I have an 18' above ground pool. The type with the single blow up circle on top. I'm having trouble getting it level. These pools can be somewhat dangerous if they collapse. Can you please help? I'm getting so much advice from neighbors and all that I don't know what to do.

Thank you

I'm sure you know this but I'll say it anyway. You don't level the pool you level the ground under the pool. If you don't have a 18 ' level circle in your yard you'll need to make one by spreading coarse sand. Buy a 10' or an 18' 2x4 and usi it to spread the sand flat and level. 10' if you stand itn the center and swing it in an arc, 18' if you and a friend work it from the side. When you fill the pool it will self level.

Don't use sand. Sand can cause these type of pools to shift - and do so very suddenly! My yard slopes downward and after several attempts to level an area by building up the ground what ended up working was actually digging in and forming a sort of tiered platform. Does that make sense?

Anyway, what I did first was measure out a circle a foot larger than the pool and marked it with spray paint. Then dug into my yard around the inside upper half of the circle until the upper half was level with the bottom half.

For the bottom half of the area, I also had to dig in but it was on the outside of the marked circle. Thus forming a tiered platform for the pool.

To ensure the bottom half wouldn't erode I built a tapered mini retaining wall out of bricks. I start at the point where a single brick was level with the pool area and progressed around the bottom half to a 4 brick height then tapered back down to a single brick.

To make sure it was level (because eye-balling it just isn't accurate enough) I secured two 2x8's with metal brackets and laid it across the circle with a 12' level on top. Then turned it about 3 feet at a time making the correct adjustments.

Here's a very important thing - make sure all foliage is dead and that there is no chance anything will grow under the pool. I thought I had done that and figured the ground cover would be enough to deter any stray grasses or weeds. I was wrong. And ended up with 2wild onions (I think) shooting up through the ground cover and my pool!

This year I triple treated the area with 6 month vegetation killer, then laid down the thickest rated black weed barrier fabric I could find (at Lowe's). On top of that I staked down heavy thick black construction rated garbage bags. And on top of that I laid a floor of carpet - which I got for free! I just asked a local carpet place to save me any remnants that they might have left over from installations for the next few days and explained my intentions and the overall area I wanted to cover. They were quick to oblige me and I was actually able to cover the area with only 2 pieces. And Ooohh it feels so nice underfoot! Plus - no weed holes this year! This also helps if you happen to miss any tiny pebbles or whatever that may be just beneath dirt. Trust me - when you start filling that baby up the ground starts sinking and settling and all kinds of stuff begans to surface and you'll feel every one of them underfoot!

Hope this helps!
Michelle

Frank, you have two slightly different opinions here. Unless you are on a significant hillside and there is sand erosion you should be fine with coarse sand. A pool with 4 tons of water in it will not slide or shift on sand. I have done many installations and never had an issue yet. Whatever you do I would not put carpet under a pool. You are virtually guaranteed to get some mold and mildew with carpet used as a pool pad.