Leveling and Tamping

by Don
(IL)

I'm going to attempt to install another above ground pool this summer. (18x33 Tahaitian buttress free). I had one at the other house and have moved (Cantar, buttress free, 15x30). Seeing how this isn't "my first rodeo", it should go smoother than the 2 months it took to set up the previous one. But that baby was nuts on level!

My question:

After the guy with the skid-steer leaves, should I rent a plate compactor to tamp the dirt down?

The soil here is sandy, and this will be three years after the house was built.

I rented one last time and it was kind of a mistake trying to level after the tamping. But the ground was so ripped up I thought that it needed to be done. After the tamping it was like concrete, extremely hard to set the side uprights with plates.

Thanks for your time. I enjoy your site and the posts from the pool forum. It's very generous of you to donate your time to people like myself and others who need a little help.

Thanks, Don

Hi Don, I would level the ground with shovels and then rake out smooth. Using a transit or laser level you should be able to get the entire pool area well within an inch of level. Next I would set all of the side braces. This will be much easier before tamping. When a trench is dug and leveled you should tamp it good before setting the brace. Do this on every one.

With the braces set and the entire pool area level and smooth if you see a need for tamping now would be the time. Do it just before laying out your end rails.