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Leveling Spot in Yard

olds

olds

Elite Member
I need a sand pad 16'X24' in my grass yard. Sand needs to be 3" deep. Pad will be enclosed with 4X4 or 4X6s. Landscape fabric over that so the rain doesn't wash it away.

Running a string line across the 16' leg I get: 3" on the high side and 7" on the low side for a fall of 4" over 16'.

I am thinking of renting a sod cutter and taking 2" deep cuts from the high side and stacking them side by side on the low side. Any uneven area would be leveled with the sand

Would that work? Any other ideas?

pad.jpg
 
the sod will break down unevenly over time. If you want it to remain level then remove all the sod and give it away. It looks like nice sod. Then level the area and place the sand.
 
olds said:
I have an area of yard that I can use some of the sod
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Save all of it, you'll probably need it to help fill in the tire tracks for whatever delivers the sand to that area of the yard.
3-1/2+ yds is a lot of bags, bulk will be cheaper.
 
Micrornd said:
Save all of it, you'll probably need it to help fill in the tire tracks for whatever delivers the sand to that area of the yard.
3-1/2+ yds is a lot of bags, bulk will be cheaper.
Click to expand...
Going to have it delivered. Truck likely cant get all the way back there but I'll get him as close as he can then dump in the yard. Wheelbarrow it in and spread the remainder at the dump site to level yard.
 
Yeah, that's what I thought.

Check the installation instructions. I put up one of those 10' round x 30" units and the book specifically said DO NOT use sand due to the fact that it shifts over time.

Yours may be different though.
 
Lost_in_the_HTTP said:
Yeah, that's what I thought.

Check the installation instructions. I put up one of those 10' round x 30" units and the book specifically said DO NOT use sand due to the fact that it shifts over time.

Yours may be different though.
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It does say to use sand. But I will trap it in and cover it. So it will take longer to migrate.

I stand corrected, it says to NOT use sand...
 
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The sand is to keep rocks from ripping through the liner underfoot. Both of the above ground pools i've done, use leveled patio blocks below the posts around the perimeter, then sand under the entirety of the liner.

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Not sure if below the posts exclusively, but at 3 or 4 ft intervals
 
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I figured that was what was going down. Yeah I would for sure move the sod away. Good that you have a spot for it.
 
For this little one, I used a special underlayment. Like a real thick landscape cloth made of some kind of fiber that doesn't decay. I had enough to do two layers. I used about 10 bags of play sand, but that was only to fill in between the gravel and make it a bit smoother. Not enough that it would ever shift. Then the padding on top of that to cushion a bit.
 
I am going to start this tomorrow when it cools down. Just had a thought.

What about taking a rototiller and tilling it up and then raking it level? I could compact it by driving my F150 over it.

Even if I cut the sod out I still have to disturb the soil to level it unless I import material. But that would still need to be compacted too.

My old ass is just trying to do the least amount of work...
 
5,000 pounds will roll and compact it ...... 6" at a time or whatever the tire width is.

When you rent the sod cutter, rent a 4-6" wide lawn roller also. Pull that behind the pick up or a riding lawn mower/tractor. Gonna be a lot of tiller and rake work though.

And I still say you need cloth under it, even if only some outdoor carpet, but that ain't cheap these days either.
 
olds said:
I am going to start this tomorrow when it cools down. Just had a thought.

What about taking a rototiller and tilling it up and then raking it level? I could compact it by driving my F150 over it.

Even if I cut the sod out I still have to disturb the soil to level it unless I import material. But that would still need to be compacted too.

My old ass is just trying to do the least amount of work...
Click to expand...
Is this going to be a long term setup, or just a one summer thing? If you plan on having the pool in place for a few years it's a lot easier to do it right the first rather than doing it over.
 
Well, granddaughter said they she probably wouldn't swim in it because bugs can get in it. 😱 So I'll probably hold off for now.
 
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