He watched the video. We all did, and he's still got a point. This method really only works if you have near flat ground to begin with, and a lot of sand on top to work with. This method makes a flat sand surface, but does not ensure a level sand surface. It just looks like you're doing that because you were mostly flat to begin with.

[@danielguerra4447]

@@DNA2000-8bit I had a side that was 3-4” lower. And I was able to get entire area level.

[@vroor32]

​@@danielguerra4447no digging down the side that was higher? 🤔

[@guzman9011]

So… how do you know it’s level if your not using a level?

[@danielguerra4447]

I used a level to check the progress. I didn’t show it on video but pretty sure I mentioned it in video.

[@guzman9011]

@@danielguerra4447 ok I didn’t catch that. Thanks for clearing that up

[@Abby-og8qm]

How many bags of sand you used?

[@danielguerra4447]

This is 2 truck loads of sand. About 2-2 1/2 cubic yards of sand

[@Casshern_Sin]

So I've done all this and looks nice and level, I used tarmac mortar sand which worked fine. Tamped it down and wet it. But now I'm looking at it and wondering if I should let the sand dry first before putting pavers down? Great vid and method BTW 😊

[@danielguerra4447]

Well you need to dig the pavers down level with the ground so it doesn’t matter if you wait for it to dry or not. After I got sand compacted I did let it dry a bit, but basically just the surface and it was just me and my dad so we had to drag huge liner across the sand. But if you have several people you can get liner on sand without really touching sand. Get the frame through liner and get pool legs set up where you want them. Remember to have inlet and return where you plan to have pump at. And then check the level just sitting on sand. If all looks level then you can start digging the pavers down even with the ground. I checked level on each cross bar after each paver was put down. There was few pavers I had to leave above sand level to keep pool level and that’s ok. Just cover any edges of paver with sand to protect liner.

[@Casshern_Sin]

@@danielguerra4447 thank you so much!

[@lyfordtx]

Great

[@ArsenioL32]

Hello Daniel, Thanks for sharing, this video was very helpful. On the part where you say, "Wet it down with a fine mist several times. It should compact itself". Do you remember about how many times you had to do that and how long you waited between each spray? Were you satisfied with the results of not physically banging it down? Thanks!

[@danielguerra4447]

Sprayed it about 6 times allowing 20 mins or so in between sprays. I was satisfied with results, but you can always go around and compact it as well.

[@ArsenioL32]

@@danielguerra4447 Thanks!

[@bradcouey2017]

how much sand did it take here? I have the same size pool and need to do this.

[@danielguerra4447]

2 cubic yards is what I used.

[@Caleb-vr1mi]

Do you have an update on pool?

[@danielguerra4447]

Yes sorry. I have a ton of videos to upload. Yes pool was up a day or 2 after we leveled and is level 👍🏼 Will post videos very soon!

[@Adri_57]

Add the new video in the pool, David! Thanks

[@danielguerra4447]

Started uploading videos. There are 3 new videos of pool install and skimmer install

[@stargatefever]

Would wetting the sand make things easier or harder

[@danielguerra4447]

You want to wet the sand so it gets compacted naturally. If you leave it dry it will easily move as you walk on it and spread the liner and that will cause visible lines under the liner. The more compact it is, the less lines are made. Also walk in flat sandals but shoes with big treads as it will leave imprints where flat sandals won’t leave much of anything.

[@radioguy801]

What if the ground below the sand itself isn't level? I did this last year and feel it didn't work.

[@danielguerra4447]

Your ground has to be relatively level. You can’t add 6” of sand to one large area. You have to dig down to level. I had one area that was a few inches low and sand worked just fine to level it out and hasn’t washed out after 20” of rain since I put up 2 months ago. Pool is still level after crazy rain last 30-40 days in Texas. Sand is to fill in small holes or slight unevenness of ground. It’s not to level ground when it’s 5” or 1ft off from other side of yard.

[@gagetrevino1077]

How much sand did you use?

[@danielguerra4447]

I would say 2 yards for 26ft round pool

[@Xassaw]

I'd like to have gotten a closer look at the board you used in the weight. Also, how did you get the rod out of the center making marks in the sand?

[@danielguerra4447]

It’s just a 2x4... and I just put some screws into the 2x4 and used some weights I had sitting around and some bricks to try to get even pressure on the board at very inside and furthest outside reach as well. Finishing it and removing board without leaving lines was tricky. Had to pull up on rope so no sand got caught in front of board to leave a line. Then use fine spray from water hose gun and spray the sand several times. Use flat sandals to walk to center to get spike out and remove board. Then continue to wet sand several times. This will compact it and get rid of most lines or foot prints.

[@Xassaw]

@@danielguerra4447 Great! Thank you. 😁

[@tehmineyalbuzdag2390]

What kind of sand and how much it cost? Where did you buy the sand

[@danielguerra4447]

Masonry sand. No other sand. Masonry sand is filtered to be left with fine sand only with no rocks. Got it at Lowe’s in 900lb sacks

[@amandatavares8561]

Wonderful idea! How much sand did you use for this? We have a 15ft pool that is horribly leveled and needs to be drained and releveled. Also do you need to do this every year?

[@danielguerra4447]

Sand is not meant to level really unlevel ground that is way off by more than 2-3”. You have to level ground as best as possible. Sand is used to finish the leveling process, and can help even out ground maybe 2-3”. But you have to wet it and compact it where it’s deeper. I only have about 2” of sand on most parts except where it filled in bigger gaps of maybe 3”. My pool is level and even after having 10” of rain over 2-3 days last week it is still level and no sand washed away. I used 2 yards of sand for my 26ft round pool.

[@Jacespace23]

How many yards did you use?

[@danielguerra4447]

2 yards for 26ft round

[@TriniDB]

did you buy the mason sand in store or bulk delivery?

[@danielguerra4447]

Used my own trailer to get the 900lb sacks. They loaded them on for me using their fork lift and at home just wheel barrow from trailer to back yard.

[@TriniDB]

@@danielguerra4447 thanks for the reply! I enjoyed your video

[@davebolich]

They say the sea level curves around a sphere but if my sand mound is 1/4 inch out of level over 20 feet the whole thing collapses 😂

[@danielguerra4447]

🤣

[@hdrjunkie]

One question, with the weight on the boards, did it just keep on scraping deeper and deeper as you went around?

[@danielguerra4447]

You need some weight to start tumbling down the peaks of the sand. Eventually when it is level yes it will keep scraping a bit of sand along the board. You can remove the weights and go around a few more times. On the last 2 turns you want to slowly start pulling up on the rope lighten the load of the wood and it will scrap the lightest line of sand. Get in and remove board. Step on the little line with flat sandals and start spraying entire are with most of water several times every few hours. It will compact pretty well. If you need to walk on it make sure to use flat sandals that don’t have big treads.

[@hdrjunkie]

@@danielguerra4447 ahhh that’s the trick… makes more sense now, Thanks!

[@teenice894]

Shouldn't the older guy be recording and the younger camera guy be pulling the weighted 2x4? Lol.. good vid tho!👍🏽

[@danielguerra4447]

We were taking turns pulling the board 👍🏼 Thats my dad, not bad for 71 year old man 💪

[@teenice894]

@@danielguerra4447 not bad at all!!💪🏾💪🏾👍🏽

[@JamesCampbellPPG]

This will level the sand, but some lessons learned from my experience: You cannot make up for uneven surface with sand alone. It needs to be dirt that can be packed. Rainwater will wash away sand. Sand is just to make the already level ground a uniform texture on the bottom of the pool.

[@danielguerra4447]

Sand is perfectly fine to level ground when 1-3” is needed. Wouldn’t recommend more than 3”, but no issues with 1-3” for final leveling before putting pool up. Been up almost 2 years and still level, and have had few hurricanes and several flooding circumstances and all level 👍🏼

[@zannatulchowdhury4024]

What kind of sand did you use?

[@danielguerra4447]

Masonry sand

[@josephvillarreal4206]

so I used this and my level was perfect but I'm uneven

[@danielguerra4447]

It will never be perfectly level, but it should get you close. Then you start by burying a brick flush with the sand for the first leg. Then you put a level on top beam and bury the next brick for the next leg how went deep to make the top beam level. You do this all around. Some bricks may be buried all the way flush, some half way buried and others on top of the sand. But your pool should be level. When I started filling water it spread over entire floor perfectly even.

[@magnaman750]

no level,board not straight,and used sand.should have used water level,2rc,and pack it down.

[@danielguerra4447]

Lol. My pool is perfectly level, but thanks for the troll comment 😆

[@johnloveless7943]

With the weight on that board it will just keep pushing sand off to the side.. This is silly !

[@danielguerra4447]

It does the job of filling in gaps. When happy with it you slowly pull rope upwards and it stops pushing sand off to the side 🤷‍♂️ Thanks for stopping by 😎

[@El_BoogeyMan_]

What type of sand did you use?

[@danielguerra4447]

Masonry sand is only one that should be used as it’s screened to not have any rocks or pebbles.

[@El_BoogeyMan_]

@@danielguerra4447 appreciate the response back man✊🏾

[@El_BoogeyMan_]

@@danielguerra4447 how many bags would you buy for a 18 feet Pool?

[@danielguerra4447]

@@El_BoogeyMan_ you can buy big 1/2 yard bags of masonry sand at lowes. I would say 3 would be more than enough for an 18…

[@El_BoogeyMan_]

@@danielguerra4447 thanks again man I appreciate all the tips and help✊🏾🔥