What's the easiest way to level a large section of ground

[Bryophyte]

I'd use my brother-in-law's transit while he dug it with his excavator. Of course, when my spouse leveled the area for our pool this year, he used the tractor bucket and a level set on a long 2x4. I think. I wasn't home at the time. Maybe he used a string level. We have both.

 

[PAB]

Go to Nationsrent and go get yourself a skid steer.

 

[bctbct]

I put an 18' pool this spring. You have to remove the high side and not fill the low side. Uniloader would be the easiest, but believe me, not a job for an amatuer. 10' 2x4 and a 4' level with a stake driven in the center of pool area should work fine.

My advice, if you can afford it have a guy come in and do it for you. Depending where you live and access to the area it might only cost you a few hundred.

Spend the money on the cove, I bought it online and spent a $100 but it makes a very nice edge. Also I would reccommend a few inches of sand, make the bottom smoother, this will also need to be compacted even if you just nail a peice of plywoof 12X12 to the end of a 2x4.

Try not to cut any corners or you may pay dearly after a few months. Good luck.

 

[conehead433]

A cheap solution use a 2x4 frame and level it with either a 4' level or a laser level. Dig out as necessary and fill with sand as necessary. You can connect several boards together to scrape across the top frame and level it exactly.

 

[shortylickens]

Necros make me sad.

All the people who've come and gone. and the old culture which I still think was better than todays.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

This thread is actually kinda good timing. I have a section of yard I want to build a pergola on and lay down some cement. I haven't figured out how big yet, just decided to do it yesterday. I have about 6" of elevation I need to figure out how to level and remove the dirt. I can't decide if I want to put the posts in first, then work cement around it, or do the cement first, then put the posts on brackets. What say you?

 

[IronWing]

Anything you want flat, just have your mama sit on.

If you're pouring concrete, can't you just eyeball it, fill up the forms, and let the concrete self level?

 

[thestrangebrew1]

This is the piece I'm working with:


and the elevation looks something like this:

 

[IronWing]

Do you want the top of the new concrete at the same elevation as the existing walkway?

 

[thestrangebrew1]

If you're pouring concrete, can't you just eyeball it, fill up the forms, and let the concrete self level?

I'm looking at pergola images now and some show no cement, but grass. I kinda like that look too.

 

[Captante]

Years ago I installed my own above-ground pool which required leveling a very similar looking yard in a 17 foot circle and pouring a vermiculite-concrete base of the same shape.

It was brutal ... lets just say I seriously do not envy you!

 

[kt]

This thread is actually kinda good timing. I have a section of yard I want to build a pergola on and lay down some cement. I haven't figured out how big yet, just decided to do it yesterday. I have about 6" of elevation I need to figure out how to level and remove the dirt. I can't decide if I want to put the posts in first, then work cement around it, or do the cement first, then put the posts on brackets. What say you?

What kind of post? If wood, that's a bad idea to have the concrete poured against the wooden post.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

It would be wood. Was thinking of using 4x6's.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Do you want the top of the new concrete at the same elevation as the existing walkway?

It probably wouldn't be level with the existing walkway. That walkway is wood and it's old. I'll be ripping that out and either replace with new wood or pour cement there too. Not sure yet.

 

[EliteRetard]

This is the piece I'm working with:

and the elevation looks something like this:

I'd vote for just setting up a few proper footings for the posts, and using proper brackets to separate the post from the concrete.
Then you can choose the "flooring" you want for the pergola, grass, pavers, or a concrete pad and it can be easily repaired/replaced.

You do not want a wood post in the ground or in any concrete (or any contact with either), it will rot and be far more difficult to replace.
I do prefer brackets that use more than one mechanical fastener to the concrete and to the post (reduces twisting, stronger/more points of failure).

Figuring out the size of the hole/footing isn't to hard, look up or determine your frost line and soil type and then use online calculators.
Digging the hole, setting forms, and pouring the concrete doesn't have to be that hard either...it's fairly easy and cheap to rent equipment nowadays.

 

[Greenman]

Anything you want flat, just have your mama sit on.

If you're pouring concrete, can't you just eyeball it, fill up the forms, and let the concrete self level?

Concrete doesn't self level.

 

[BoomerD]

Concrete doesn't self level.

it does if it's soupy enough...

 

[thestrangebrew1]

I'd vote for just setting up a few proper footings for the posts, and using proper brackets to separate the post from the concrete.
Then you can choose the "flooring" you want for the pergola, grass, pavers, or a concrete pad and it can be easily repaired/replaced.

You do not want a wood post in the ground or in any concrete (or any contact with either), it will rot and be far more difficult to replace.
I do prefer brackets that use more than one mechanical fastener to the concrete and to the post (reduces twisting, stronger/more points of failure).

Figuring out the size of the hole/footing isn't to hard, look up or determine your frost line and soil type and then use online calculators.
Digging the hole, setting forms, and pouring the concrete doesn't have to be that hard either...it's fairly easy and cheap to rent equipment nowadays.

Good idea. Frost line is only about 5" so it wouldn't be too deep. I'll just do it this way then if I decide to pour cement later I can do it.