I'm in my sixties and my husband is almost sixty. We just picked up a 16 ft round, 48 inches deep pool. We have to do this plus add another 2 ft around for border around the pool. Not looking forward to all that leveling, we have a slope thats about 8 inches lower on two sides. Your family was amazing with all the help they gave you, love seeing everyone work together.
Not only does this video demonstrate how to level a lawn from scratch, but it’s also a good example of how the rest of the family can help dad with all that digging. Great work! I’m not looking forward to the digging...
Thank you for posting. This is the best leveling video I've seen - straightforward with basic tools. Your family did WORK, holy crap, and I love that everyone got involved.
I had to rework the spot where my pool goes because I skipped last year's set up. I thought I had a lot of work to do. Just posted the videos of leveling and setting up the pool. I remember starting from scratch. This made me tired just watching you. Enjoyed watching it.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video ! Very much appreciated ! The project was started without me there and now it’s a disaster and this gives me some hope I can fix what they’ve started lol
Best video I've seen since I have started studying. I have around a 2ft slope but I'm going to try it the way you did. Thank you for talking the time to make the video
Yeah i did a lot of looking for people who dug as well with no success. Lots of digging. I would recommend digging out a foot or so extra in the deep parts to leave room to put pavers under the legs.
We’re in the process of leveling and doing a complete remodel of our backyard and pool installation. Man it’s a lot of work! It’s refreshing to see this as a family event. Enjoyed your video and looking to finish our backyard very soon!
@@tonyholliday2347 I can’t wait to finish ours. LOL we’re planting grass seed since we have a huge willow tree that shades our yard. So pool installation won’t be until maybe mid to late April. It’s still fairly cool here (I’m in Texas)...for now we’re flattening soil, leveling soil and finally will plant the seed. What should’ve been a $500 job is running close to $2k in renovations and extra pool equipment. (Decided to make ours a salt water pool).
@@DVC050311 never fails that a small project turns into a full on renovation. Well good luck. You should post a video of your project as well. It adds a little fun to it.
Wow! Thanks for this example. I just got me a 20’ pool and about to level. I learn something else though, have the family help out when they can. Put me on check not to be so stress over nothing.. Thanks!!
I put a pool up 9 years ago and leveled it within a half inch. The spot was in a shady part of the yard. I chose the area because it was the most level part of my yard so I didn’t really have to dig. Just basically rounded the area with a level on a 2x4 There was no sod either just dirt. Pretty easy, done it in about 2 days by myself. Tomorrow I’m going to put up a bigger pool in the worst possible part of my yard full of grass uneven ground so I’m in for some major digging. I’m 53 so I imagine it’s going to kick my butt. Definitely not looking forward to it but it’s the only part of my yard that has full sunlight all day. After watching you do all that digging I’m second guessing myself? Wish me luck 😅
@@tonyholliday2347 I decided against the digging and just put it on the level spot, got it all done in about 6 hours today. It’s almost filled up with water as I’m typing this comment. Kudos to you and your family for all your hard work. I do have a question for you. How off was your level? Or did you get it perfect.
@@tonyholliday2347 that’s about what I got, I thinks it’s about a inch off, In a couple of spots. But I did very little digging just basically put it where I had a pool 9 years ago. I cut the grass down to dirt and shoveled the high side a bit. Which turned out to cause it to be the low side lol. It’s not very noticeable. The pool will hardly be used anyway that’s why I took the other pool down.
Rent you a 13HP TILL! I had the same situation as you. My yard’s low spot was 8” lower than my high spot. I ran a fat old tiller through it, wife raked it out and bam. We got it leveled in about 3 hours. It was about $150 and some gas.
I had a small 15’ round intex and I ended up putting a paver under each pole. My next pool will be professionally done but for a low cost easy to maintain pool these aren’t bad at all
We are on day 4 of our ground for the pool. We shoveled as well. We thought it was going to be simple but we had a deceptive slope, it look small but man oh man was it a lot of work. We just have dirt and rocks left, then sand.
People have no idea how much work it is to level the ground. You look at the yard and think, ohh it's not that bad 😂😂😂. Unless you have a bobcat, or something similar. Count on a full weekend. I did all the work myself and the daughter has no interest in it. Would rather sit around on that stupid playstation. I am about at the point of letting it take a swim 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Id suggest to anyone who has a slope more than 6-8 inches. Id hire someone with a bobcat loader. ( Or rent one). To Get ya as level as possible. Then do the leveling board circle method to fine tune the area for perfect leveling..
Question. Our site is on a slope. Would u recommend we start digging at the lowest point of the slope, or should we set the leveler at the highest point of the slope and dig until we are level with the low end? We started digging at the low end and now I'm worried we've ended up making it so we h ave to dig a few inches deeper at the deepest part of the slope. Worried. This project has been grueling as we are in AZ and the dirt is undiggable without constantly spraying with water. We've put in about 20 hrs of work and we are only about 1/3rd done.
We didn't have a leveler that could be used at the high side. We started on the low end and didn't really dig that part much. I'm by no means an expert and it took us 4-5 weekends and about 40hrs of dig time.
I thought I had read at one time that digging out the deeper side first and throwing that dirt into the lower side was the easiest way to do it, sort of killing two birds with one stone. Don't quote me right on this but this is how I'm doing mine right now and it seems to be going a lot better than if it was the opposite.
What does anyone suggest putting around the edges of the dug out area on the deep side? Should I just leave it as is?? Our yard is extremely sloped, at least 1.5 ft so I wasn't sure if I should put something around the deep side to hold the edge.
I did not use sand. I was being cheap. I did double tarp underneath though. I used an old hollow pipe i had lying around instead of rebar. I would recommend rebar though. The pipe bent when I put too much pressure.
Your right it isn't a very straight board but, it was more of just an aide. I strapped a level to the end of it to double check. The pool came out very level.
What did you put in the ground where you nailed your 2x4 into the ground? I tried this today with a piece of rebar but the 2x4 kept pulling up and as a result the levelness kept changing
A peice of old pipe I had laying around about the same size as. a piece of rebar. If it was just sliding up the rebar then I recommend drilling a new hole that is closer to the same size as the rebar to make it a tighter fit.
@wesmiller4643 it never caused a problem that we noticed. I think it would only cause an issue if the whole pool was below gound level but, ours is flush to the ground on the low side.
10 ft. I would recommend using a longer one to make sure you dig some extra space around. Also it ended up a little warped so maybe a 2x6 would work better?
im going to use a Sun Joe Garden Tiller im 60 female in Tx hot as H, no way i could do this n then i still have to take out the dirt but at least a tool to losen the dirt may take me a month gotta work too lol
I'm in my sixties and my husband is almost sixty. We just picked up a 16 ft round, 48 inches deep pool. We have to do this plus add another 2 ft around for border around the pool. Not looking forward to all that leveling, we have a slope thats about 8 inches lower on two sides. Your family was amazing with all the help they gave you, love seeing everyone work together.
That was awesome. That was some deep digging. Nice teamwork.
Not only does this video demonstrate how to level a lawn from scratch, but it’s also a good example of how the rest of the family can help dad with all that digging. Great work! I’m not looking forward to the digging...
Yeah it was a lot but, much cheaper than building up with sand. Good luck I hope your family enjoys all the work you put into it.
Thank you for posting. This is the best leveling video I've seen - straightforward with basic tools. Your family did WORK, holy crap, and I love that everyone got involved.
No problem. Glad you enjoyed it.
Finally a video that didn't use sand. I dont want to fool with it.
@@marciananton9226 it worked out fine. Just spend a little extra time checking for debris and use 2 tarps underneath.
Video is still helping 4 years later. Picking up a 2x4 and some rebar tomorrow
To anyone doing this by hand much respect. I am in the progress of leveling my yard alone 😂 it is all of the fun lol
I had to rework the spot where my pool goes because I skipped last year's set up. I thought I had a lot of work to do. Just posted the videos of leveling and setting up the pool.
I remember starting from scratch. This made me tired just watching you. Enjoyed watching it.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video ! Very much appreciated ! The project was started without me there and now it’s a disaster and this gives me some hope I can fix what they’ve started lol
Best video I've seen since I have started studying. I have around a 2ft slope but I'm going to try it the way you did. Thank you for talking the time to make the video
Yeah i did a lot of looking for people who dug as well with no success. Lots of digging. I would recommend digging out a foot or so extra in the deep parts to leave room to put pavers under the legs.
Family working together > the pool. 👍
Thank you. You gave me hope that i can do this by myself. Omw to Lowes 🥰
man!!! much respect to you all We had a 15 ft we did in 05 had a fun time with our Yard lots of Digging
We’re in the process of leveling and doing a complete remodel of our backyard and pool installation. Man it’s a lot of work! It’s refreshing to see this as a family event. Enjoyed your video and looking to finish our backyard very soon!
Yeah this took us like 4 weekends. We'll worth it though. The kids love the pool. I think building a deck may be next.
@@tonyholliday2347 I can’t wait to finish ours. LOL we’re planting grass seed since we have a huge willow tree that shades our yard. So pool installation won’t be until maybe mid to late April. It’s still fairly cool here (I’m in Texas)...for now we’re flattening soil, leveling soil and finally will plant the seed. What should’ve been a $500 job is running close to $2k in renovations and extra pool equipment. (Decided to make ours a salt water pool).
@@DVC050311 never fails that a small project turns into a full on renovation. Well good luck. You should post a video of your project as well. It adds a little fun to it.
Great team work
Thanks for sharing this video!!!
50 years later: this site is where we helped yur "grandpa" set the pool.
Your son’s little excavator moved a lot of dirt! I’m thoroughly impressed!
Lol yeah big help having heavy machinery around.
Thanks for this! Helped me!
Wow! Thanks for this example. I just got me a 20’ pool and about to level. I learn something else though, have the family help out when they can. Put me on check not to be so stress over nothing.. Thanks!!
thanks so much i have to do my yard soon --great tips
Thanks! Good luck.
I am currently doing the same and I can definitely appreciate how much work this was lol
I put a pool up 9 years ago and leveled it within a half inch. The spot was in a shady part of the yard. I chose the area because it was the most level part of my yard so I didn’t really have to dig. Just basically rounded the area with a level on a 2x4 There was no sod either just dirt. Pretty easy, done it in about 2 days by myself. Tomorrow I’m going to put up a bigger pool in the worst possible part of my yard full of grass uneven ground so I’m in for some major digging. I’m 53 so I imagine it’s going to kick my butt. Definitely not looking forward to it but it’s the only part of my yard that has full sunlight all day. After watching you do all that digging I’m second guessing myself? Wish me luck 😅
It was a ton of work but, ultimately worked out great. Good luck!
@@tonyholliday2347 I decided against the digging and just put it on the level spot, got it all done in about 6 hours today. It’s almost filled up with water as I’m typing this comment. Kudos to you and your family for all your hard work. I do have a question for you. How off was your level? Or did you get it perfect.
@ShinyKnife for sure not perfect but I'd say maybe an inch or two max difference.
@@tonyholliday2347 that’s about what I got, I thinks it’s about a inch off, In a couple of spots. But I did very little digging just basically put it where I had a pool 9 years ago. I cut the grass down to dirt and shoveled the high side a bit. Which turned out to cause it to be the low side lol. It’s not very noticeable. The pool will hardly be used anyway that’s why I took the other pool down.
Rent you a 13HP TILL! I had the same situation as you. My yard’s low spot was 8” lower than my high spot. I ran a fat old tiller through it, wife raked it out and bam. We got it leveled in about 3 hours. It was about $150 and some gas.
I had a small 15’ round intex and I ended up putting a paver under each pole. My next pool will be professionally done but for a low cost easy to maintain pool these aren’t bad at all
Thats love right there
I AM this man right now. We look similar too, so he's a lucky guy since he got my looks 😍😂
It's a lot of work but I'm from New England and this is typical pool installation leveling. We don't have level ground and all we dig up is rocks.
I loved this video, wish you would have recorded until the end.
Yeah ibwish I would have too. The kids were getting impatient so I started working on it at night and the lighting would have been terrible.
We are on day 4 of our ground for the pool. We shoveled as well. We thought it was going to be simple but we had a deceptive slope, it look small but man oh man was it a lot of work. We just have dirt and rocks left, then sand.
People have no idea how much work it is to level the ground.
You look at the yard and think, ohh it's not that bad 😂😂😂.
Unless you have a bobcat, or something similar. Count on a full weekend.
I did all the work myself and the daughter has no interest in it. Would rather sit around on that stupid playstation. I am about at the point of letting it take a swim 🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Would you recommend adding sand on the bottom of pool? Or it doesn’t matter much?
Id suggest to anyone who has a slope more than 6-8 inches. Id hire someone with a bobcat loader. ( Or rent one). To Get ya as level as possible. Then do the leveling board circle method to fine tune the area for perfect leveling..
A year later, how's the pool holding up? Have you had any issues with leaks? Great video and love the family teamwork!
Holding up great. No leaks.
@@tonyholliday2347 good to hear and thanks for the quick reply.
Question. Our site is on a slope. Would u recommend we start digging at the lowest point of the slope, or should we set the leveler at the highest point of the slope and dig until we are level with the low end? We started digging at the low end and now I'm worried we've ended up making it so we h ave to dig a few inches deeper at the deepest part of the slope. Worried. This project has been grueling as we are in AZ and the dirt is undiggable without constantly spraying with water. We've put in about 20 hrs of work and we are only about 1/3rd done.
We didn't have a leveler that could be used at the high side. We started on the low end and didn't really dig that part much. I'm by no means an expert and it took us 4-5 weekends and about 40hrs of dig time.
I thought I had read at one time that digging out the deeper side first and throwing that dirt into the lower side was the easiest way to do it, sort of killing two birds with one stone. Don't quote me right on this but this is how I'm doing mine right now and it seems to be going a lot better than if it was the opposite.
What does anyone suggest putting around the edges of the dug out area on the deep side? Should I just leave it as is?? Our yard is extremely sloped, at least 1.5 ft so I wasn't sure if I should put something around the deep side to hold the edge.
I would get some retaining wall stones and build up the side. Should be CZcams videos how to do it.
Hi did you use sand? Also did you use rebar to center the 2x4 in the ground?
I did not use sand. I was being cheap. I did double tarp underneath though. I used an old hollow pipe i had lying around instead of rebar. I would recommend rebar though. The pipe bent when I put too much pressure.
Thanks so much
so how round actualy for 20ft pool, 22ft i guess around leave some room
13:28 - That board does not look very straight or level. How well did your pool level out all around?
Your right it isn't a very straight board but, it was more of just an aide. I strapped a level to the end of it to double check. The pool came out very level.
That's a lot of damn prep work for a pool designed to be taken down every fall
Very true. That's why we didn't take it down in the fall. We live in FL so no real winter.
@@tonyholliday2347 nice, im not looking forwarded to breaking mine down
What did you put in the ground where you nailed your 2x4 into the ground? I tried this today with a piece of rebar but the 2x4 kept pulling up and as a result the levelness kept changing
A peice of old pipe I had laying around about the same size as. a piece of rebar. If it was just sliding up the rebar then I recommend drilling a new hole that is closer to the same size as the rebar to make it a tighter fit.
Doesn’t digging a hole create a problem with water getting under the pool when it rains?
@wesmiller4643 it never caused a problem that we noticed. I think it would only cause an issue if the whole pool was below gound level but, ours is flush to the ground on the low side.
Hi there! Can you tell me all the tools you used here? Appreciate it!
Flat shovel, spade shovel, level, 10lb tamper, and a garden rake.
Great job...can I borrow your work team?! 😃
Hahaha. They were a big help with the final push.
How long was the 2x4 to level the ground?
10 ft. I would recommend using a longer one to make sure you dig some extra space around. Also it ended up a little warped so maybe a 2x6 would work better?
im going to use a Sun Joe Garden Tiller im 60 female in Tx hot as H, no way i could do this n then i still have to take out the dirt but at least a tool to losen the dirt may take me a month gotta work too lol
How many days did it take you to level the ground out?
It was about 16 hours of work but, it was broken up over a couple weekends/after work hours.
Tiller and hard rakes...
A little bit of hard raking but, not tiller.
Sound?
No sound. Couldn't find any music I liked to go with it.
Yes, do it correct the first time, or you will be out there again. I PROMISE.😅
When it's that bad off level digging is a waste by hand put sand down and build it up
Maybe true but it's free and sand is not.
Where’s the sound?