Genius, thanks from me as well. I just removed our 27' round, had it for 15+ years, finally rusted beyond repair. It had only sand as well. Getting ready to install new 27' round. I appreciate this handy advice. Luckily I have the old sand which is nice and packed from the old pool, I just have to tweak it a bit for the new pool. Thanks again for sharing your experience
Dude! Saw this last night and actually did it for my friend this afternoon. Brilliant! I’m not a crafty man in any way but you made this really easy to follow. Boom!
Damn good idea my friend. I hope your family had a great Easter and I hope you're all safe playing in the pool as I get ready to go drain mine and rent a Bobcat or something... Yep she's leaning
I like your idea of going past center for the opposite side with weight to create equilibrium. In this way you won't keep digging deeper and deeper as you pull the board. Of course my pool is oval so presents new issues but I will start with the round
Idk about using sand but smoothing with the board works great on a soft dirt level area. I have an incline and the radial arm board does nothing to fix that except using it to see if one side is level. I’m in process now for a couple days in and it takes a lot of raking to achieve a level 20’ circle on an incline of a few inches. The board is handy to see your low/high spots and if your level. Otherwise dragging it around digs in soft areas and skips over hard high spots so I find it useless just going around and around with it. Wish it was that easy. I’d be done now 👍
thank you guys for your replies I,m glad I could help and I hope my video has helped and I would greatly appreciate any input you may have as to the process in which you installed your pool!!!!
I am sorry for being such a novice, but how do you determine what the counter balance is? I think it is a brilliant idea but why do I need the counter balance?
I did the same thing only I did it on the dirt and pulled the board around on my hands and knees. I pushed down on the 2x4 really hard when I hit high spots and kinda plowed the dirt with it. The counterweight is unnecessary in my opinion. Also, it's better to remove dirt from the high spots than to fill in the low spots. That way it won't settle.
This works just did this on a intex 20x52 didn't come out perfect but 1.5 inch off level not bad. You can put some weight on the wood make sure you even out the weight. That helped me, this is the second pool I put up for the kids and the bottom is flawless not a single wrinkle in the liner! The sand works great I would recommend to purchase a gorilla pad to put on top of the sand the cheap one that comes with the pool is pretty useless i used both and pool bottom is near perfect. Also recommend putting the pool legs on pavers! Thank me later lol
Hi, thanks for the great video and tutorial. I am getting ready to set up my 16x48 pool this weekend. Did you make your area to level larger than 16 feet?
If you just use sand the pool can shift if it rains or damp you need To use sand and dirt as well to keep it firm sand again can shift easily when filling up the pool as well because of the weight and movement when the people are in it
Rent or buy a tamper. It really makes a difference in packing the soil. If you don’t use a tanker, once water is in the pool, you’ll have little pockets and the liner floor will be bumpy.
how much sand do u think that i'd need to cover an 19 ft area for leveling my 18ft intex pool with approximately a 2'' depth, I'm figuring close to 3 tons? Awesome idea by the way this is the method i'm using for mine.
Great video! We are installing our first pool for the grandkids-16'x36". I keep reading NOT to use sand, but lots of videos show sand as base. Any words of wisdom?
jill chrencik. They all say not to use sand but i did anyhow. I also put a tarp between the pool bottom and the sand, it makes it easier to smooth out the bottom of the pool. good luck and enjoy the pool!!!
I never heard that before. We always had sand under our pool. We had a pool that lasted 20 some years but rusted and broke. We got a new one almost a year ago I think and they kept the sand underneath the new one too. Although it's not smooth at all. They left holes in the sand and the liner stretched down into the holes. We need a new liner so hopefully we can smooth it out better then the "professionals".
The sand is to protect your liner. You cannot level a pool with sand. The weight of the water pushes the sand down and will make your pool uneven. Happened to us last year. Our yard is deceptively unlevel. It's off about 2 inches. We used sand and had it perfectly level. Within a week, the weight had pushed the sand and that 2in difference made about a 5in difference with the water level. We later learned that sand is only used to protect your liner from rocks or small animals like moles. You definitely need to use a tarp between the ground and your sand if you plan to leave your pool up year around and just winterize it. otherwise, over time the ground will absorb your sand. My husband is currently digging out our yard to level it. We will then put our tarp and sand back and put up our pool.
Hello! I want to level my ground for a circle above ground pool with a circumference of 18’ what length for a 2x 4 would you recommend in-order to use your technique to level the ground? Thank you
Can i borrow it? Seriously,my pool got hit by wind last week, i just had finished putting in the liner when a big wind hit it , down it went.. x2 for me, i bought hooks for this next run...oh my god, the cheap hardware is a concern for me.
John I used a barbell weight about 14 Ilbs on the long side and a 5 Ilb on the short side. A note of caution. make sure this method is used before you put the sand down. Then once more with the sand. I learned the hard way. good luck.
John Preto i just used some steel i found in my shed for weights. i also dug out the ground n leveled that the best i could. if u just dump sand on the ground u will have issues.
J'ai acheté une maison et enlevé la piscine, mais que dois-je faire avec du sable et du gravier car l'eau n'est pas dans le sol et après la pluie, j'ai un étang d'eau Quelle est la solution
Josh M if you look real close you will be able to see that i dug doown about 4 inches, then filled hole with samd and clay mix. everyone has difgerent methods and this is what worked for me. by the time i filled it with water it was less then 1 inch out and stlli the same todsy as it was day 1.
YOU came up with it? After watching youtube videos? You don't need to respin it when it dries. You need the sand to be wet so it will compact. Now what you need to do is duct tape some cardboard to your shoes and and tamp all over that spot to pack it down. Or run a lawn roller over it.
Jeff thanks so much for taking the time to show all of us newbies how to getr done. Really was a huge time saver...
Genius, thanks from me as well. I just removed our 27' round, had it for 15+ years, finally rusted beyond repair. It had only sand as well. Getting ready to install new 27' round. I appreciate this handy advice. Luckily I have the old sand which is nice and packed from the old pool, I just have to tweak it a bit for the new pool. Thanks again for sharing your experience
This is the best video I've seen on leveling for an above ground pool. Thank you!
Dude! Saw this last night and actually did it for my friend this afternoon. Brilliant! I’m not a crafty man in any way but you made this really easy to follow. Boom!
I love this idea. Ive watched many videos tryn to find something that makes the best use of it's self. This is it.
Damn good idea my friend. I hope your family had a great Easter and I hope you're all safe playing in the pool as I get ready to go drain mine and rent a Bobcat or something... Yep she's leaning
That's pretty cool right there. Good idea. And thanks for sharing
Dog is adorable and love that this is so simple and not too much intro ...great job! Doing this Friday!
AMEN to not too much intro.
That is one cool trick, going to give that a try for sure when we put our pool up, two big thumbs up
That's a great idea! Thanks for sharing.
I did my base the same but made the center dimple down for cleaning. Worked out great.
I think that you Nailed it my friend ! Great Idea .
You sir are very smart! Thank you!
Excellent! Thanks for posting.
That's real damn creative, I like it.
Wish I would have seen this earlier . Great idea !!! You the man !!!
I like your idea of going past center for the opposite side with weight to create equilibrium. In this way you won't keep digging deeper and deeper as you pull the board. Of course my pool is oval so presents new issues but I will start with the round
Awesome awesome awesome!!!! Thank you so much for posting this.
I went with a 6x6x12 so I didn't have to worry about counter balancing. But your video helped a lot.
I wanna know where you bought a 12 ft 2x4 that's actually straight lol... Box stores by me sell lumber that warps the day after you get it home
Thank you-used it worked out perfect for my basketball court
Thank you! This is the best video for this! You're so smart!!
F-ing GENIUS..Thanks👍👍
Nice idea, I'll try it shortly.
Idk about using sand but smoothing with the board works great on a soft dirt level area. I have an incline and the radial arm board does nothing to fix that except using it to see if one side is level. I’m in process now for a couple days in and it takes a lot of raking to achieve a level 20’ circle on an incline of a few inches. The board is handy to see your low/high spots and if your level. Otherwise dragging it around digs in soft areas and skips over hard high spots so I find it useless just going around and around with it. Wish it was that easy. I’d be done now 👍
thank you guys for your replies I,m glad I could help and I hope my video has helped and I would greatly appreciate any input you may have as to the process in which you installed your pool!!!!
I am sorry for being such a novice, but how do you determine what the counter balance is? I think it is a brilliant idea but why do I need the counter balance?
Great Idea. I like it.
Dude this is a brilliant idea
I did the same thing only I did it on the dirt and pulled the board around on my hands and knees. I pushed down on the 2x4 really hard when I hit high spots and kinda plowed the dirt with it. The counterweight is unnecessary in my opinion. Also, it's better to remove dirt from the high spots than to fill in the low spots. That way it won't settle.
This is what every pro does. Doesn't hurt to tamp after, wet the sand let it harden and check the level again.
That is exactly what I'm about to do today as a matter of fact.
great idea bro. shit u should patent that thing. replacing my liner this weekend and man that will help me out !
That's a great idea.
That is a great idea. Thanks!
This works just did this on a intex 20x52 didn't come out perfect but 1.5 inch off level not bad. You can put some weight on the wood make sure you even out the weight. That helped me, this is the second pool I put up for the kids and the bottom is flawless not a single wrinkle in the liner! The sand works great I would recommend to purchase a gorilla pad to put on top of the sand the cheap one that comes with the pool is pretty useless i used both and pool bottom is near perfect. Also recommend putting the pool legs on pavers! Thank me later lol
I like the string idea.
How many bags of sand did you use? We bought a 15x48 recently and have no idea how much sand we'll need.
Thanks man I ready to level 26 feet I did got the sand in now I just lookin for the best way to do it ...👍🏼
Awesome gonnna try it out
Thanks great info👍👍
Pretty genius never thought of that
you sir are one smart hombre
Love it 😀
that seems real legit ...........nice job
We’ve got an oval and limited space so won’t work for us…. bUT!!! INGENIOUS! enjoyed watching that. 🙌
Very smart, thanks!
You just simplified my life
thanks for sharing!
Good idea I will try it
I need to do this, the issue I'm having is I build a bed for my pool area and filled it with dirt - it's 3 inches off on one side.
That's the best way i used it and it worked 100%
Great idea
what a great idea men thanks
Is this Ron Swanson?
Jcarreon82 ima say yes.
Did this today and it worked out great!
thank you for sharing
That’s cool as hell.Do you have the same counter weight at both ends?
Hi, thanks for the great video and tutorial. I am getting ready to set up my 16x48 pool this weekend. Did you make your area to level larger than 16 feet?
raist3001 yes i made it 18 ft round
thanks ! damn good idea mate
this is genius !
wow ... thats genius!
good to mnow. thinking of what todo for the pool i want to get
Do you take the pool down? If so will you have a mud pile in the rain?
Super! Vielen Dank aus Germany!
Did u put ur sand after u took out some dirt and them started to leveling?
Genius.
Awesome
If you just use sand the pool can shift if it rains or damp you need To use sand and dirt as well to keep it firm sand again can shift easily when filling up the pool as well because of the weight and movement when the people are in it
Are you compacting the sand in between passes?
Awesome thanks
The sand cement mixture have dried up and there are rocks in it now, what do i do?
genius
Looks like a very good idea. Have you had any problems with the sand settling and causing the pool to become uneven over time?
Rent or buy a tamper. It really makes a difference in packing the soil. If you don’t use a tanker, once water is in the pool, you’ll have little pockets and the liner floor will be bumpy.
how much sand do u think that i'd need to cover an 19 ft area for leveling my 18ft intex pool with approximately a 2'' depth, I'm figuring close to 3 tons? Awesome idea by the way this is the method i'm using for mine.
Christel Kelley. I used around 1 ton for mine and its a 16 ft round. u might need alil more.
That is awesome you should make that a little better and get a patent on it I believe it would sell good job
Lol I took myride on mower and put it on the shortest Grass setting and did doughnuts for about 30min. Done. Better then I could do by hand.
Great video! We are installing our first pool for the grandkids-16'x36". I keep reading NOT to use sand, but lots of videos show sand as base. Any words of wisdom?
jill chrencik. They all say not to use sand but i did anyhow. I also put a tarp between the pool bottom and the sand, it makes it easier to smooth out the bottom of the pool. good luck and enjoy the pool!!!
I never heard that before. We always had sand under our pool. We had a pool that lasted 20 some years but rusted and broke. We got a new one almost a year ago I think and they kept the sand underneath the new one too. Although it's not smooth at all. They left holes in the sand and the liner stretched down into the holes. We need a new liner so hopefully we can smooth it out better then the "professionals".
I use a tarp as well. Thanks for this video.
The sand is to protect your liner. You cannot level a pool with sand. The weight of the water pushes the sand down and will make your pool uneven. Happened to us last year. Our yard is deceptively unlevel. It's off about 2 inches. We used sand and had it perfectly level. Within a week, the weight had pushed the sand and that 2in difference made about a 5in difference with the water level. We later learned that sand is only used to protect your liner from rocks or small animals like moles. You definitely need to use a tarp between the ground and your sand if you plan to leave your pool up year around and just winterize it. otherwise, over time the ground will absorb your sand. My husband is currently digging out our yard to level it. We will then put our tarp and sand back and put up our pool.
Amy Partin tarp on top of the sand or sand on top of tarp? I was just gonna level and tarp no sand would that be okay?
How do you do it for rectangles
I'm doing the same thing only using a tamper first
You are not supposed to level with sand. You level the ground and use the sand to create a smooth area for the liner.
Hello!
I want to level my ground for a circle above ground pool with a circumference of 18’ what length for a 2x 4 would you recommend in-order to use your technique to level the ground?
Thank you
10'
RON!!!
That is how I did my last pool
Use a water level to set your pavers. Make your own and it is cheap.
Would this be too much work for just a 10 ft inflatable pool? I know we're just using a tarp on the dirt so idk if this will work without sand
I wouldn't worry about leveling it too much unless you're on a mountain side
This is geared more towards pools with metal poles and filters that are more permanent
smart
Red clay dirt I’m guessing it’s Florida? Or Alabama ?
Can i borrow it? Seriously,my pool got hit by wind last week, i just had finished putting in the liner when a big wind hit it , down it went.. x2 for me, i bought hooks for this next run...oh my god, the cheap hardware is a concern for me.
Fuckin nice
If the the pool I’m putting in is 15ft how long would the wood/poll thing have to be for leveling
Im guessing 7" give or take
@Rudy
???
what exactly are you using for weights and how heavy do they need to be...not having the counter weights are the only thing holding me up
John I used a barbell weight about 14 Ilbs on the long side and a 5 Ilb on the short side. A note of caution. make sure this method is used before you put the sand down. Then once more with the sand. I learned the hard way. good luck.
John Preto i just used some steel i found in my shed for weights. i also dug out the ground n leveled that the best i could. if u just dump sand on the ground u will have issues.
Hello does the sand sink when the pool gets filled ?
I'm not the guy who made it the video but yeah the sand will sink slightly but the point is it will sink evenly
Started doing it today just need to aqdd weights in front and back so far so good ..jyst dirt right now ..next is sand tomorrow
J'ai acheté une maison et enlevé la piscine, mais que dois-je faire avec du sable et du gravier car l'eau n'est pas dans le sol et après la pluie, j'ai un étang d'eau Quelle est la solution
Tried to level out my pool area. Once I added water it settled and was not level
Is this play sand?
This looks easy bc its wrong sand will shift under weight. Sand should only be used to protect liner
Josh M if you look real close you will be able to see that i dug doown about 4 inches, then filled hole with samd and clay mix. everyone has difgerent methods and this is what worked for me. by the time i filled it with water it was less then 1 inch out and stlli the same todsy as it was day 1.
How many pounds of sand
Owen Peters I have a full size truck n i brought home a bed full of sand.
Oh okay
Did your ancestors build the great pyramids of Giza?
Nah they leveled the ground under that tower in Pisa.
YOU came up with it? After watching youtube videos? You don't need to respin it when it dries. You need the sand to be wet so it will compact. Now what you need to do is duct tape some cardboard to your shoes and and tamp all over that spot to pack it down. Or run a lawn roller over it.