How do I level off a 20'X24' section of my yard?

Question

I need to level off a 20' X 24' section of my yard to put up my pool this summer. It's one of thoes metal frame ones. I was thinking about framing the space out with 2x4's and back filling with dirt, but not sure how much soil to get. Is this even the right way to go about it?

Answer 1

2x4's will not be sturdy enough to hold the soil and will rot in short order. You need to build a retaining wall. The hardware stores sell these in various colors and shapes. Make sure you extend it out past where the pool will set, plus the support braces for the pool, by about 3 feet. You can get a rough esitmate of the amount of soil needed by measuring the height of the retaining wall you need, the distance from level ground to the retaining wall, and then the length of the retaining wall. The math would be (height of wall x distance to level x 1/2) x length of wall. Use feet for all dimensions, then divide by 27 to convert to cubic yards.

When you build this, you will also want to spread the new soil in 6-8 inch deep layers and compact the ground with a plate compactor as you go. You can rent these at most rental outlets.

Answer 2

not knowing how much slop u have now in ur area to build the pool.......the simplist way is to install a stake about 3 inches off the ground in the center of where the pool will go....take a string that is 1/2 of the longest side of the pool....make a large circle, level out the ground and then back fill with builders sand....we dug ours out by hand and installed the same day.....remember to install builders sand under the vinyl liner of the pool and to band up the sides where the metal sides meet the earth on the inside before installing liner.....

Answer 3

If you are going to move a lot of material use sand.  If you just want to level a spot the size you say . then drive four stakes on the corners and stretch a tight line between,  Then get a line level and hook it on the string on all four sides.  Pull the string up or down the stake until the line is level.  Now use that as a guide and move dirt or sand accordingly.  Good luck