Foolproof Method for Intex Pool Ground Leveling
Installing an above-ground Intex pool is an exciting backyard upgrade that can provide hours of summertime fun. However, improper ground preparation is a common downfall that can lead to pooled water, collapsed walls, and liner punctures once filled. By carefully grading and leveling the ground first, you'll prevent frustration and enjoy backyard swimming with peace of mind knowing your Intex pool is structurally sound.
Our guide details a foolproof process DIYers can follow to accurately measure their yard's terrain, quantify slopes and uneven areas, and properly prepare the ground before erecting Intex pool components. With a few simple yet strategic tools, tackling this crucial site prep step is easier than you may expect.
Choose the Right Location
When deciding where to eventually situate your Intex pool, be sure to:

- Allow for 1 foot of clear space on all sides of the planned pool perimeter to accommodate the structure and provide room to walk around it.
- Select a spot that receives full sun for 6 to 8 hours daily. Excessive shade leads to algae growth.
- Avoid positioning it near or under trees as falling leaves or roots shifting underground can damage the pool over time.
Measure and Mark the Pool Area
After choosing an optimal level location:
- Use stakes and mason's string to map out the exact size, shape and placement of your Intex pool. Form the string to match if oval or rectangular.
- Ensure you have allocated at least 1 foot of space around the entire planned pool perimeter before marking.
- Take colorized spray paint to mark the four corners and trace along the string outline. This produces exact visual boundaries.
Double Check Circumference Calculations
For non-standard Intex pool shapes and sizes, revisit circumference geometry rules to guarantee you have allowed adequate surrounding space for access. This prevents issues filling and installing your pool components.
Check and Measure Ground Level
With your Intex pool area visually defined, test the current ground's levelness with basic tools:
- Use both a 2-foot and 4-foot level on their backs to scan for any slight slopes or depressions.
- Place grade stakes or lines around the perimeter and note relative high points and lower spots compared to the string level.
- Use a line level's depth rod to quantify the severity of any slopes, peaks or valleys across the surface in inches.
Avoid Eyeballing Levelness
While visually scanning for flatness can identify major lawn slopes, subtle unevenness often goes unseen. Precisely measuring ground levelness regularly as you work ensures ideal pool stability.
Eliminate Slopes and High Spots
Here's how to methodically prepare uneven ground for Intex pool installation:
- Use an ordinary shovel to dig out soil from relative high points and fill in associated lower areas until grading improvements occur.
- For small depressions, gently tamp down any imported fill soil to stabilize and even areas.
- Frequently reassess the overall space with your leveling tools to methodically improve flatness.
Be Strategic About Soil Movement
Carefully plan soil removal and placement to balance earthworks onsite for efficiency. Create a dirt movement diagram tracking areas of cuts and fills to estimate volumes.
Tips for Tough Terrain and Soil Types
Some properties pose greater ground prep challenges:
- Use a rental skid-steer loader for large-scale leveling jobs moving significant soil volumes. Their mechanical advantage makes grading fast.
- For unstable, sandy or gravelly sites, import cohesive filling dirt and compact with equipment to solidify the subsurface before installing the Intex pool.
- Properties with extensive bedrock or stands of trees may require hiring an excavator to conduct targeted demolition activity to create a pool-ready area.
Assess Needs and Budget for Assistance
Be realistic about site conditions impeding DIY pool installation. Unique tools and machines offer ground prep solutions when landscapes won't yield to manual labor alone.
Final Ground Inspection Before Adding Pool
Conduct one final check that the Intex pool area is truly flat and ready for setup:
- Place a heavy object like a pallet or sheet of plywood in the center and check for any settling, rolling or movement.
- Walk the entire perimeter with a metal rake to feel for any residual high spots or loosened bits of dirt and stone.
- Do a final pass with a leaf blower, shop vac or broom to remove all sticks, roots, rocks and debris.
Avoid Surface Imperfections
Any foreign objects still present or subtle dips remaining can puncture the Intex pool liner or cause water to pool. So thoroughly inspect and tidy the area.
Shop Vacuum Away Debris
For ensured subsurface cleanliness and smoothness:
- Go over every square inch of the leveled space with a powerful shop vacuum cleaner.
- Pick up all loose sediment, small to medium sized gravel chips, pebbles and organic material like grass clippings.
- Double check no potentially sharp sticks, roots or rocks lurk that could damage the pool liner.
A Pristine Foundation
Carefully vacuuming away all loose particulate generates an ideal subsurface for installing your Intex pool components safely.
Set Up Pool Components on Flat Surface
With a perfectly prepped foundation achieved beneath, carefully:
- Unroll and smooth out the Intex pool liner, keeping it centered in the cleared space.
- Assemble the side walls and top rings according to the manufacturer's instructions, stabilizing connections with included hardware.
- Attach and prepare pool accessories like your filter pump. Begin slowly filling the pool, checking for leaks.
By using a systematic approach of preliminary yard assessment, thorough ground measurement and modest earthmoving, an Intex pool ready surface is attainable for most properties with some perseverant DIY effort. Just remember to keep rechecking levelness and removing all debris. Soon you'll be enjoying your own backyard pool oasis realized through diligent ground prep work.