I'm setting up a 10 foot diameter children's swimming pool. My land
slopes and I have to build up the soil by about 8 inches on one side
to make the area level.

What type of soil would you use to level the area? I've looked into
screened topsoil, but that seems to fine and might easily just wash
away when wet. All the companies I contacted so far just carry the
screen top soil. I don't want to use basic fill, but rather a
compromise between the two. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Instructions will tell you not to build up the low side. It will settle with
the wieght of the water. You are supposed to dig down on the high side. On
my 1st two pools (36" x 12' and then a 42" x 15') I dug down half way on the
high side while throwing the dirt onto the low side untill everything was
level. This worked out fine. I wouldnt use sand to level the ground. Mason
sand is best for a base under the liner and to form a cove around the edges.

Last fall I put in a 12' x 24' x 48" pool. I rented a bob cat for this one
as it should last longer than the previous pools. Oval pool with
buttressless suports is a major pain to put in. Looks great though, lots o
compliments.

On a 10' dia. I would go with the topsoil. wet it down and let id dry a
couple of time and it will compact down some.

also, get a good filter! The cheap paper filter one I got with the smaller
pools made for so much more work to maintain the pool.


Good luck

Steve

"Paul" wrote in message
om...
I'm setting up a 10 foot diameter children's swimming pool. My land
slopes and I have to build up the soil by about 8 inches on one side
to make the area level.

What type of soil would you use to level the area? I've looked into
screened topsoil, but that seems to fine and might easily just wash
away when wet. All the companies I contacted so far just carry the
screen top soil. I don't want to use basic fill, but rather a
compromise between the two. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Instructions will tell you not to build up the low side. It will settle with
the wieght of the water. You are supposed to dig down on the high side. On
my 1st two pools (36" x 12' and then a 42" x 15') I dug down half way on the
high side while throwing the dirt onto the low side untill everything was
level. This worked out fine. I wouldnt use sand to level the ground. Mason
sand is best for a base under the liner and to form a cove around the edges.

Last fall I put in a 12' x 24' x 48" pool. I rented a bob cat for this one
as it should last longer than the previous pools. Oval pool with
buttressless suports is a major pain to put in. Looks great though, lots o
compliments.

On a 10' dia. I would go with the topsoil. wet it down and let id dry a
couple of time and it will compact down some.

also, get a good filter! The cheap paper filter one I got with the smaller
pools made for so much more work to maintain the pool.


Good luck

Steve

"Paul" wrote in message
om...
I'm setting up a 10 foot diameter children's swimming pool. My land
slopes and I have to build up the soil by about 8 inches on one side
to make the area level.

What type of soil would you use to level the area? I've looked into
screened topsoil, but that seems to fine and might easily just wash
away when wet. All the companies I contacted so far just carry the
screen top soil. I don't want to use basic fill, but rather a
compromise between the two. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Thanks all for the great advice. I've decided not to try to add fill
to build up one side. Since this was only a temporary installation,
I'm not going to try to excavate and build up an area, although this
seems to be the right way of doing it. Someday if we get a larger pool
then that's the way to go. Since a larger pool will require us to
place it on area with an even greater slope, I pretty sure a retaining
wall will be necessary.

For this summer and next we decided to place this pool on a concrete
pad for our walkout basement. The pool will fit fine, and it's
reasonably level. I plan on using a children's play pad underneath the
pool to soften the floor.

Thanks again.

"MF" wrote in message ...
After living the above ground pool nightmare for three years, I can suggest
this. Give the kids a fancy sprinkler and don't deal with the pool!

Maury

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Instructions will tell you not to build up the low side. It will settle
with
the wieght of the water. You are supposed to dig down on the high side. On
my 1st two pools (36" x 12' and then a 42" x 15') I dug down half way on
the
high side while throwing the dirt onto the low side untill everything was
level. This worked out fine. I wouldnt use sand to level the ground.
Mason
sand is best for a base under the liner and to form a cove around the
edges.

Last fall I put in a 12' x 24' x 48" pool. I rented a bob cat for this one
as it should last longer than the previous pools. Oval pool with
buttressless suports is a major pain to put in. Looks great though, lots o
compliments.

On a 10' dia. I would go with the topsoil. wet it down and let id dry a
couple of time and it will compact down some.

also, get a good filter! The cheap paper filter one I got with the smaller
pools made for so much more work to maintain the pool.


Good luck

Steve

"Paul" wrote in message
om...
I'm setting up a 10 foot diameter children's swimming pool. My land
slopes and I have to build up the soil by about 8 inches on one side
to make the area level.

What type of soil would you use to level the area? I've looked into
screened topsoil, but that seems to fine and might easily just wash
away when wet. All the companies I contacted so far just carry the
screen top soil. I don't want to use basic fill, but rather a
compromise between the two. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

Thanks all for the great advice. I've decided not to try to add fill
to build up one side. Since this was only a temporary installation,
I'm not going to try to excavate and build up an area, although this
seems to be the right way of doing it. Someday if we get a larger pool
then that's the way to go. Since a larger pool will require us to
place it on area with an even greater slope, I pretty sure a retaining
wall will be necessary.

For this summer and next we decided to place this pool on a concrete
pad for our walkout basement. The pool will fit fine, and it's
reasonably level. I plan on using a children's play pad underneath the
pool to soften the floor.

Thanks again.

"MF" wrote in message ...
After living the above ground pool nightmare for three years, I can suggest
this. Give the kids a fancy sprinkler and don't deal with the pool!

Maury

"Steve" wrote in message
...
Instructions will tell you not to build up the low side. It will settle
with
the wieght of the water. You are supposed to dig down on the high side. On
my 1st two pools (36" x 12' and then a 42" x 15') I dug down half way on
the
high side while throwing the dirt onto the low side untill everything was
level. This worked out fine. I wouldnt use sand to level the ground.
Mason
sand is best for a base under the liner and to form a cove around the
edges.

Last fall I put in a 12' x 24' x 48" pool. I rented a bob cat for this one
as it should last longer than the previous pools. Oval pool with
buttressless suports is a major pain to put in. Looks great though, lots o
compliments.

On a 10' dia. I would go with the topsoil. wet it down and let id dry a
couple of time and it will compact down some.

also, get a good filter! The cheap paper filter one I got with the smaller
pools made for so much more work to maintain the pool.


Good luck

Steve

"Paul" wrote in message
om...
I'm setting up a 10 foot diameter children's swimming pool. My land
slopes and I have to build up the soil by about 8 inches on one side
to make the area level.

What type of soil would you use to level the area? I've looked into
screened topsoil, but that seems to fine and might easily just wash
away when wet. All the companies I contacted so far just carry the
screen top soil. I don't want to use basic fill, but rather a
compromise between the two. Any suggestions?

Thanks.

The pool will fit fine, and it's
reasonably level. I plan on using a children's play pad underneath the
pool to soften the floor.

I put up an 18x48 this summer. I used 1/2' foil backed Styrofoam. I cut
the pieces to fit and duct tapped together then installed the sand wedge.
So far it has given a nice bottom with some give but does not leave foot
prints.

Robert

The pool will fit fine, and it's
reasonably level. I plan on using a children's play pad underneath the
pool to soften the floor.

I put up an 18x48 this summer. I used 1/2' foil backed Styrofoam. I cut
the pieces to fit and duct tapped together then installed the sand wedge.
So far it has given a nice bottom with some give but does not leave foot
prints.

Robert