Step 1: First and foremost, the location of your pool must be selected.. There are many factors to consider while doing this, such as what trees are located above the pool and how much potential debris may occur. You must also think about any septic systems that may be under the ground, power lines, water lines, sprinkler systems and even any tree stumps that could potentially grow and cause damage down the line. Contact your local utility company to have any utility lines marked off on your property. It is very important to also check your local building codes to ensure that you are following any rules or regulations in regard to the distance of the pool from the house and any structures (this is typically 6 feet away) on your property such as sheds, garages or generators. The amount of direct sunlight the location will allow may also be a crucial factor as this will impact how warm the pool water can get in the summer.
Step 2: Your next step is to mark off your desired location. You can do this by either sticking wooden stakes into the ground or spray painting the border.
Step 3: Using a rake and/or a shovel, remove all grass, vegetation or debris from the area.
Step 4: You will now need to make sure that the ground area where your pool will be is level. It is recommended that you dig 2 inches deep from the surrounding land. Leveling cannot be done by sight or guess work. It is very important that your leveling be accurate as it can cause damage to your pool and liner if it is not. This is done by placing 2×4 planks in the area, being placed from the center to the outside. You will then place a level onto the wood and continue to adjust the ground until it is level. Use your discretion on areas that are not level. You may need to add more soil or if it is a significant difference, you may need to remove soil to lower the other areas. You can find high-quality soil here at Hewlynn Home & Garden Center. Adding a large amount of soil can be problematic due to the fact that as the pool settles, the soil will flatten. If possible, do your best to match your lowest level point rather than raising the ground.
Step 5: Now that you have leveled the soil, using low-pressure water, moisten the ground. After it is sufficiently moistened, use a rolling tamper or hand tamper to compress the ground.
Step 6: Once you have achieved a perfectly level ground, you will then need to fill in two inches with fine sand as a base for your pool. However, it is best to refer to the instructions provided to you with your above-ground pool to achieve the necessary sand requirements. Hewlynn Home & Garden Center carries fine sand and vermiculite which is another option for a pool base.
This process is certainly complicated and also requires a sufficient amount of knowledge on proper preparation. If you are unsure of how to properly carry out these steps, be sure to reach out to a reputable company for your installation to avoid any damage or potential problems.
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