debating on how to level ground

[matt4x4]

Bobcat is the only non labor intensive way, even then, the final inch or so will have to be done by hand.
And yes, as Shellyann stated above, you CAN fill holes back in or move dirt from high to low and compact so it's hard.

[robot9000]

Well, I guess the good news is I am doing it right. The bad news, of course, is that this is hard work !!

I broke down and rented a Transit yesterday. Man, can the eye decieve you. I could have sworn on a stack of bibles where the low spot was. And I would have been wrong. The good news is that I'm getting it w/in an inch all around. Just sweaty back breaking work.

Luckly my neighbor is putting in a paver patio and will have a compactor on friday. I am going to borrow that and give the whole are a once over. That will also help if I have to fill in a few divots.

Thanks everyone for the info !

[jimmyzshack]

still don't know what i'm going to do yet. An excavator rental is 185 a day. I'm going to put the side up and see just how far they are off this afternoon.

[sevver]

An excavator is not the way to dig a pool, a bobcat it the only way, the excavator has a smaller bucket and is made to dig holes and trenches. I use a bobcat, a rotating laser, and a shovel. I see no reason to get the pad within an inch, just get it close, the perimeter should be right on where the pavers go, the purpose of the sand is to fill in any inconsitencies and provide a "cushy" bottom for the liner. For my pool, I used the pad that goes under the liner, and I really like it. My first pool did not have one and there were footprints under it.

[hrsdennis]

I do all of my grass removal and leveling with a sod cutter. I use dirt on a regular basis to fill in low areas. I then drive the sod cutter over the fill several times. I use the cutter with the blade up and blade gear disengaged. It makes a great packer.

Perfectly level and very smooth is a good way to start. The sand should be a very even cushion for the liner. The dirt needs to be flat, level and smooth. It is well worth the extra time.

Best of luck, Dennis

[bparks]

I had decent luck using our little roto-tiller to loosen the top clay (no soil, lol). it made for much easier removal of large amounts of soil, still hand to do a ton of hand work. Many bags of sand and the 2x4 pivoting from the center helped het a smooth bottom. This was for our old sofpool, so traditional AG's may need something different.

[jimmyzshack]

ok i bit the bullet and rented one of the small bobcats for sat. also found out that the pools here have to be 10ft from the back property line and 5ft from the side.