How to Level the Ground for Pool Installation Without Digging

How to Level the Ground for Pool Installation Without Digging

If you are thinking of getting an above ground swimming pool for your yard then you are naturally considering how to level the ground where the swimming pool will be placed. You probably would also like to know how to get the area level and ready for the pool without doing any digging.

I cannot promise that you can install a pool in yard with no digging whatsoever, but I can tell you how to level the area with as little shovel work as possible.

Tools you need to Establish Pool Location

  • Hammer
  • Stake
  • Shovel
  • String
  • Sod Remover (Optional)
  • Duct Tape
  • Level
  • Lawn Roller
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Grub hoe

How to level ground for pool without Digging

Mark the location

1) Hammer a stake into the ground where you want the center of your pool to be.

2) Tie a length of cotton string that is about 6” longer than the radius of the pool you are installing to the stake you just placed in the center. Then tie a can of spray paint that can be sprayed vertically to the other end of the string. Walk around the area spraying the paint to mark the exact location of the pool walls.

Prepare the location

1) Remove any vegetation, such as grass, that is growing in the area where the pool will be placed.

2) Use a carpenter’s level and check the ground to see if it is level. You should take a length of 2 x 4 that is slightly longer than your level and use duct tape to secure the level to that board.

3) Lay the board on the ground with one end of the board being in the exact location of the center of your pool. Check the elevation from that point out to the outer edge where the spray paint is. You must do this all the way around, and make sure that you check all the way from the middle to the outer edge of every section.

4) At this point you may have to do some slight digging to make the pool area level. DO NOT try to level the area by adding sand. Sand is used to create a cushion or buffer between the pool bottom and the hard earth, it is NOT a leveling agent.

Sand Requirements for an above ground pool

To properly create the buffer for your pool you will need sand to be placed inside the pool track. The following amounts of sand are generally used when installing round, above ground pools. If you have a pool that is rectangular you may require more or less sand to establish the proper buffer.

  • A 15’ round pool requires 3 tons of sand or about 2 yards
  • A 18’ round ground pool requires about 4 tons of sand or about 2.5 yards
  • A 21’ round pool requires about 4.5 tons of sand or about 3 yards
  • A 24’ round pool requires about 5 yards of sand or about 3 yards

Create a level area for your pool pump

Your pool pump needs to be on a secure and level area in order for it to be able to function properly. To create this pump location you should:

1) Measure the area where the pool pump will be installed and make sure that the place you prepare is slightly larger than the pump itself

2) Remove the vegetation from the area

3) Check to make certain the area is level, if you need to make adjustments to create a level place

4) Place concrete pads in the area you have designated for the pool pump

You can make an extra spot beside this area to put a storage unit for your above ground pool cleaner and accessories. Then your cleaning supplies will always be handy when you need to use them. Make certain that the storage is water proof if you plant to keep chemicals in this area.

Tips for Leveling the Area

1) In order to level the area you need to start at the lowest point. You want to bring the rest of the area down to the level of the lowest point. You do not want to try and build the lowest point up to the same elevation as the highest point because this will make the ground beneath your pool unstable and could create problems with your pool

2) Never cover the area with loose sand this will cause problems

3) Set the pool track outside of the area where the sand will be placed. If you place the pool track on top of sand then the sand can wash out from under your pool track and your pool will be in danger of collapse.

4) When the sand is placed inside the pool track it must be troweled and packed prior to putting the pool on top of it.

5) Never put patio blocks beneath your pool uprights.

6) If you use a grass and weed killer on the area make sure that the grass is completely dead and pulled away before you install the pool.

Alternative Area Preparation

You can place concrete pads where the pool will be to create a solid foundation. The drawback is that the concrete is hard and rough and may damage the pool liner.

Commercial pads that are made of a breathable material that allows moisture to escape can be used either on top of the concrete pads, or by themselves. These pads will not be rough and will be trimmable so you can make them the exact size you need.

Solid foam padding can be placed on top of the concrete or on the ground to create a good place for your pool. This is very handy over grass because the foam stops the grass from being able to do any damage to the pool liner.

You can place sand over the concrete pads but the sand can be unstable, it can shift, and it is not the best solution for this application.

About the author

Kawsar Ahmed

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