Best way to level a large area?

[paulsharvey]

Compaction topic, it's not settling that is an issue, it's uneven settlement that is the issue. So, yeah, compact it, but once we are down to the last inch, or so, if we have 5% settlement, that's like 1/8th inch, ie insignificant. When we are talking about a 8" fill; that starts to matter.

Point being, if we get everything to +/- 3" with a machine, and even that +/- 3" to +/- 1" with clean sand; i wouldn't sweat the compaction of the sand too much.

Edit; i guess the part I'm assuming, but I should say, we aren't talking +3" along on entire side, and -3" on the entire side; then spreading sand...

 

[YoungMark]

Keep in mind that any fill, whatever you use, should be firmly compacted - each cubic yard of water (in other words that's a square yard at 36" depth) in the pool weights 3/4 of a ton...

 

[jim_wilson]

Yeah I do have a laser level. Maybe building up instead of cutting down is the better way. I am all ears for sure.

People aren't going to want to hear this on a tractor forum - but without having some serious $$ tools like one of those laser driven blade leveling devices you see on huge construction sites - you're going to have a really hard time getting the level within +/- 1" ..... with the tractor.

Being able to build up at least a few inches - is going to make the job easier - especially if it's using some material that's easily levelable - like sand or rock dust or something like that.

When I did my back yard over - I wanted to make it as level as I possibly could - I figured it would be a good place for kids to play , would make it easier to mow - etc. Well when I tried to get it really level like I wanted - using the tractor - it just wasnt' working. The problem is that without the tractor actually already being level - when I tried to use the bucket to level things out - it's just moving around with the tractor - if the tractor's going over uneven or non-level ground.

So here's the part nobody a tractor forum will like:

I just ended up getting an 8ft 2x4 - and a 6ft level - and getting down on my hands and knees and leveling it out that way - by building up a few inches (it was dry topsoil so it was relatively easy).

I just coudn't figure out any other way to get to where I wanted to go - that didn't involve just going back and forth over the area incessantly with the tractor.

 

[AndrewT]

once you have it to within a few inches of the desired grade, find a 10-14 foot chunk of I beam or C channel to do your final level with it. A chain on each end going to the tractor 3 point, drag it on it's side and it will grade and fill all the last lumps and bumps. One of our neighbours does his driveway every year with a 10' section of 8" x 8". It takes him 2 passes and he's done.

 

[neilpaku]

For within one inch, I've basically treated it like I'm screeding concrete. Set out forms to your desired elevation and then use a screed board to identify low and high spots and cut and fill as needed. A bit laborious but if you want it within an inch, you have to take those sorts of measures

 

[JeepHead]

People aren't going to want to hear this on a tractor forum - but without having some serious $$ tools like one of those laser driven blade leveling devices you see on huge construction sites - you're going to have a really hard time getting the level within +/- 1" ..... with the tractor.

Being able to build up at least a few inches - is going to make the job easier - especially if it's using some material that's easily levelable - like sand or rock dust or something like that.

When I did my back yard over - I wanted to make it as level as I possibly could - I figured it would be a good place for kids to play , would make it easier to mow - etc. Well when I tried to get it really level like I wanted - using the tractor - it just wasnt' working. The problem is that without the tractor actually already being level - when I tried to use the bucket to level things out - it's just moving around with the tractor - if the tractor's going over uneven or non-level ground.

So here's the part nobody a tractor forum will like:

I just ended up getting an 8ft 2x4 - and a 6ft level - and getting down on my hands and knees and leveling it out that way - by building up a few inches (it was dry topsoil so it was relatively easy).

I just coudn't figure out any other way to get to where I wanted to go - that didn't involve just going back and forth over the area incessantly with the tractor.

I have a $5,000 commercial grade laser transit for leveling. We got hooked up with a good contractor and they're coming next week to install the pool for a great cost of $2K. Said they will show up with 5 guys and be filling the pool when they leave. Very experienced outfit who told me things about the install that I didn't know.

 

[2manyrocks]

I have a $5,000 commercial grade laser transit for leveling. We got hooked up with a good contractor and they're coming next week to install the pool for a great cost of $2K. Said they will show up with 5 guys and be filling the pool when they leave. Very experienced outfit who told me things about the install that I didn't know.

Please give us a report of how your contractor levels the site so we can compare it to the suggestions offered in this thread.

 

[JeepHead]

Please give us a report of how your contractor levels the site so we can compare it to the suggestions offered in this thread.

What the contractor said they do is level each of the buttress, then they make the legs on the round ends to the same height, and then grade out the middle area by hand using a large rake. He said the inner doesn't need to be exact, just the perimeter obviously. He said they also use blocking under each buttress and not just the legs around the round ends. The pool instructions say to use blocking under the round end legs, but nothing about using them under the buttresses, where as the installer says he prefers to use them under everything.

 

[2manyrocks]

I can see why he'd hand rake, but what does he do about compaction and possible settling?

 

[LXT]

I just did my above ground pool last year - I did the grading (yes to 1 inch actually out 1/2 at the most), electrical, pool bonding, etc.. everything except build the pool.

The guys from pool city came to check my grading & were impressed to the point of recommending me for a few jobs. when they saw I did this with a Magnatrac they couldn't believe it, all I had was an old fashion bucket level rod with a homemade ground leveler - filled the bucket with dirt, placed it on the ground leveler, clamped it up, dropped the bucket so the leveling rod showed the same site line from start to finish & went about my business.

only thing that messes this system up is large rocks or buried bricks - which id jump out & remove them. I used the magnatrack bucket to get the over burden off & the grade roughed in before using the leveler. nice thing about a track machine is that you start in the middle & just spin the machine - the tracks will basically bore a round starting pad, I just put a level on my machine and would spin N to S & E to W until semi level, rough grade to that & then as stated above.

Hit multiple spots around the edge & the center with the laser level & I was spot on with very little hand work. what you mentioned is about the going rate where I live $850 to $1500 to level an above ground pool pad. Glad you're getting it done - the family will enjoy it, 2K compared to the maintenance & chemicals im told is cheap. LOL