That's genius! I've been having trouble figuring out how to level my 16' pool & I bought those same stones for the legs.. I'm going to give it a go.. thanks! Edit* It worked PERFECTLY! I put $150 of workout padding down underneath & it feels nice on the feet. The block to block leveling is the best & easiest solution though. It makes total sense because if the stones are exactly even, the top ring will be completely level. Thanks again!
awesome tip on the leveling trick! We, too, were just thinking way too hard. We are going to use a little bit of sand, mostly because our ground is very rocky. Thanks again!
Great video and good job. We have leveled the ground with sand as best as we could using a 2×4 and level but were trying to find the best way to level it as perfectly as possible because the 2×4 method is only as good as the center point and can be faulty. This idea is awesome for this type of pool being that the feet need a solid foundation that won't sink into the ground at different locations depending on each post's weight load and varying degrees of soil/sand compaction. I will say though from past experience you should get those wrinkles out of the bottom because when you use the manual pool vacuums, they will catch on and scrape the high spots which lead to holes in the liner. This will also happen if there are indentations in the bottom from foot prints left during installation and while filling the pool and uneven soil compaction. Green algae settles in the indentations and the vacuum edges scrape the edges around the hole. We had hundreds of microscopic pin holes in the bottom that were impossible to find and patch due to a coarser grade of sand. I'm going to get a ground pad this time around to prevent all this. Thanks for the great video.
You have got to be kidding me. I have been having such a tough time leveling my backyard for our pool. It’s our first pool, and it’s the same size as yours, so big. So we don’t want to mess it up and my dirt is quite rocky in places. I gotta show my wife this video. I think you’ve saved us a ton of time.
My man! Getting ready to setup my second one tomorrow and that paver to paver level tip is gonna be a life saver. I set one up years ago and it was off by 3". I was dreading the setup until I watched this.
Fantastic video this is the exact issue I’m having with my pool!! Once summer is finished here in Australia I’m going to fix my stones I rushed into it next time I’ll take my time!! Thanks for these tips
Great tips Paul! I enjoyed my first pool this year which was an 8' x 24" Intex easy set for $39. Was a great first pool since I had no experience with pools and wasn't sure how much use it would get. I didn't level the area of course for such a small pool, but it was obvious the pool wasn't level. As much as my tiny pool was used this year, I started searching for an upgrade. Thankfully, I stumbled across an Intex pool 22' x 52" lightly used at a moving sale for $100 two weeks ago. I started searching for tips on how to level the ground. Your video has helped me tremendously! Two days ago I started leveling out my very unlevel, yet thankfully sandy yard, and you're absolutely correct...the key is to set your blocks for the legs and make sure they're level all the way around. At first I leveled out the area for the underside of the pool...or at least thought it was level, but when I set my blocks afterward, I found just how unlevel my ground was under the pool area. If you have a very sloped yard like mine. I would definitely suggest starting out on the low end of the yard, then working your way around with the block leveling. This will aid in less blocks to purchase, and also ensure on a firm packed surface by digging down into the soil, instead of having to add more dirt or loose sand to build up to level. I haven't yet finished the entire pool set-up, but focusing on the perimeter blocks really helps!
We had one of these and the same size except it was Intex. Lasted 7 years and we loved it. Now we just bought the aluminum 24 foot 54 in deep pool from a company. We are excited.
@@paullywalnutz Yes I absolutely agree. We even left our out over winter and still was fine. We took pretty good care of it. It definitely served it purpose. :)
Wow! Thanks so much for making this video. This is great advice! I'm getting ready to level the yard for our 8x16 Intex, this makes me feel a lot more confident regarding the easiest way to do it.
Omg eureka! I have watch a ton of videos..my man and kids are lazy and im stressing about digging up the grass and leveling all the sand myself..im a 62 yr old female with health issues.. Now this I can do.. Who needs help? Not me I can get it level this way...Oh you just saved me weeks worth of work.. 😂
@Leah Watts lasted 3 years before the frame rusted out. I purchased another frame and used the same liner. Been 3 years now. Going fine. I was much more careful the second time around. Any little scratch you get in the frame is an invitation for rust. Plus, being in massachusetts and using a salt water chlorine system, is tough on it.
Wow...get out of my head! We had the 14 x 42 last year and we all loved it so much....We bought it spontaneously after it was put on clearance at walmart (intex ultra frame) for $180. we didnt level it either, in fact, I was on night shift rotation and set it up over night to surprise the kids next morning. We took it down and it was damaged from being not level and one of the pavers i used shifted and wore a hole in the liner. I have been searching for a bigger and better pool because we all just loved it. My back yard is over an acre and faces west so from like 0900 until dark, Its a solid swim day. I live in Louisiana so it stayed up until October. Anyway...I just found an intex 22 x 52 for $330 new so I am stoked. I set aside about $1500 this year for the pool so I will use the remaining $$ for lumber, beer, and maybe a couple boxes of Arturo Fuentes. Thanks for sharing!
Just tried this after nearly giving up. Was WAY easier than anything else I tried. When we put the liner in the legs didn’t quit match up to stones anymore. I did use the 4x8 stones so don’t take that shortcut! But it’s still measuring level. It’s filling with water now. Fingers crossed. 🤞
When i was 1st setting up 18 x 4. Coleman i put blocks under each leg. But discovered it threw the ladder clearance. ( It was slightly short and didnt clear the top rail) so i was afraid it would throw off the liner and perhaps over stress the frame as well. I removed the blocks, the ladder cleared, the liner bottom edge was all the way around was uniform with only minor shimming needed. I used the level on the top rail from the center to the next one in center to check. Sorta catycornered. Keep in mind the outside edge maybe level but the center ground could still be off. If center is level or slightly uniformly lower like a contoured bowl itll be ok. Good info sir.
Thank you so much Paul. We have a 15' pool and about 4" slope and I'm only putting up for the next 3 months, so this gave me some hope in which I can prep more before next summer and just get the blocks and level the blocks. I've watched dozens of videos and this was the only one that even mentioned this tip.
Used your suggestion of adding pavers. Was a bit worried about the liner rubbing them though. Ended up using some foam pipe insulation on the edges and seems to work well.
Bingo! I’ve been researching for a couple of days I think you have posted my solution! And I have those bricks too I kid you not. Anyway your pool looks lovely and don’t be a perfectionist about wrinkles on the floor. You do however have a friendly looking frog floating around the top. Thank you so much! 🐸🐸🐸
Good job, and great looking pool. We wanted to get an inground pool but after reading reviews of all pool companies in my area, we decided to not go that route because of negative reviews and the price.
wow! thanks for the tip on leveling the pool. I told my husband about it. We will be installing a pool this week and I have been trying to find a way to level out the pool easier than what I've seen. We have a 24' pool that came from a pool place but it needs a liner and is 9 years old so I think we are just going to grab a pool like this from walmart and add the skimmer and pump, if i can, from the old pool setup.
Great information, just left the pool store the woman there informed me after putting the shock if if it’s turns green or brown that is a indication of trace metals present.
We put our intex round pool up last year and it was off by a couple inches for leveling. We took it down after summer and now I am going regrade the ground and put pool back up for good. Leveling is a pain, but it needs to be done right down safety. Enjoy
WHOA! so if I am understanding correctly... you dont have to be concerned with leveling the ground underneath the pool but rather that all the posts are level with each other. this is huge. in the past I have had the intex with the blue ring at top and it was a HUGE PITA. had to make sure the entire underneath is level.
Great video. Thank you. I had a professional install but I think you did a better job. I have a little deck attached and a candy cane ladder. It is a lot of upkeep, but worth it. I get my exercise, trust me. Also, I have little folds here and there. It's really insignificant. Thanks again. I am looking for the pump reconnect. I'm going to copy yours. Great job.
Hi Pete followed your instructions and hire someone to level the ground this weekend amd put up the pool myself. Got the pavers and my pool was pretty leveled I would say may an inch to an inch and a half but pretty good thanks your videos rock.
Cut and install skimmer.... Mind Blown!!! Next year this is happening. I have this junk over the wall skimmer.... it works... But no where near the effectiveness of a through the wall. Too Awesome!!!
Great video! Followed your instructions my 22 x 52 pool is very leveled. I also installed the Hayward wide mouth skimmer and going to do a complete tutorial video.
Thomas Rivera that’s fantastic! Glad the video helped you. The skimmer was easy but a little scary cutting into the side of a brand new pool. Looking forward to seeing your video.
Hi. Excellent video thank you so much. May I plz ask...when u leveled your pool initially did u remove your grass with a sod cutter and then try n eyeball to level? Once u do that then u level each cement clock? Is that how it works. Plz help. Thank u so much
Great tip! I'm seeing mine up this weekend, I did have a question though. The stones didn't puncture the lining being that they have sharp corners? Thank you sir.
Excellent job! I just purchased the the 18 ft version of this pool and I'm tryt to make sure I get the ground level before I put the pool up that's a lot of water to spill over if I don't get it right! I have excess to plenty of sand should I need it! I will for be using the concrete pavers
Small rounds would work also,however since the pool feet has a flat side that goes toward the pool and they should be back away from the liner you may not get enough surface area for the foot. I used 7 "x 11" pavers. Either way you want to keep the edge of the blocks back from touching the liner. I packed sand in front of the pads to protect the liner as well as 9 mil plastic sheeting.
Something you could try for the wrinkles on the bottom..... BUT BE careful!!!! I had to move around my liner a little to flatten out some rocks that worked their way up. I used the vacuum hose and suctioned the liner up a little at a time and was able to level it out. I would just briefly slide or tap the bottom of the liner, which would lift up a little at a time as I moved the rock. Be careful !!!! Don't rip your liner, I don't know if it would even work to take out wrinkles. I just know what you mean when you say it is impossible to move the liner even with only 4 inches of water. That being said, we do have a full on-ground pool with a 1hp pump that has tons of suction.
Question: You stated that you knew the distance between your support poles so you could insert the pavers, that’s helpful. But how did you measure to get the angle since the pool curves slightly all the way around? Did you set up the pool frame to get the exact measurements? Great video!!
kcewilson thanks for the comment! I measured the circumference by measuring 11 feet from center. 22 feet total. Use a chalk line or marking paint to Mark the area.
I put one up today the quick set I eyeballed the ground decided on the Rocky driveway we raked it down to dirt put 2 tarps down and a very small amount of sand and that was just to helo ease the rocks. And my eyes are good at spotting level surfaces bc its less than a half inch off :)
Daphnie Tudor thats awesome! Also pretty lucky. I did the same thing when I lived in AZ, and about half way filled... the whole thing collapsed because it was wayyyy off. Lol
2466shan... I actually bought the old lady stairs that cost over $200... sigh... here's the thing... as soon as I went online and found a platform for around $20 or so for the top of the original ladder, it solved the stability problem with the ladder.. now, I have the stairs for when I'm REALLY old..
Very helpful video...thanks! We just bought the same pool and hope to have it delivered by tomorrow. We'd like to set ours up just like yours and want to get a jump start on the other parts we need. Can you please let us know the models of your saltwater system, filter and skimmer. Just want to make sure we select the right one since they come in different varieties. Thanks in advance!!!
I have this same pool. Bought it last year. Didn't level it at all. I put it together by myself and two small kids. It was windy too. It was a mess and very hard took me hours to set up. Going on yr number 2 with this pool. In the process of draining, cleaning and then refilling. Also don't bother with the cover that comes with the pool it's junk learned the hard way when I cleaned it out. Now I wish I knew how to more my pool so I could level it better. I like your idea but the pool will rub against the stones and rip it.
kassia bolden can be tough to set up when it’s windy. Just helped my brother set his up on a windy day. I have never drained mine. I treat it like a regular pool. I winterize it before closing it and then follow the opening process in the spring. Always comes back fantastically. I’ve seen a lot of comments regarding the stones. Mine is going on 3 years including 2 harsh New England winters and is doing just fine. Best of luck with yours! We really enjoy ours.
Hey there- how do you know what upgraded kind of pump you can use? I have an 18ft summer waves elite frame pool and I’m a total newbie. I will definitely be using your stone leveling trick and we will be putting some sand underneath. I’ve heard these pumps stop working and definitely want a preventative plan. Thanks!
Generally best to figure out how many gallons of water your pool holds and then get a pump that’s rated to circulate that many gallons within 3-4 hours. That will keep your pool clean without having to run the pump constantly. For instance, if a pool has 10000 gallons you would want something rated for at least 2500 GPH. That would technically circulate all of your water in 4 hours.
Paul,excellent video,i have a 18 x 52 intex pool,it sits on a cement slab, there is a four inch difference from top to bottom on the slab,this is my sixth year on the slab,do you think your method would work to raise the pool four inches on the low end,i tried sand one time on the low end,a wast of sand and it did not work ,any suggestions ?
Really enjoyed your leveling video. We will be replacing our Intex pool this season, thought we might try the paver method for leveling. However, one concern is the liner rubbing up against the brick pavers, possibly puncturing the liner. Have experienced any problem with that happening? Appreciate any comment you could share.
Carole Wright thanks for the feedback! I haven’t had any problem with the liner and the pavers. Not sure if I’m just lucky or not. I was very careful to make sure the tarp was between the liner and the stones for an extra layer of protection. I also have seen other people use a piece of vinyl tile as a barrier. Best of luck!
I’ve read elsewhere that you should dig below the pavers so the top of the pavers are even with the ground around it. That should help keep the liner from rubbing against the pavers.
First thing I notice is the postion of your uprights.. I called INTEX and they told me those uprights go through the loops and the loops should be on the OUTSIDE of that white band... that white band should lay FLAT against the pool liner... Next, I saw that your uprights were leaning in under the pool... not good... I used your leveling method with this addition... I constructed the upper ring... and put the junction parts on the pavers... imbedded the pavers in the ground so they were level with the ground under the pool... the ground was loose enough that as the pool filled I could pull the pavers out as needed so that they would NOT touch the pool liner, AND, the uprights were kept vertical or angled slightly away from the pool at their base... not dramatically, but slightly... and very vertical side to side... for the life of your liner, I'd spend the money to drain down the pool so you can make it right... also... for ANYONE with a steel frame pool... I've seen so many complaints about rust... well, when you use a SALT WATER system you are INVITING rust... I do NOT recommend salt water systems for intex metal frame pools... who am I?... I'm just a normal 69 year old loud mouth who's made many mistakes that were so costly I want to warn everyone so they can learn from my errors.
Elizabeth Dunkelbarger i love this comment!! This pool is an older one that does not have the loops on the white band. The legs just go through the band itself. (Believe me, I checked). This frame completely rusted out on me and I have since replaced the frame. Still going strong! i hope all goes well with your pool! Thanks for watching.
@@paullywalnutz // ok... couldn't tell very well with my old eyes... thanks for the reply, though.. I don't know how to upload my videos or I'd have a video on here so I could show what mistakes I've made and what I've learned. Like, the rust issue?.. I don't have one, but, I took time to paint my frame last year with rustoleum… and I would NEVER EVER use a salt water system on a steel frame pool... that's a recipe for rust problems.
am so sad.. i didn't level it. i just put it up . but now watching this am scared to get in. first time heaving a pool.. to many things to keep up with. i need to write this down. thanks
Or save your money on the blocks by doing the opposite. Dig down the legs on the high point and no need for blocks. Your welcome. lol JK I admit I would not have thought of that without first seeing your idea. Cool idea man
Brandon Gonzales LOL! I’ve actually done it that way as well. When I helped my brother do his. He had a much larger discrepancy from side to side. We STILL used the stones though because the feet will sink in the ground from all the weight.
We have this size pool with 16 inch intex sand filter and wide mouth Hayward skimmer. Not getting good suction and such with skimmer. Don’t know what to do. Any pointers would be appreciated.
I used a similar concept. setup 12x12 pavers.. however one side of the pool the paver is too far underneath the liner. so now its starting to tear the liner!! I need to jack up the pool and pull the paver out so it doesn't cause extra damage.
Great video, informative and I'll be using that leveling method soon! Don't really want to empty out my 16 x 48 Intex, but I'm determined to get mine level before summer is over. Cool ladder btw, what model? I'd like to recommend some small pool solar energy floor lights too. My wife and daughter love them for night swims, so they feel safe there aren't any creepy crawlers floatin around.
Nerdraged I have the same size pool you have it’s about 3-4 inches off I’m going to drain and use this method of leveling . My husband thinks I’m crazy but I’ve been so stressed about the pool being unlevel & therefore unsafe
@@meganmurillo5143 Yeah, I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to doing these things as perfect as possible, the only reason my pool is up and unleveled right now being that I was rushed to get it ready for my daughter's 1st birthday party. 😅 That said I want to correct it before the metal bars suffer damage, and end up having to buy another pool.
Nerdraged I am thee same way ! Just had a convo with my husband about this as we too rushed for a gathering 🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️ I’m determined to get this pool up as level as possible
My Backyard has slops down to building but water cross away from middle part of backyard is down 8". Can i leveling with rubber mulch at middle to refill 8" on top of grass or need to remove all grass out and put rubber before leveling?
Nayara Story don’t put rubber mulch under the pool. That will destroy the liner. I only put the mulch around the outside of the pool as decoration. You need to remove all grass and make sure there are no rocks or stones where you intend to set up the pool. Some people use sand.
@@paullywalnutz Thank you So much for quick reply. Just wanted to know, must need ground leveling by removing high label soil or can refill sand in middle of the part of ground is up to 8" deep to drain water because my ground is quite sloop and hard to leveling.
I wish you actually showed how you did it. Im A little stuck on exactly how this was done. I have a Coleman 18 x 52 and I haven’t totally filled it up and it’s definitely showing a dip on one side.
I wish I did too! When I was doing it I wasn’t 100% sure of how it would work. It wasn’t until afterwards that I saw the results and figured I should share it.
The pool being up and over the sides of all of those square pavers would worry me. I also am concerned that this doesn't level the ground underneath the pool, just the legs. The bladder being pulled up and not supported underneath by level ground seems troublesome. Definitely faster though
Zack Salmon thanks for your comment. I was concerned as well but have had zero issues. The tarps I’ve put between the bladder and stones have held up wonderfully. As far as the ground underneath, I did take it and make it “eyeballed level” so there are no points where the bladder is unsupported. It’s just simply not level in all areas. As long as you don’t have to go more than 2 stones high in any area it should work fine. I’m not a pro but this is based on all my experiences and those who have told me their results as well
@@paullywalnutz nice! I'm in a similar situation and I'm thinking about cheating the legs up a few inches on the one half with bricks or pavers. Glad to hear it worked!
First of all I would like to say excellent video sir! I am so very glad I came across this video before I started work on my pool.so I apologize in advance if you have already answered this question I did try to skim through the comments but there were so many of them I may have overlooked it.I was wondering if you could tell me the distance between the stones. I want to get everything laid out before the weekend is over, our pool is being delivered on Monday
thank you for the comment! I didn't actually measure the distance prior to having the pool. I did it by assembling a section of the frame and using that to measure how far apart the stones should be. It really isnt that difficult once you get going.
@@rayallen5971 just finished setting mine up again this year after the frame rusted out on me. going without the salt water this year. new video coming soon to show the new set up and a couple mods i did!
So you only worried about the ground under the stones? As long as it was level you were good? My yard is pretty flat but I was off a few inches to where it was noticeable.
Anthony C. Exactly. I did my best to level out the ground where the actual pool goes but didn’t worry about making it perfect. It was off by 2-3 inches in places. But the stones being level made it work fine.
Paul, Great video! Where did you get the skimmer? Looking forward to get my pool up too. I purchased the Intex 22' x 52" as the 24 footer was no longer available. Thanks again for your great ideas and secret to leveling the pool.
Purchased the skimmer from Walmart.com. It's the Hayward large skimmer. Definitely need the big one for a pool this size! Easy to install as well. I will put up a video about it soon. Thanks for your kind words!
That's genius! I've been having trouble figuring out how to level my 16' pool & I bought those same stones for the legs.. I'm going to give it a go.. thanks!
Edit* It worked PERFECTLY! I put $150 of workout padding down underneath & it feels nice on the feet. The block to block leveling is the best & easiest solution though. It makes total sense because if the stones are exactly even, the top ring will be completely level. Thanks again!
awesome tip on the leveling trick! We, too, were just thinking way too hard. We are going to use a little bit of sand, mostly because our ground is very rocky. Thanks again!
Great video and good job. We have leveled the ground with sand as best as we could using a 2×4 and level but were trying to find the best way to level it as perfectly as possible because the 2×4 method is only as good as the center point and can be faulty. This idea is awesome for this type of pool being that the feet need a solid foundation that won't sink into the ground at different locations depending on each post's weight load and varying degrees of soil/sand compaction. I will say though from past experience you should get those wrinkles out of the bottom because when you use the manual pool vacuums, they will catch on and scrape the high spots which lead to holes in the liner. This will also happen if there are indentations in the bottom from foot prints left during installation and while filling the pool and uneven soil compaction. Green algae settles in the indentations and the vacuum edges scrape the edges around the hole. We had hundreds of microscopic pin holes in the bottom that were impossible to find and patch due to a coarser grade of sand. I'm going to get a ground pad this time around to prevent all this. Thanks for the great video.
You have got to be kidding me. I have been having such a tough time leveling my backyard for our pool. It’s our first pool, and it’s the same size as yours, so big. So we don’t want to mess it up and my dirt is quite rocky in places. I gotta show my wife this video. I think you’ve saved us a ton of time.
My man! Getting ready to setup my second one tomorrow and that paver to paver level tip is gonna be a life saver. I set one up years ago and it was off by 3". I was dreading the setup until I watched this.
Well I filled it up last night and it was off...by 1/8". So as far as I'm concerned that's dead nuts level, lol.
Best explanation of how to level out one of these pools. Thanks for sharing
Fantastic video this is the exact issue I’m having with my pool!! Once summer is finished here in Australia I’m going to fix my stones I rushed into it next time I’ll take my time!! Thanks for these tips
Great tips Paul! I enjoyed my first pool this year which was an 8' x 24" Intex easy set for $39. Was a great first pool since I had no experience with pools and wasn't sure how much use it would get. I didn't level the area of course for such a small pool, but it was obvious the pool wasn't level. As much as my tiny pool was used this year, I started searching for an upgrade. Thankfully, I stumbled across an Intex pool 22' x 52" lightly used at a moving sale for $100 two weeks ago. I started searching for tips on how to level the ground. Your video has helped me tremendously! Two days ago I started leveling out my very unlevel, yet thankfully sandy yard, and you're absolutely correct...the key is to set your blocks for the legs and make sure they're level all the way around. At first I leveled out the area for the underside of the pool...or at least thought it was level, but when I set my blocks afterward, I found just how unlevel my ground was under the pool area. If you have a very sloped yard like mine. I would definitely suggest starting out on the low end of the yard, then working your way around with the block leveling. This will aid in less blocks to purchase, and also ensure on a firm packed surface by digging down into the soil, instead of having to add more dirt or loose sand to build up to level. I haven't yet finished the entire pool set-up, but focusing on the perimeter blocks really helps!
Thank you so much for the tips!!! It really helps!
Wish i had seen your videos a week ago. Very informative. Thanks for sharing with us pool virgins.
Thank you!!! You just saved me from literally saved me from running my brain in circles
The liner doesn’t rub against the footers that are above grade?
And what size stones are they
We had one of these and the same size except it was Intex. Lasted 7 years and we loved it. Now we just bought the aluminum 24 foot 54 in deep pool from a company. We are excited.
They are great pools if you know how to take care of them.!
@@paullywalnutz Yes I absolutely agree. We even left our out over winter and still was fine. We took pretty good care of it. It definitely served it purpose. :)
Wow! Thanks so much for making this video. This is great advice! I'm getting ready to level the yard for our 8x16 Intex, this makes me feel a lot more confident regarding the easiest way to do it.
Omg eureka! I have watch a ton of videos..my man and kids are lazy and im stressing about digging up the grass and leveling all the sand myself..im a 62 yr old female with health issues.. Now this I can do.. Who needs help? Not me I can get it level this way...Oh you just saved me weeks worth of work.. 😂
Getting ready to set ours up so I was really glad to see how you did yours. It sounds WAY easier than what we were planning 😜.
Katalin Mason I hope it helps!! We were prepared to do all kinds of crazy things and spend a TON of money. This was so much better. Good luck!
@Leah Watts lasted 3 years before the frame rusted out. I purchased another frame and used the same liner. Been 3 years now. Going fine. I was much more careful the second time around. Any little scratch you get in the frame is an invitation for rust. Plus, being in massachusetts and using a salt water chlorine system, is tough on it.
Wow...get out of my head! We had the 14 x 42 last year and we all loved it so much....We bought it spontaneously after it was put on clearance at walmart (intex ultra frame) for $180. we didnt level it either, in fact, I was on night shift rotation and set it up over night to surprise the kids next morning. We took it down and it was damaged from being not level and one of the pavers i used shifted and wore a hole in the liner. I have been searching for a bigger and better pool because we all just loved it. My back yard is over an acre and faces west so from like 0900 until dark, Its a solid swim day. I live in Louisiana so it stayed up until October. Anyway...I just found an intex 22 x 52 for $330 new so I am stoked. I set aside about $1500 this year for the pool so I will use the remaining $$ for lumber, beer, and maybe a couple boxes of Arturo Fuentes. Thanks for sharing!
Just tried this after nearly giving up. Was WAY easier than anything else I tried. When we put the liner in the legs didn’t quit match up to stones anymore. I did use the 4x8 stones so don’t take that shortcut! But it’s still measuring level. It’s filling with water now. Fingers crossed. 🤞
Keep us posted on results. !
When i was 1st setting up 18 x 4. Coleman i put blocks under each leg. But discovered it threw the ladder clearance. ( It was slightly short and didnt clear the top rail) so i was afraid it would throw off the liner and perhaps over stress the frame as well. I removed the blocks, the ladder cleared, the liner bottom edge was all the way around was uniform with only minor shimming needed. I used the level on the top rail from the center to the next one in center to check. Sorta catycornered. Keep in mind the outside edge maybe level but the center ground could still be off. If center is level or slightly uniformly lower like a contoured bowl itll be ok. Good info sir.
Thank you so much Paul. We have a 15' pool and about 4" slope and I'm only putting up for the next 3 months, so this gave me some hope in which I can prep more before next summer and just get the blocks and level the blocks. I've watched dozens of videos and this was the only one that even mentioned this tip.
Jonathan H you’re welcome! All the best luck with your pool. They’re a pain... but SOOOO worth it. Lol
I'm legit on the same boat. I'm going to give this a shot.
best video ever on this subject.... none of the others compare... thanks for sharing. i'm immensely grateful.
This is the best video on leveling a pool!!!!!
Used your suggestion of adding pavers. Was a bit worried about the liner rubbing them though. Ended up using some foam pipe insulation on the edges and seems to work well.
zmann42 THATs a great solution! Thanks for the comment.
Bingo! I’ve been researching for a couple of days I think you have posted my solution! And I have those bricks too I kid you not. Anyway your pool looks lovely and don’t be a perfectionist about wrinkles on the floor. You do however have a friendly looking frog floating around the top. Thank you so much! 🐸🐸🐸
Just saved me a ton of $$ for sand. thanks for the tip!
Good job, and great looking pool. We wanted to get an inground pool but after reading reviews of all pool companies in my area, we decided to not go that route because of negative reviews and the price.
It's definitely not for everybody! I hope whatever you go with brings you joy
wow! thanks for the tip on leveling the pool. I told my husband about it. We will be installing a pool this week and I have been trying to find a way to level out the pool easier than what I've seen. We have a 24' pool that came from a pool place but it needs a liner and is 9 years old so I think we are just going to grab a pool like this from walmart and add the skimmer and pump, if i can, from the old pool setup.
Great information, just left the pool store the woman there informed me after putting the shock if if it’s turns green or brown that is a indication of trace metals present.
Tawnya Aldrich exactly.
And leveling is the ONLY reason why I do not have that pool in my backyard Great Video
OMG it makes sense !!!! and the middle part - as long is pretty flat not bulges nor sinks , is ok - Thanks *
Omg wish I watched this a couple yrs back...lol would have saved my back and my husbands...
We put our intex round pool up last year and it was off by a couple inches for leveling. We took it down after summer and now I am going regrade the ground and put pool back up for good. Leveling is a pain, but it needs to be done right down safety. Enjoy
WHOA! so if I am understanding correctly... you dont have to be concerned with leveling the ground underneath the pool but rather that all the posts are level with each other. this is huge. in the past I have had the intex with the blue ring at top and it was a HUGE PITA. had to make sure the entire underneath is level.
I loved this video! I have this exact pool and was going to get equipment and sand.
Great video. Thank you. I had a professional install but I think you did a better job. I have a little deck attached and a candy cane ladder. It is a lot of upkeep, but worth it. I get my exercise, trust me. Also, I have little folds here and there. It's really insignificant. Thanks again. I am looking for the pump reconnect. I'm going to copy yours. Great job.
Cindy mandrier who did you call to have it professionally install your pool?
Hi Pete followed your instructions and hire someone to level the ground this weekend amd put up the pool myself. Got the pavers and my pool was pretty leveled I would say may an inch to an inch and a half but pretty good thanks your videos rock.
I’m stressing about the leveling! Glad to hear your take on it and the comment from the pool guy. I do think we can do it.
👍🏼 if I can do it... anyone can!
@@paullywalnutz … as a 69 year old woman.. that's what I said. Smiling here. :)
Thanks for the pavers tip my pool is perfect !
SAVAGE _ O.G outstanding!
Great vid Paul! I’m in the process of setting up. This helped ease my mind :-)
great viedo did one much older 30 year ago was great, It change my life with family and kids. What a great fun.
snap together 1in foam mats also work for under pool. and are pretty cheap and work super well
Definitely! I use them under my inflatable hot tub!
Cut and install skimmer.... Mind Blown!!! Next year this is happening. I have this junk over the wall skimmer.... it works... But no where near the effectiveness of a through the wall. Too Awesome!!!
Matt Beil you will be very happy!! Lol. One of the best mods for these pools. So easy to vacuum as well.
Thanks for saving us time.
Thanks for the advice. I was under the impression that I to do some Rick and Morty grade leveling before I saw this video.
Hopefully this method works well for you!
@@paullywalnutz thanks, I’ll let you know 😄
Great video! Followed your instructions my 22 x 52 pool is very leveled. I also installed the Hayward wide mouth skimmer and going to do a complete tutorial video.
Thomas Rivera that’s fantastic! Glad the video helped you. The skimmer was easy but a little scary cutting into the side of a brand new pool. Looking forward to seeing your video.
I still have the intex 14 x 42 pool, I would like to upgrade to a 22 x 52.....very nice! I love mine, very easy setup
Thanks alot. I was wondering about post to post. Now all I need is a 6 ft. Level
This is the simplest process for levelling that I came across
So glad I found your video thank you!
It looks great! Looks so pretty all set up. Thanks for the info. Love your voice, BTW!
Hi. Excellent video thank you so much.
May I plz ask...when u leveled your pool initially did u remove your grass with a sod cutter and then try n eyeball to level?
Once u do that then u level each cement clock? Is that how it works. Plz help. Thank u so much
Thanks. For sharing this it helped me want this pool when I move soon!
Great tip! I'm seeing mine up this weekend, I did have a question though. The stones didn't puncture the lining being that they have sharp corners? Thank you sir.
I put multiple tarps between the liner and the stones. Never had an issue.
I tassume the stones werent under the actual pool liner but only around the outer edge for decorative purpose and a weed barrier.
@@tedthornton7791 the only stones I used were under the lags of the pool. I put rubber mulch around the exterior for a barrier.
We are installing the same pool, which inlets did you buy on amazon. I saw a post from you that had the link but cant find it. Great job on video!
Did you posted my solution..!! Thanks so much..
Excellent job! I just purchased the the 18 ft version of this pool and I'm tryt to make sure I get the ground level before I put the pool up that's a lot of water to spill over if I don't get it right! I have excess to plenty of sand should I need it! I will for be using the concrete pavers
Eric D. Thanks for the comment! Best of luck.
thank you now i can share this with my kids
Anyone use round pavers instead of square ones? Just curious if that would be a better option so as to not poke through the liner
Small rounds would work also,however since the pool feet has a flat side that goes toward the pool and they should be back away from the liner you may not get enough surface area for the foot. I used 7 "x 11" pavers. Either way you want to keep the edge of the blocks back from touching the liner. I packed sand in front of the pads to protect the liner as well as 9 mil plastic sheeting.
@@dongarrett7595 I ended up going with 10 x 10 x 2 inch square pavers instead. I also used foam in between the pool liner and edges of the pavestones.
I'd like to see how and where on the pool you installed the skimmer
Best video I’ve seen so far.
We followed your set up instructions. Our pool is level!
OUTSTANDING!!!! so glad it helped.
Wish I had seen video before I spent all day today putting down sand. Gonna go back now and put the bricks down under the legs.
Wow using the paver stones under the legs is a brilliant idea.
Eric Charles thanks! It made it so much easier to level the pool. PLUS the legs don’t sink into the ground from all the weight.
@@paullywalnutz How many legs does this pool have? What is the size of the pavers you used?
@@ericcharles2699 I don't remember exactly how many legs the pavers were 10 x 10. A couple needed more than one because of the depth of the soil
Thanks! That's exactly what I'm doing
Something you could try for the wrinkles on the bottom..... BUT BE careful!!!!
I had to move around my liner a little to flatten out some rocks that worked their way up. I used the vacuum hose and suctioned the liner up a little at a time and was able to level it out. I would just briefly slide or tap the bottom of the liner, which would lift up a little at a time as I moved the rock. Be careful !!!! Don't rip your liner, I don't know if it would even work to take out wrinkles. I just know what you mean when you say it is impossible to move the liner even with only 4 inches of water. That being said, we do have a full on-ground pool with a 1hp pump that has tons of suction.
storypunman thanks for the tip! I actually replaced the pool this past year. Did a better job with the new liner.
Question:
You stated that you knew the distance between your support poles so you could insert the pavers, that’s helpful. But how did you measure to get the angle since the pool curves slightly all the way around? Did you set up the pool frame to get the exact measurements?
Great video!!
kcewilson thanks for the comment! I measured the circumference by measuring 11 feet from center. 22 feet total. Use a chalk line or marking paint to Mark the area.
I put one up today the quick set I eyeballed the ground decided on the Rocky driveway we raked it down to dirt put 2 tarps down and a very small amount of sand and that was just to helo ease the rocks. And my eyes are good at spotting level surfaces bc its less than a half inch off :)
Daphnie Tudor thats awesome! Also pretty lucky. I did the same thing when I lived in AZ, and about half way filled... the whole thing collapsed because it was wayyyy off. Lol
Nice..great job and thanks for the tips.
Which ladder did you purchase?
2466shan... I actually bought the old lady stairs that cost over $200... sigh... here's the thing... as soon as I went online and found a platform for around $20 or so for the top of the original ladder, it solved the stability problem with the ladder.. now, I have the stairs for when I'm REALLY old..
The stones have points, be careful you don't tear the liner (i did the first time I installed my pool)
I put two tarps between the liner and the stones. Worked perfectly!
Very helpful video...thanks! We just bought the same pool and hope to have it delivered by tomorrow. We'd like to set ours up just like yours and want to get a jump start on the other parts we need. Can you please let us know the models of your saltwater system, filter and skimmer. Just want to make sure we select the right one since they come in different varieties. Thanks in advance!!!
I have this same pool. Bought it last year. Didn't level it at all. I put it together by myself and two small kids. It was windy too. It was a mess and very hard took me hours to set up. Going on yr number 2 with this pool. In the process of draining, cleaning and then refilling. Also don't bother with the cover that comes with the pool it's junk learned the hard way when I cleaned it out. Now I wish I knew how to more my pool so I could level it better.
I like your idea but the pool will rub against the stones and rip it.
kassia bolden can be tough to set up when it’s windy. Just helped my brother set his up on a windy day. I have never drained mine. I treat it like a regular pool. I winterize it before closing it and then follow the opening process in the spring. Always comes back fantastically. I’ve seen a lot of comments regarding the stones. Mine is going on 3 years including 2 harsh New England winters and is doing just fine. Best of luck with yours! We really enjoy ours.
Oh and as far as leveling it, you’d have to start from scratch and level the ground then set up the pool.
Great idea but gotta be careful the pool tarp won't puncture on the corners of the stones at the bottom.
Pool up for 5 years. No issues.
We got this same pool yesterday.. and about to do this ourselves. Leveling is the issue.
Tora Gillison hope this video helps. Depending on how off it is to start... it’s not that difficult.
@@paullywalnutz thanks. We will start this weekend.
I used a jack and a length of 4 x 4 to jack the post up a little. Scary but it worked.
Hey there- how do you know what upgraded kind of pump you can use? I have an 18ft summer waves elite frame pool and I’m a total newbie. I will definitely be using your stone leveling trick and we will be putting some sand underneath. I’ve heard these pumps stop working and definitely want a preventative plan. Thanks!
Generally best to figure out how many gallons of water your pool holds and then get a pump that’s rated to circulate that many gallons within 3-4 hours. That will keep your pool clean without having to run the pump constantly. For instance, if a pool has 10000 gallons you would want something rated for at least 2500 GPH. That would technically circulate all of your water in 4 hours.
Paul,excellent video,i have a 18 x 52 intex pool,it sits on a cement slab, there is a four inch difference from top to bottom on the slab,this is my sixth year on the slab,do you think your method would work to raise the pool four inches on the low end,i tried sand one time on the low end,a wast of sand and it did not work ,any suggestions ?
Really enjoyed your leveling video. We will be replacing our Intex pool this season, thought we might try the paver method for leveling. However, one concern is the liner rubbing up against the brick pavers, possibly puncturing the liner. Have experienced any problem with that happening? Appreciate any comment you could share.
Carole Wright thanks for the feedback! I haven’t had any problem with the liner and the pavers. Not sure if I’m just lucky or not. I was very careful to make sure the tarp was between the liner and the stones for an extra layer of protection. I also have seen other people use a piece of vinyl tile as a barrier. Best of luck!
I’ve read elsewhere that you should dig below the pavers so the top of the pavers are even with the ground around it. That should help keep the liner from rubbing against the pavers.
First thing I notice is the postion of your uprights.. I called INTEX and they told me those uprights go through the loops and the loops should be on the OUTSIDE of that white band... that white band should lay FLAT against the pool liner... Next, I saw that your uprights were leaning in under the pool... not good... I used your leveling method with this addition... I constructed the upper ring... and put the junction parts on the pavers... imbedded the pavers in the ground so they were level with the ground under the pool... the ground was loose enough that as the pool filled I could pull the pavers out as needed so that they would NOT touch the pool liner, AND, the uprights were kept vertical or angled slightly away from the pool at their base... not dramatically, but slightly... and very vertical side to side... for the life of your liner, I'd spend the money to drain down the pool so you can make it right... also... for ANYONE with a steel frame pool... I've seen so many complaints about rust... well, when you use a SALT WATER system you are INVITING rust... I do NOT recommend salt water systems for intex metal frame pools... who am I?... I'm just a normal 69 year old loud mouth who's made many mistakes that were so costly I want to warn everyone so they can learn from my errors.
Elizabeth Dunkelbarger i love this comment!! This pool is an older one that does not have the loops on the white band. The legs just go through the band itself. (Believe me, I checked). This frame completely rusted out on me and I have since replaced the frame. Still going strong! i hope all goes well with your pool! Thanks for watching.
@@paullywalnutz // ok... couldn't tell very well with my old eyes... thanks for the reply, though.. I don't know how to upload my videos or I'd have a video on here so I could show what mistakes I've made and what I've learned. Like, the rust issue?.. I don't have one, but, I took time to paint my frame last year with rustoleum… and I would NEVER EVER use a salt water system on a steel frame pool... that's a recipe for rust problems.
Excellent video thank you for sharing... how’s the quality of the pool can you let me know...
If it’s level across each segment of the circumference, then it is level across the whole diameter. 🤔
am so sad.. i didn't level it. i just put it up . but now watching this am scared to get in. first time heaving a pool.. to many things to keep up with. i need to write this down. thanks
maria silva sorry to hear. Hopefully it works out for you.
@@paullywalnutz me too. Have a great day and be safe.
Or save your money on the blocks by doing the opposite. Dig down the legs on the high point and no need for blocks. Your welcome. lol JK I admit I would not have thought of that without first seeing your idea. Cool idea man
Brandon Gonzales LOL! I’ve actually done it that way as well. When I helped my brother do his. He had a much larger discrepancy from side to side. We STILL used the stones though because the feet will sink in the ground from all the weight.
How much was the pool?
I got it on clearance. I believe it was $500. Not sure what they’re going for now. Got mine at Walmart.
Very, very helpful! Thanks!
We have this size pool with 16 inch intex sand filter and wide mouth Hayward skimmer. Not getting good suction and such with skimmer. Don’t know what to do. Any pointers would be appreciated.
I used a similar concept. setup 12x12 pavers.. however one side of the pool the paver is too far underneath the liner. so now its starting to tear the liner!! I need to jack up the pool and pull the paver out so it doesn't cause extra damage.
hey, did you just bypass the b hookups on the pool? your return jet is in the a location and just left plugs in b location.
thank you for sharing and do you have a link to buy those pump hole plugs? and any updates on your pool?
what brand is your ladder. looking for a better one myself
Great video, informative and I'll be using that leveling method soon! Don't really want to empty out my 16 x 48 Intex, but I'm determined to get mine level before summer is over. Cool ladder btw, what model? I'd like to recommend some small pool solar energy floor lights too. My wife and daughter love them for night swims, so they feel safe there aren't any creepy crawlers floatin around.
Nerdraged I have the same size pool you have it’s about 3-4 inches off I’m going to drain and use this method of leveling . My husband thinks I’m crazy but I’ve been so stressed about the pool being unlevel & therefore unsafe
@@meganmurillo5143 Yeah, I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to doing these things as perfect as possible, the only reason my pool is up and unleveled right now being that I was rushed to get it ready for my daughter's 1st birthday party. 😅 That said I want to correct it before the metal bars suffer damage, and end up having to buy another pool.
Nerdraged I am thee same way ! Just had a convo with my husband about this as we too rushed for a gathering 🤦🏽♀️🤦🏽♀️ I’m determined to get this pool up as level as possible
Did you make the video for the hayward wide mouth skimmer yet?I want to get one and install it this year.
I'm also wanting to see that video.
Me too!
Dude that’s how it’s done!
My Backyard has slops down to building but water cross away from middle part of backyard is down 8". Can i leveling with rubber mulch at middle to refill 8" on top of grass or need to remove all grass out and put rubber before leveling?
Nayara Story don’t put rubber mulch under the pool. That will destroy the liner. I only put the mulch around the outside of the pool as decoration. You need to remove all grass and make sure there are no rocks or stones where you intend to set up the pool. Some people use sand.
@@paullywalnutz Thank you So much for quick reply. Just wanted to know, must need ground leveling by removing high label soil or can refill sand in middle of the part of ground is up to 8" deep to drain water because my ground is quite sloop and hard to leveling.
Nayara Story sand would be a great idea. Easy to spread and level without heavy equipment.
I wish you actually showed how you did it. Im
A little stuck on exactly how this was done. I have a Coleman 18 x 52 and I haven’t totally filled it up and it’s definitely showing a dip on one side.
I wish I did too! When I was doing it I wasn’t 100% sure of how it would work. It wasn’t until afterwards that I saw the results and figured I should share it.
Thanks Paul, looks gr8😁
rubyred thanks rubyred! Cant wait for spring!
The pool being up and over the sides of all of those square pavers would worry me. I also am concerned that this doesn't level the ground underneath the pool, just the legs. The bladder being pulled up and not supported underneath by level ground seems troublesome. Definitely faster though
Zack Salmon thanks for your comment. I was concerned as well but have had zero issues. The tarps I’ve put between the bladder and stones have held up wonderfully. As far as the ground underneath, I did take it and make it “eyeballed level” so there are no points where the bladder is unsupported. It’s just simply not level in all areas. As long as you don’t have to go more than 2 stones high in any area it should work fine. I’m not a pro but this is based on all my experiences and those who have told me their results as well
@@paullywalnutz nice! I'm in a similar situation and I'm thinking about cheating the legs up a few inches on the one half with bricks or pavers. Glad to hear it worked!
First of all I would like to say excellent video sir! I am so very glad I came across this video before I started work on my pool.so I apologize in advance if you have already answered this question I did try to skim through the comments but there were so many of them I may have overlooked it.I was wondering if you could tell me the distance between the stones. I want to get everything laid out before the weekend is over, our pool is being delivered on Monday
thank you for the comment! I didn't actually measure the distance prior to having the pool. I did it by assembling a section of the frame and using that to measure how far apart the stones should be. It really isnt that difficult once you get going.
@@paullywalnutz thank you for your response sir. Any pool plans for this year?
@@rayallen5971 just finished setting mine up again this year after the frame rusted out on me. going without the salt water this year. new video coming soon to show the new set up and a couple mods i did!
@@paullywalnutz Cool. Looking forward to the video. I've heard the salt progresses the inevitable rust and wears on the liner too.
So you only worried about the ground under the stones? As long as it was level you were good? My yard is pretty flat but I was off a few inches to where it was noticeable.
Anthony C. Exactly. I did my best to level out the ground where the actual pool goes but didn’t worry about making it perfect. It was off by 2-3 inches in places. But the stones being level made it work fine.
Nice 👍
Paul, Great video! Where did you get the skimmer? Looking forward to get my pool up too. I purchased the Intex 22' x 52" as the 24 footer was no longer available. Thanks again for your great ideas and secret to leveling the pool.
Purchased the skimmer from Walmart.com. It's the Hayward large skimmer. Definitely need the big one for a pool this size! Easy to install as well. I will put up a video about it soon. Thanks for your kind words!
How much was the skimmer and pump upgrade. Where can I buy them and info on your ladder please. Thank you