Levelling a piece of garden

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littlebasher

Original Poster:

3,767 posts

170 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
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Having experienced the joys of a smaller 10" pool thingy last year, the Mrs has decreed that this year well be needing a larger one

So, take this picture



I need to remove the turf and get that area as level as humanly possible. I had planned to use bury level lengths of wood into the ground around the perimeter and then level to those

Is there an easier way i wonder?

Thoughts?

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
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what sort of pool?

sfella

876 posts

107 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
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Hire a laser site level would be the best way

littlebasher

Original Poster:

3,767 posts

170 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
quotequote all
desolate said:
what sort of pool?
One of these


anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
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littlebasher said:
One of these
Shouldn't need to be dead level, should it?

providing it's "about right" I would think it would work. If it was really uneven, you could make it a feature with a shallow and and a deep end.

davgar

347 posts

96 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
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hope you are not on metered water

littlebasher

Original Poster:

3,767 posts

170 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
quotequote all
davgar said:
hope you are not on metered water
Alas i am, however.

Next door isn't, and he's out all day................and i have a really long hose

littlebasher

Original Poster:

3,767 posts

170 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
quotequote all
desolate said:
Shouldn't need to be dead level, should it?

providing it's "about right" I would think it would work. If it was really uneven, you could make it a feature with a shallow and and a deep end.
The instructions claim that there can be no more than 2cm height difference between either end. It goes on to warn of the consequences if you get it wrong - which may or may not involve the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse.

I can't dig it out either, as the ground has to be undisturbed. Which means lots of horizontal cutting with a sharp spade

anonymous-user

53 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
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littlebasher said:
The instructions claim that there can be no more than 2cm height difference between either end. It goes on to warn of the consequences if you get it wrong - which may or may not involve the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse.

I can't dig it out either, as the ground has to be undisturbed. Which means lots of horizontal cutting with a sharp spade
I'd risk it.

In fact I wouldn't even read the instructions.

battered

4,088 posts

146 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
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Looks level to me now. It's a pool not a space probe. If you measure the levels at opposite ends how far off level is it? If only a few inches, I'd just go for it.

littlebasher

Original Poster:

3,767 posts

170 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
quotequote all
battered said:
Looks level to me now. It's a pool not a space probe. If you measure the levels at opposite ends how far off level is it? If only a few inches, I'd just go for it.
Hard to visualise in the pics, but the ground does slope there. The piece of carpet is where last years pool lived, despite my best efforts at leveling the ground, the water was 6 inches deeper at one end compared to the other. Plus i made the mistake of leveling with sand under the carpet, which washed away as soon as the kids started using it.

battered

4,088 posts

146 months

Thursday 25th May 2017
quotequote all
Hmm, OK. 6" is a fair weight of water. It will try to push the thing over if the walls aren't vertical. I think that you are looking at slicing soil off the high end. 2cm is bks though, footings on houses are no better than that.

TA14

12,722 posts

257 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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Wow! I hope your fence doesn't count as a wooden structure and that you have the right type of grass:

"Sloping, uneven ground
Sandy, rocky or soggy ground
Close to wooden construction (e.g. pergolas and decking)
Next to trees
Overhead wires and clotheslines
Drains, electric wires or gas pipelines underneath the site
Poor or little drainage
High flood risk locations
High wind conditions"

"Almost any completely flat, solid and levelled surface can be used. Do not use sand as leveling material as it is prone to shift under the pool. The ground should be dug out until it is perfectly levelled. Do not set up on driveways, decks, platforms, gravel or asphalt. The ground should be stable enough to withstand the weight and pressure of the water: mud, sand, soft / loose solid or tar are not suitable. To avoid abrasions and tears in the liner it’s recommended not to drag the pool across the surface. If the pool has to be set up on a lawn, it is recommended that the grass is removed from under and around. The grass will die and may cause odors / slime. Certain types of hard grass can grow through the liner as can do aggressive bushes / plants by the sides of the pool. Ensure nearby vegetation is cut back where necessary. Use of a ground cloth helps in protecting the base of the pool. In case of damage caused by improper set up of the pool, you will lose the right to claim the warranty replacement."

https://www.bestwaycorp.com/Product/Detail/25

hornetrider

63,161 posts

204 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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littlebasher said:
One of these

Council thread >>>>>

hehe

S6PNJ

5,157 posts

280 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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sfella said:
Hire a laser site level would be the best way
Why hire when you can buy? Lidl have one that might work, on sale this Sunday. https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/Non-Food-Offers.htm?arti... but it does have a short range and you might need to use it when the sun has gone down. Look at YouTube clips of using it with a staff to transfer levels.

littlebasher

Original Poster:

3,767 posts

170 months

Friday 26th May 2017
quotequote all
hornetrider said:
Council thread >>>>>

hehe
I thought the round ones were council....this is Oval, it's the subtle differences that count!

sfella

876 posts

107 months

Friday 26th May 2017
quotequote all
S6PNJ said:
Why hire when you can buy? Lidl have one that might work, on sale this Sunday. https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/Non-Food-Offers.htm?arti... but it does have a short range and you might need to use it when the sun has gone down. Look at YouTube clips of using it with a staff to transfer levels.
Suggested Hire as i meant one of these

http://www.laserlevelshop.co.uk/spot-on-rotary-las...

The tripod has a rotating top and one guy can use it by holding the staff upright and it gives you a reading. Prety idiot proof and doesn't require two people smile


C0ffin D0dger

3,440 posts

144 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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About to embark on a similar project for a 10ft frame pool (yeah I live in a council house). Our garden has a slight slope which in itself might not present an issue but the ground is also so lumpy that it needs something doing.

My plan is to build a square timber frame slightly larger than the pool, sit that on the grass wherever we decide it's going to go and cut out the turf. Once the turf is out I'll drop the frame in getting that level but not worrying too much about the middle at this stage. I'll wack in some timber pegs and secure the frame to that and then level out the whole area using a bit of timber slightly bigger than the frame a notched at either end to give me the level I want. May need to shovel a bit around at this stage. Hopefully get it completely level with just the soil but might need a bag or two of sharp sand to fill odd bits. Weed membrane over the top, construct pool, fill pool, and then fill in round the edges of the frame with some pea shingle I've got over from a deck project.

Steve Campbell

2,110 posts

167 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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Don't forget to compact whatever you put in the middle to level or you might get some settling with unintended consequences afterwards :-) 1m3 of water weighs a ton, so these simple pools get heavy when filled !!

S6PNJ

5,157 posts

280 months

Friday 26th May 2017
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sfella said:
Suggested Hire as (it) doesn't require two people smile
The Lidl one doesn't require 2 people either. Set it on its tripod to one side and it will cover the area. Simples, ack! ( as the meerkats might say).