Hello , I’ve put up these pools for 17 years , I currently own the same pool , the Intex XTR 20x48 with the sand filter , I would highly recommend that you do not use the pavers under the legs , it puts pressure on the side walls and could rip a hole in it . These pools we never designed to have blocks or pavers under the legs. I used 5 yards of Stone Dust under my pool and it’s only 1.5 inches off on one side ,Stone Dust packs very tight unlike sand . these pools cannot be perfectly leveled unless it’s on a concrete pad like you mentioned, the pad would have to be thick , to support the weight . your pool weighs over 30 Tons . Also you should use the second intake strainer , you can purchase an intex over the wall skimmer to pull in leaves , bugs etc . The skimmer connects to the second intake . My pool came with a ground tarp , not sure why yours did not . These tips and recommendations work for me . Good luck and have fun !
Hi thanks! Yeah, should have dug the pavers to the ground level. We need pavers because our ground is soft and we get a lot of rain. Thanks for all the tips I am sure it will help others. I have an over the wall skimmer, I need to set it up, it was such a challenge to get it to stay in place. Thanks again.
Your videos were instrumental for installing my above ground pool 12' x 34". I did the pavers like you said and put them in the ground. Yes the pools edges were over the pavers. With the pavers I hammered the ground flat and then hammered the pavers down (rubber mallet). I leveled the ground methodically and slow. Then put two bags of play sand and used a broom to spread them out. Because of these videos I was able to fully erect the pool without any difficulty or mismanagement . On that very day the cousins came over and played and it was HUGE for them as the parents needed a break. The kids got to be cool and all the excitement leading up paid off in the end. The family was impressed that I was able to level and support it so well.
Recently started watching, had to watch this I used to many years ago help install these, always got a bobcat in to level and spread sand with levelling bar on the ground. I knew the fun that can be had 🤣I would rather dig and in-ground pool by hand 🤚🤩🤩 than do an above ground pool again😂😂thanks for sharing stay safe cheers from Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
You want to use the 12x12 pavers. After leveling the ground, you want to actually put your pavers partially in the ground. For maximum leveling, take a straight 2x4 with a level on top and go from paver to paver, if it’s level from paver to paver, the pool will be level. After putting up the pool put sand on each paver essentially burying it. The pool will be level and the liner will be protected from the pavers by the sand.
The ground prep is definitely the hardest part. Second is keeping the liner from getting wrinkles, but that also has mostly to do with the ground prep. If you have to do any leveling, make sure the dirt gets compacted enough. I would suggest ripping up the top inch or so, get it loose, mix in a little sand, then use a straight 10 foot (or so) 2x4 and pass it along in circles all over. It will flatten high spots, fill low spots. Anything that doesn't flatten or fill can be looked at more closely. Use a rake with a soft touch, go over everything. Water it down evenly, and do all those steps again several times. You can use a broom at the end to sweep off larger stuff, lightly rake again to find hard stones, etc. Use the same 2x4, lay it across all over, with a level in top. Find obvious slope and address if needed. For the posts, instead of bricks, go with something like 1/4" sign plastic (non-corrugated - may be called HDPE?) and round the corners and soften the edges. Ground prep again is key, because soft ground will allow sinking every time, especially since water is likely to find its way down there. Remember the pool liner stretches, so any testing before there is water isn't gonna tell you the story. If you have a low spot, it will go that direction.
Thank YOU for watching and commenting ! It's tough, especially together! This year my pump motor is dead, so I will need a new one before i can clean and fill my FINALLY level pool. Be careful in set up, when filling you can tell if its going to be way off level. + I have more videos if you need pump set up etc! Happy swimming, let me know how it goes!
Aww is that like "bless your heart" hahah cause I always mess this up somehow thank you! We just drained it for the winter and I brought the motor part of the pump inside. I will share that video soon. Thanks again for the sweet comment.
They did everything wrong in this video. She pulled the pavers out and now the legs are off plumb and the damned thing is going to collapse. The pavers are supposed to be IN THE GROUND and COVERED. Ugh. Facepalm..
Should have watched your video first. 4 hours trying to get last topper to connect. Never thought of putting upper rail all together first. Wow it worked. Now to put the legs in 👏👏👏👏👏
You are not alone, we did that the first try too! Good luck and remember to make sure it is all good as you fill, support your legs with pavers or bricks dug into the ground so they don't sink if your ground is soft. and make sure they are dug in so they don't poke into your pool liner, watch my other video of mistakes to avoid here : ruclips.net/video/KuHuOTwVveY/видео.htmlsi=m6wDJPq2tJ43BZW0
In regards to your ladder and rusting. They do rust especially in a saltwater pool, which will in turn leave rust stains at the pool bottom where the ladder feet rest. It happened to us with our last pool, not to mention the fear of those ladders being unsafe and inadequate in every way. We ditched ours and put up a small decking at the entry point then attached to that a marine boat ladder that is resistant to rust and saltwater corrosion. It was $40 at Academy, and attaches onto your wood decking, folds down when you want to enter the pool, and folds up and over the deck when not in use, and you can lock it down for safety. One of the Best little upgrades we did for that pool!
@@Bellavanacoffee It was amazing. We sold the house, left the pool 😭 about 5 1/2 years ago. Now finally got another pool but much smaller. It’s just me and my hubby so basically got a lounging pool, Intex Prism frame 10x30. But we have a much smaller yard now that we are in a subdivision instead of the farm. Anyway, here in Central Texas we have had a super rainy June and into July. Not normal! We out the pool up last weekend, thought we had the spot mostly level. Nope. 🥵😡 Then this morning torrential rains. I have a lake around my pool now. When it dries out, we are moving it. Oh joy, going to kill more zoysia grass. 😭 Im about ready to give up my pager patio and put it there! Lol next season we will upgrade to a sand filter pump and salt chlorinator like we had on our big pool. Only way to go!
@happyfarms wow y’all n north la? I’m n bossier city la! I have an extra intex zx300 automatic pool vac if you need one? And intex over side skimmer cause I have bestway steel pro max pool and the top rail is oval shape so the intex skimmer piece attaches to top rail doesn’t stay correctly. You can have that if you want since I finally got the bestway model recently. And academy n bossier I just saw intex salt water system had 2 for 42.99 each but gone now. I find all the deals tho if you want cup holders Walmart has set of 4 by summer waves for less than 5.00 you can contact me if you want to 318-489-1477 I do this by myself and have never had green pool or even cloudy water and I’m disabled and single mom my son has autism he’s turning 16 next week! I saw all ur videos long time ago had no idea you may b close to me! Wouldn’t that be amazing? Also just found big winter cover for friend with large pool like you have on eBay for great price with 8yr warranty I can share the info with you as well!!
Just want to THANK YOU so much for your pool tutorials! We just put up this pool, basically me and my mom. And your videos have been soooo helpful! And I’m pretty level, lotta work to get it right but glad I took the time.
YOU followed ME and got it RIGHT! wow! hahah I am jealous. lol. My pavers are still poking into my pool in 3 places, we arent fixing it till the end of the season though, my kids are swimming and its HOT. Thank YOU for your comment and happy swimming!
@@Bellavanacoffee I think you have done a great job showing others what to do and what not to do lol.. or try not to do.. I know it bothers you really bad about the pavers touching n I know you are aware about jacking the pool up however you stated you didn’t want to jack it up but honestly if you ever want to get the pool level this is what you should do. I’m not sure if you have done it before or not. I just wanted to let you know it is very easy to do, with y’all setting up one every year you may know or not know but you can build this extension out of wood to place right on the floor jack and right under the edge of the top railing. If you took the time and a few extra bucks on wood building it you would have it to use every single year therefore getting it totally level is not a problem. Lift the leg and keep placing spacers shims on your brick right when the leg sets back down. It works perfectly n very easy, it will stay level all season ..
Awwwww hah! You are so kind. Have to fail a few times to get it right...THIS season I finally got it right...only 1.5 inches off level! ha! Thanks again.
Hey girl thank you so much I just came in from sliding some padding in between there’s not enough space for a pool noodle LOL but I found some padding that I had that’s kind of slick and waterproof but also padding it actually supposed to go under a floor before you lay the flooring. Thanks again!!!
@happy farms I didn’t have enough room for noodles with my current pool so I got 5” tall roll of terrace board well 2 rolls it’s super thin and can slide right behind those legs a lot of people use it and zip tie it to each leg to keep it n place. I’m sure you could easily make holes to run zip tie Thru using aviation snips or just measure and use a drill bit. I didn’t use anything on mine tho I just slid it between leg and liner so landscape rocks didn’t slide under pool or poke from the side and it’s stayed in place no prob at all since I put it in which was May 2021 and it’s Aug 2022. It’s not expensive either I got mine from target app but Home Depot has it on their app now comes in brown or black.
this was my first mistake last year. the pavers must be in the ground level. this year i dig deeper to put each paver to the same level as the ground is.
I also did not bury my pavers. I like to be able to keep track of everything. My pavers are close to ground level because they are not thick but I put in extra sand to keep the liner supported. It's really tough to get everything perfectly level.
@@ericmuller3339 I just have sand underneath the edges of my liner not underneath. I keep a close eye but you need support around the edges to avoid pinhole leaks.
@Happy Farms today we just finished installing the pool, which was the reason why I came across your video, and I definitely appreciate it because of your instructions. The process was very easy. Also, can you please link the video you mentioned where you show the setup of the filter/pump. I clicked the link, and the video shows as not available. Thanks again, you've earned a new sub!
@@lovethecomments9802 because her ground is extremely soft they get a lot of rain so the legs start to sink in more n more over time, hence making the pool very unleveled. This is their 5 th pool they have set up so she pretty much has it down as to what works best for them..
Thanks for the video. We got the ultra yhis year & your tips were great. I know what you mean about not having it level. We luckily poured a concrete pad 2 yrs ago for the old one, but we did have the hot & grumpy thing going on. 🤣🤣
Don’t go by the water line to base your idea on if it’s level go across the top frame first cause it’s possible you may have pulled the liner in a spot too far when removing wrinkles and pool may be level or close but water line makes it appear like it isn’t if the bottom of liner is given too much in one area which happened to me but my pool is still level within an inch even after a winter season.
Thank you, I need to fill it still...hope I can do it without messing up. I will dig the pavers in this year so they are level with the ground. I will still be 2" off level because I have a metal pipe below my high side so I cant dig deeper and I am not willing to move it and add sand / dirt to the low side.
We have a 20x52 intex pool and we used 1.5" insulation foam taped together, cut in a circle and then cut holes for the pavers to be flush with the foam, on a mostly level ground of course. Gives a soft cushion, plants cant grow through it and the pavers are level with the foam.
@nastynat0513 we just did this on our very first pool. We are also going to add a piece of thin pond liner over top of the pavers just in case so the vinyl doesn’t get scratched. How is yours holding up?
I used 12x12 pavers, small brick pavers will settle over time and become uneven. This is my second pool 18x52” about 8200 gallons is what we calculated. My lowest to my highest point is a half inch off which tbh iam happy with especially for a screed board a level and a laser level. The liners with squares makes your in balance a bit more noticeable, but hey trial and error. Where ours meets our deck I did add some pool noodles in between the paver and the liner just as a precaution because it was closer to contact for some reason. I use the 14” intex sand pump aswell and it’s been pretty easy to maintain.
Awesome info thank you for sharing and watching my video! This year we are 2” off level and I’m okay with it :) so far my pavers are good but I see your point about the size! I wish I had a deck.
The best tip in leveling an above ground pool is ...”Take a level and level each post support/slab to the one next to it and do this all around the pool. This way the bottom may not be perfectly level but the filled water level will be”
@@denisedenise8535 tape it to a 2x4 with duck tape and pound a stake in the center of the pool , pound a nail in the top of the stake , now drill a hole in the 2x4 with the level taped to it . now you have a rotating device to make a perfectly round , level circle, level and grade pavers and dig out the pool to match the level pavers. bam you got a perfect circle level enough for a pool
I read on AGP forums online that you should curl the tarp back up, whatever hangs over the edge so that you have a little vinyl buffer against the pavers because they almost always move against the liner.
thank you for waiting! It took some time to get it put together and edited down so it was not 40 minutes long. :) I hope it helps you and good luck with your pool.
I think you did a great job!!!! I hope you are loving it 💗 If you're really concerned about those few places .... I saw a video of a guy that used a regular car jack to lift the section of his pool he needed to fix and did that is 3 places and that did it. 😳 idk... if it's still bothering ya I guess
I really should jack it up and fix it. sigh. Its hot and I dont really care anymore. ha. we will fix it at the end of the season, or start of next I guess...what a failure lol! at least the kids are swimming! I am afraid of the jack putting pressure on my metal and damaging it. but the pavers are poking still in a few places not good but I try not to think about it and just swim lol!
This video was extremely helpful!! I’m setting up a 12x30 with the same design just smaller we are on a hill and are almost done digging it out/leveling we have so many rocks and tree roots it’s been so hard. This video has been a big help.
@@hbic3 This is their 5th pool they’ve set up not one had came down. Each yr the pool setup has gotten much better, I think for their ground n weather conditions it’s the best they can get it which is not totally wrong..
I can only 2nd what has been already written. Those pavers must be level with the ground the pool sits on. The pool liner is now hanging from the frame instead of sitting on the ground and it's a disaster waiting to happen and will happen sooner than later. At the 15 min mark you can see the legs are bending outward already. You have to empty the pool and correct that before use! Instead of getting a tarp search for some pond fleece. It's a non rotting material that is normally used between the earth and pond liner. You can get it up to 1.000g / m². It provides protection to the pool liner and also gives a bit of cushion under foot when standing in the pool.
That is exactly where I am at this season (but will make sure the pavers are not touching the liner and dig them into the ground a bit) but 2" off is not bad and I do not feel like messing with it again. :) thanks for watching and your positivity.
I hope it's worked out for you. ....We had to bite the bullet and hired a landscaping team to come in and level the area,. Way outside of our wheelhouse. They used stone dust and reenforced the sides with landscaping timber. Stone dust made the ground almost like concrete, you could play basketball on it. It was an unexpected expense but so glad we did it, our pool is l level and we no longer fear it will collapse.
That was a good move my friend! This year we are all good! well an inch and a half off level but I am stoked my pool is solid and I am not worried like I was every other season. Thank you for watching and commenting. Happy swimming!
@@ch33kz and what's great about it... After we take the pool down for the season... We put our solo stove fire pit and the grill in that space so it doubles as a patio.
Is this what you recommended in your other video for everyone to use ? TongGass Zinc Anode Weight ? If not please post what your talking about . . . Thank you !
yes they do not recommend using sand because of that, but you can use SOME sand, just not inches and inches to build up a low spot because it can errode yes. Some say to build a frame AROUND the sand so it will stay in...but I don't have time for that either. Just try to get your ground level...
Well thank you kindly! I hope you found it helpful. I appreciate your positive comment! I am just doing what we are all doing..trying to get something right. :)
Well I was going to recommend digging the pavers onto the ground but I see you already had a d-bag mention that. I set mine up like yours last year and plan to dig them into ground this year and leave them. My pool was also a little off level even tho I checked it numerous times lol.oh well. Gonna start on setup tomorrow and try to do a little better
wohooo yes you saw that comment haha. well I wish I would have done that, but things are going well so far! I wish you a perfect level pool this season! Thank you for watching!
@@Bellavanacoffee yes i saw. I smh the whole time reading it. One other thing I would recommend that I done was upgrading the intake strainers to 1.5" to get a better flow rate. Just have to wait for parts to come back available from the covid pool buying surge 🤦♂️
@@Bellavanacoffee do you have an Instagram account? Im currently setting my pool up and I can send you a few pictures of my pool and everything im going thru right now.
8 hours minimum per day. I run it more in the summer, 8 and 8 but I give it a break so it can cool down also. I run it at night always and then during the day in the summer as well. Happy swimming and thank you for watching !
so graceful jumping into pool. just one thing I do not understand why you are not putting the pavers at ground level. take the time and get the base at the pool legs level. Use some paver base and set the pavers at ground level. Please do not use salt it will shorten the live of the pool poles, then you must buy a replacement. Clorine tip i use is chlorine is affected big time by the sun. Use when sun is set vs first thing in the morning. Also, for me on a well I replace pool water when needed vs pool shock the water. thanks for the video, i am a fan now.
I agree, i did dig the pavers in to ground level this season and it was very close to perfect, but still not level. (1.5-2" off level) Thanks for watching and the suggestions.
Oh My LORD!! Just finished putting up this pool!! Son started two weeks ago with leveling, daughter and I finished that Friday around noon. We then began assembling pool. Finished around 5..Started on pavers Saturday morning around 9 Finished around 2 (mind u, both days its been completely sunny and 90 degrees, so lots of breaks in between) Started filling process, then ran into issue with water spicket losing more water on ground than in pool! So was able to get about myb 3 inches in. Been babysitting pavers spent a lot of time today digging around them n watching and stressing! Now in limbo waiting for plumber to replace spicket! In the meantime, my question is -My legs seem to keep wanting to slide inward towards the liner direction,it has gotten a little better with any added water i can put in,but still some of them keep sliding. will this get better as the water begins to fill and push on the walls or did I do something wrong(I dug them down level with ground and have noodles in front of them) Sorry so long Thank You So Much For All Youre Help
Hi! to answer about the legs,, they should be straight up and down, but mine are never perfect. Its hard to say without seeing but it sounds like you have done a lot right...pool noodles, digging pavers in...they should not be "sliding" but yes as they get weight on them they should be firmly in place not able to "slide". I wish you good luck! and maybe someone else will comment to help you better. ~Dani
Does this pool have a heater or can you get a heater for it, if so how does that work?! I’ve never owned a pool and am thinking about getting one! Thanks!
HA that makes me giggle because my pool is SO HOT we put ice jugs in it to cool it off. I am sure they have heaters, some people use the cover to heat it with the sun. I am sorry I am not an expert on the heaters. Thanks for watching and good luck with your pool! ~Dani
Hi thanks, so if I "jack up" my legs on the low side, it causes more pressure on the liner, because the water is still pushing to reach the lower ground...this year I will dig the pavers into the ground and keep them from pushing into the liner..I want to level it..may add some dirt on the low side, but I don't want to move it again and risk tearing the liner and honestly I am just tired of messing with it after 3 seasons! it's only about 2" off, so it is not terrible. (factory is ok with 1-2" off) I need to get going this season though. Thanks for watching.
This is my biggest fear... I myself am on the 3rd intex pool. This year I have a 24X24X52 Ultra frame.... I just paid to get the yard leveled, putting the pool up on the next nice day.... Also I ordered a Hayward 1.5 matrix sand pump filter combo for the filter upgrade...Love your videos
@@sitcheyr9352 We have a 12'x30" deep pool, on it's 4th season, it's not the nicer one, just the base model, it would likely last one more year. The larger ones are a little thicker, and the xtr's have a much better railing system that lasts better.
@@sitcheyr9352 I have the same as you, the most important thing if you take it down at the end of the season, which I do. But I just take time cleaning it well, letting it dry well, as well as I wash n rinse all my other parts ( frame ) and of course dry it all I have a big large heavy duty container from Sam’s club to house it all in. If you clean it n store it properly it will last years n years. My brother has had his for 5 years going on 6.
2.5 is still factory approved! Its a bummer cause you can't fill it up all the way, you don't want it over flowing when kids splash around..but its safe!
Thanks for calling that to my attention. The link to filter part 1 is now linked. I made a new video this year when I set up my filter, I will have it up this week, so hope you subscribe to catch that. And good luck to you happy swimming!
You could measure from bracket to bracket and use a level for that, but even then you could be off level honestly, the best way is to start filling it up and you will immediately see how far off level you are within the 1st inch. If the water is running all to one side, that’s a bad sign and yes, you have to use a little bit of water… but within 2 inches you’re going to know what’s going on
I fought leveling my ground for weeks until I was ale to get a Transit from a friend. My pool is dead level using this tool. I leveled mine with pavers that were at ground level not above the ground.
Can I put a larger pump on this pool I have the same pool my filter is running low pressure and rec Circulate it has a lot of power it runs really good but not sure what’s the problem
We were going nuts thinking the pool was not level even thought it measured 52 inches all around. We looked closer and could see that the liner was sewn uneven, the pool was filled 3/4 and we counted the blue blocks from the liner grey edge. Some stated with a full block and some with half a block and some even with 1 1/2 blocks which gave the look that the pool water was not level. We filled it all the way and the water line was exactly level up to the grey edge.
Hi, looks like your previous pool wasnt XTR model. Is the correct? XTR model has the steel galvanized outside and inside whereas the non-XTR don't. Do you notice any rust on your new pool? Thanks
yes the xtr version is still showing a bit of rust after 2 seasons (salt pool though so its to be expected, salt also voids warranty i believe) this year I am going all chlorine (new filter so no other option)
@@VMH. yes I love the saltwater system but after three years I did give out on me I think because I was using an extension cord though and it got wet, this year I’m going to chlorine because I was given a new pump and I’m gonna give it a shot but I will probably end up going back to salt even though it does cause a little bit of rust! :)
Thanks for your reply. Im getting the exactly same pool and ordering the same saltwater pump you had separately. Im planning to coat the steel end and tees with Everbrite Coating. It's a but expensive bit so hope that will work. Also going to wrap all connections with silicone taping to seal off the inside so if there is rust, it will be visible and easily taken care of before severe corrosion happen to the steel. If possible, cound you pull a tape measure of your out to out dimensions of top rail corners at the tees and legs? Im trying to find out exactly how much the legs extend beyond the 20ft diameter. Thanks alot!
With your season 1 setup, did you use it all season with the 5 inch deviation? Or did you abandon and drain immediately? I think I'm going to end up with almost a 3 inch difference.
we DID keep it off level (which I regret) 3" is ok! You just won't be able to fill it up all the way, our issue was with it so full the water ran over one side and therefore rusted to poles fast (it took 2-3 seasons to rust out though) but I know it was that because of were it finally rusted out.. 1-2" off level is factory approved. (mine is still off that much) so 3" you could go for it! Just drain and fix it next season! we have drained ours every year since I always screw it up! this year we will try to over winter it but I think the water gets so gross! I will prob drain anyway but keep half filled just to keep it secure and safe in the winter.
@@Bellavanacoffee Thank you! Yeah I’ve disassembled and re-leveled twice already, so I’m just feeling “so done with it” and was hoping I can just live with it 😆. Hoping to winterize too. Can usually get away with that in Texas … but the freeze last year was a little crazy for our area. Anyhow, thanks again.
Great job Dani, we learn from.our experiences and you will know next year exactly where to position those slabs so they don't touch the sides. I've been preparing my base, compacting soil, then membrane and compacted sand followed by faux grass (so we can use the space in the winter). Even though we are compacting the base I'm nervous about how it will take to the pool full of water. Wish me luck on getting it level! Happy swimming!
Sand washes out from under the pool no matter how well you think you have compacted it. Is why I finally used paver base some use stone dust also adding a barrier like the 4.5” tall dig in edge helped me so I had no wash out and for once I didn’t have to redo my entire set up and take it all down and completely relevel and put everything back together. A lot of work digging a trench by hand 55’ diameter but well worth it
Hey Guys! Your videos are pretty helpful! I have a question for you. We just put up our 22ft Intex XTR and I thought I had it pretty level but no… it’s off by 3 squares. And you know I thought as long as my posts were plumb it’d be ok but now I’ve got 4-5 posts that are leaning like 5degrees. I was running around plumbing them as it filled but maybe I missed them, maybe it happened later… so here’s my questions given your first couple years. Will it get worse? Maybe even collapse? Should we scrap and try again even with hundreds of dollars of water in there? I should hAve watched your videos a little closer….
OH we did the SAME thing , twice! ours was more than 3 squares off. This year mine has some that are leaning also, im off by 2 inches. It shouldn't collapse if its just 3" off and the legs arent too crazy. It can put extra pressure on your legs. Its really your call. Its so hard to drain and start over. Take a look at some of my older videos to see how bad mine was (full pool playlist is in my playlists) You have to make the call. I have two pavers that are pushing in- point first, and not good for my pool AT ALL but Its june, the kids are happy, I will drain it at the end of the season and fix it next season. Again, good luck and thanks for watching.
You’re the best, thanks for the reply. I guess we’re going to let it rip. The family is going to riot if I fiddle with this thing anymore. Next year is a new game!
@@anakanowinsubishi2674 Not sure if you know there is a very easy way to jack it up literally with a floor jack n making this small wood support to assist. You would definitely need a man or older son maybe to help but it is very easy to do it will also help you get your pool perfectly level next summer..
Did you order directly from intex, or from a hardware store? I ask because I was on their website a few days ago and saw complaints about the truck delivery process.
Hi, the return should go in just like the other tubes...sorry not sure your question exactly, I do have other videos on setting up the filter which could help with that.
Did you spray the T-9 inside the frame too or just on the outside? How many cans did it take? Good job on your setup, leveling can be hard. Easiest way I know of is to put a paver in the center then get the longest level you can (you can use a board if necessary, but make sure it's not warped). Then level each paver to the center one. This prevents additive errors from causing a larger error in total. After you're happy with everything you can remove the center one and fill it in with sand.
Thanks, I used about 2 cans just the outside and it didnt seem to do much it was like oil...so I am assuming it just washed off eventually. I will see how long this pool lasts. This will be season 2. Thanks again, hope to get it right this year...fourth time is a charm right. ;)
@@Bellavanacoffee you learn a bit each time, the frame style intex pools are more forgiving than a steel walled pool. Are you doing saltwater chlorine generation or how are you sanitizing? I'm asking because I'm looking to buy one of these pools and want to do saltwater but I'm scared of what that will do to the longevity of the frame. I did see a post on a pool forum that one guy would wash down his frame with a hose as part of his daily maintenance and swears by it. Claimed he was on his 4th season with the pool. Thanks for posting the video. I appreciate the content.
@@jeremyfehrman6344 YES salt to chlorine works soooo well. Its SO hot and sunny here all summer and I had no algae. Run it 8 hours. a day. sometimes 12. I also rinse after swimming. SALT saves money, feels better but it will damage the frame , we lost our first pool after 3 seasons BUT it was off level and the water was constantly running over the metal...so I blame that.
Danni good morning, I watched some of your videos and u have gone through a lot with this pool. I just bought one 32x16x52. I'm about to go saltwater system? What u think? I'm concerned about rust, well i may save some in clorox now but then end up paying 75$ for legs when they rust. Any good advice ? Should I stay old fashioned cloring? Thanks.
I am all about salt. Saves me TONS on chemicals. have not put a single chemical in this pool this year. Id prefer that to having to replace the poles or even the whole pool in 4 years or so. but lots prefer the other way. the system costs close to 600 bucks though....so there is that.... good luck in your decision happy swimming let me know!
@@Bellavanacoffeehey thanks for the reply but I don't get it? U said you all about salt , because safe money, then u said having to replace liner and poles. Salt is what makes this rust faster. U got me confused, sorry.
@@pedroaldorodriguez1161 Yep. it does make things rust faster. But to me it is worth it. Ours rusted after 3 years but only because we had water running over one metal bar for three seasons.
Looks good! I’ve learned over the course of having 2 pools, I now have a Coleman 22x52, unfortunately a lot of the process is trial and error and certainly a learning experience! My pool is uneven as well BUT much better than last year. Maybe next year it can be even better to almost perfect 🤞🏼 IF I drain it 😏
Hey mine is WAYYY OFF LOL .So I just don't fill it to the top. Next year I'll just try again. I considered moving it.... then reconsidered. Too much work. I just did what you did. Stuck some bricks under the poles ground level as not to touch the pool. They sank further. Lol oh well we're enjoying it and it looks pretty safe
ha, well not a great job, but its decent! I wont' fill it up too full because it is salt water and I don't want the water spilling over the side and causing rust again. Thanks for watching and commenting! Happy swimming!
bahahahahah well my friend, don't ask me because mine is never level. But I have heard you can buy or rent a Lazer level to really get an accurate reading. It is very hard to tell!
My pavers did the same thing 😭 the pool is really heavy to move the legs like you did. Also did you put any filter at the bottom? While the pool was filling up we found that it was leaking from somewhere but we never found the problem but it stopped leaking the next day so, I was really confused hahha
Aww shucks. LOL Thanks a lot! We have to do it again this year and try to get it level, we have a pipe on the high side so cant dig deeper so we need to raise one side by 3". More videos to come.
Watch the vid where they use a floor jack and 2x4 to raise the leg so u can get a paver under there to level it out. Did you have to build a pool cove where the liner bottom meets the side liner? Ill be doing mine next month
@@kevincumms1430 never heard of a pool cove. I will have to look that up. Didn't want to jack up with all that water weight in there, Brand new pool didnt want to risk damaging the leg or liner...so we didn't. Its empty now and we will be starting over in spring...fourth time is a charm....
I have a 16x48 round Intex Ultra XTR pool that I'm trying to put up but I'm confused about the poles because i bought the pool used an it didn't have the instructions with it. But my pool looks exactly like you're pool. But with me watching your video along with so many others I'm still confused about how these poles are suppose to go. I don't know if they're supposed to go outside the banner or on the inside of the banner some people have them out some people have them in and I've noticed on yours you have one that's actually inside the banner it's the 2nd pole from the ladder and then all the rest of them are outside the banner. Can you please let me know which way is the correct way? I'm starting to get really frustrated with the whole thing not just over the poles but also becuz on one part of the ground keeps wanting to sink an i can't seem to get the ground leveled correctly. Im a renter So i can't go taring the whole yard up i don't think my landlord would appreciate that to much lol. So please any tips you may have for that would be awesome. An thank you for your video it's really helped me in many ways. Your video even made me see that no one's perfect also when doing this stuff an i really appericate that too becuz not many people shows there mistakes an sometimes people needs to see that part as well so again Thank you.
I think you mean the plastic part that goes around, yes they should be inside that but its not a HUGE stress if you forget (like i guess I did lol) if your ground is sinking please use a brick under the legs or the legs will sink like mine have before. AND dig the brick or paver to ground level and make sure it doesn't push against the pool as you fill it up (did you see my other video "mistakes not to make when setting up your pool" you will see I made that mistake too and the bricks were poking into my liner) It is VERY frustrating I totally get it, don't give up and as long as it is close to level you are ok! ( up to 2" off level is "factory approved" and mine is 2" off no matter what I have done) GOOD LUCK YOU CAN DO THIS and I will check for your messages.
@@Bellavanacoffee thank you and i was about to watch your other videos right now. I'll give you an update when i get it done again thanks. Hope your pool is doing well this year
Do you have a big tape measure and then mark the spot and then measure some more whatever size your pool is you want to create the space at least a foot and a half wider for example I have a 20 foot pool but we cleared 21 1/2 feet around the pool
I wish I had that problem , mine is keeping it cool in the Desert Arizona heat my pool was 110 degrees after one week of being set up 🤣🤣🤣 I have to go n buy ice blocks which only helps a tiny bit..
Nice try...but sucks leveling a pool for the average DIYer. I used pavers in my 22x52 pool but after I leveled the pool and set it up with legs, I dug out the area the paver needed to be so it was level with the ground before adding water. The leg bottom is supposed to be level with ground to match the liner. The pool also flexes out when filled. And another nice upgrade is to plug the tiny dual outputs and put in a real skimmer in the wall. The flow is so much better that way and the ability to use a skimmer basket vacuum attachment that doenst clog every 5 minutes and require a fight is such a win! Plus if you notice a slight sag to an area after its filled and settles, you can double up a 2x4 and use a floor jack to lift it slightly in that area and add or reduce some dirt under the paver to adjust the area.
yes yes yes the following year we dug the pavers down to ground level. at the end of last season, my pump died...bummer. .. and thanks for watching and commenting!
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Hello , I’ve put up these pools for 17 years , I currently own the same pool , the Intex XTR 20x48 with the sand filter , I would highly recommend that you do not use the pavers under the legs , it puts pressure on the side walls and could rip a hole in it . These pools we never designed to have blocks or pavers under the legs. I used 5 yards of Stone Dust under my pool and it’s only 1.5 inches off on one side ,Stone Dust packs very tight unlike sand . these pools cannot be perfectly leveled unless it’s on a concrete pad like you mentioned, the pad would have to be thick , to support the weight . your pool weighs over 30 Tons . Also you should use the second intake strainer , you can purchase an intex over the wall skimmer to pull in leaves , bugs etc . The skimmer connects to the second intake . My pool came with a ground tarp , not sure why yours did not . These tips and recommendations work for me . Good luck and have fun !
Hi thanks! Yeah, should have dug the pavers to the ground level. We need pavers because our ground is soft and we get a lot of rain. Thanks for all the tips I am sure it will help others. I have an over the wall skimmer, I need to set it up, it was such a challenge to get it to stay in place. Thanks again.
I pinned your comment so others can see!
oh boy....I used pavers
@@denisedenise8535 my pool is fine. yeah, I should have dug them in, but they sank a good 1/4 inch anyway. Is your pool up already?
@@Bellavanacoffee yes...I actually wrote a rather long reply on ur page
Your videos were instrumental for installing my above ground pool 12' x 34". I did the pavers like you said and put them in the ground. Yes the pools edges were over the pavers. With the pavers I hammered the ground flat and then hammered the pavers down (rubber mallet). I leveled the ground methodically and slow. Then put two bags of play sand and used a broom to spread them out. Because of these videos I was able to fully erect the pool without any difficulty or mismanagement . On that very day the cousins came over and played and it was HUGE for them as the parents needed a break. The kids got to be cool and all the excitement leading up paid off in the end. The family was impressed that I was able to level and support it so well.
Thank you and I am soooo happy you did it right! Now I need to get my pavers level to the ground and get mine filled up! HA!
Recently started watching, had to watch this I used to many years ago help install these, always got a bobcat in to level and spread sand with levelling bar on the ground. I knew the fun that can be had 🤣I would rather dig and in-ground pool by hand 🤚🤩🤩 than do an above ground pool again😂😂thanks for sharing stay safe cheers from Australia 🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺
Thank you! you are right....haha I hope you stick around! I love Aussies!
@@Bellavanacoffee ❤️
You want to use the 12x12 pavers. After leveling the ground, you want to actually put your pavers partially in the ground. For maximum leveling, take a straight 2x4 with a level on top and go from paver to paver, if it’s level from paver to paver, the pool will be level. After putting up the pool put sand on each paver essentially burying it. The pool will be level and the liner will be protected from the pavers by the sand.
Good advice,, thank you.
Until rain/pool water splashing washes away the sand.
@@ericmuller3339 sand gets harder as it gets wet and packs down well at least mine does here in the desert Arizona heat maybe that’s why lol..
@@KimmieB.
What type of sand did u use?
@@KimmieB. I agree with you.compacts really good👍
The ground prep is definitely the hardest part. Second is keeping the liner from getting wrinkles, but that also has mostly to do with the ground prep. If you have to do any leveling, make sure the dirt gets compacted enough. I would suggest ripping up the top inch or so, get it loose, mix in a little sand, then use a straight 10 foot (or so) 2x4 and pass it along in circles all over. It will flatten high spots, fill low spots. Anything that doesn't flatten or fill can be looked at more closely. Use a rake with a soft touch, go over everything. Water it down evenly, and do all those steps again several times. You can use a broom at the end to sweep off larger stuff, lightly rake again to find hard stones, etc. Use the same 2x4, lay it across all over, with a level in top. Find obvious slope and address if needed.
For the posts, instead of bricks, go with something like 1/4" sign plastic (non-corrugated - may be called HDPE?) and round the corners and soften the edges.
Ground prep again is key, because soft ground will allow sinking every time, especially since water is likely to find its way down there.
Remember the pool liner stretches, so any testing before there is water isn't gonna tell you the story. If you have a low spot, it will go that direction.
yep, solid advice.
Nice job. Don't worry about things like out of level. You are the only one that knows.
My wife and I are starting on a16'×42"pool. Trying to get it level can be a pain 😫. Thank you guys for sharing your experience!!
Thank YOU for watching and commenting ! It's tough, especially together! This year my pump motor is dead, so I will need a new one before i can clean and fill my FINALLY level pool. Be careful in set up, when filling you can tell if its going to be way off level. + I have more videos if you need pump set up etc! Happy swimming, let me know how it goes!
You are the sweetest thing. Thank you for sharing to help out others.
Aww is that like "bless your heart" hahah cause I always mess this up somehow thank you! We just drained it for the winter and I brought the motor part of the pump inside. I will share that video soon. Thanks again for the sweet comment.
So glad you were able to fix the pavers. Thanks for sharing information to help others. Wishing you many years of use of this pool.
Thank you Angela. I hope yours is great too!
They did everything wrong in this video. She pulled the pavers out and now the legs are off plumb and the damned thing is going to collapse. The pavers are supposed to be IN THE GROUND and COVERED. Ugh. Facepalm..
Should have watched your video first. 4 hours trying to get last topper to connect. Never thought of putting upper rail all together first. Wow it worked. Now to put the legs in 👏👏👏👏👏
You are not alone, we did that the first try too! Good luck and remember to make sure it is all good as you fill, support your legs with pavers or bricks dug into the ground so they don't sink if your ground is soft. and make sure they are dug in so they don't poke into your pool liner, watch my other video of mistakes to avoid here : ruclips.net/video/KuHuOTwVveY/видео.htmlsi=m6wDJPq2tJ43BZW0
thanks for the video, just bought this pool 30 seconds ago
Awesome. Hey, please go watch my other video called mistakes to avoid! It’s linked below this video And happy swimming!
In regards to your ladder and rusting. They do rust especially in a saltwater pool, which will in turn leave rust stains at the pool bottom where the ladder feet rest. It happened to us with our last pool, not to mention the fear of those ladders being unsafe and inadequate in every way. We ditched ours and put up a small decking at the entry point then attached to that a marine boat ladder that is resistant to rust and saltwater corrosion. It was $40 at Academy, and attaches onto your wood decking, folds down when you want to enter the pool, and folds up and over the deck when not in use, and you can lock it down for safety. One of the Best little upgrades we did for that pool!
OOOH lovely idea thank you!!!
@@Bellavanacoffee It was amazing. We sold the house, left the pool 😭 about 5 1/2 years ago. Now finally got another pool but much smaller. It’s just me and my hubby so basically got a lounging pool, Intex Prism frame 10x30. But we have a much smaller yard now that we are in a subdivision instead of the farm. Anyway, here in Central Texas we have had a super rainy June and into July. Not normal! We out the pool up last weekend, thought we had the spot mostly level. Nope. 🥵😡 Then this morning torrential rains. I have a lake around my pool now. When it dries out, we are moving it. Oh joy, going to kill more zoysia grass. 😭 Im about ready to give up my pager patio and put it there! Lol next season we will upgrade to a sand filter pump and salt chlorinator like we had on our big pool. Only way to go!
@@sunnycharacter I hear ya> we are in north Louisiana. Rain caused our poles to sink in. enjoy!!
@@Bellavanacoffee Could be worse 😎
@happyfarms wow y’all n north la? I’m n bossier city la! I have an extra intex zx300 automatic pool vac if you need one? And intex over side skimmer cause I have bestway steel pro max pool and the top rail is oval shape so the intex skimmer piece attaches to top rail doesn’t stay correctly. You can have that if you want since I finally got the bestway model recently. And academy n bossier I just saw intex salt water system had 2 for 42.99 each but gone now. I find all the deals tho if you want cup holders Walmart has set of 4 by summer waves for less than 5.00 you can contact me if you want to 318-489-1477 I do this by myself and have never had green pool or even cloudy water and I’m disabled and single mom my son has autism he’s turning 16 next week! I saw all ur videos long time ago had no idea you may b close to me! Wouldn’t that be amazing? Also just found big winter cover for friend with large pool like you have on eBay for great price with 8yr warranty I can share the info with you as well!!
Just want to THANK YOU so much for your pool tutorials! We just put up this pool, basically me and my mom. And your videos have been soooo helpful! And I’m pretty level, lotta work to get it right but glad I took the time.
YOU followed ME and got it RIGHT! wow! hahah I am jealous. lol. My pavers are still poking into my pool in 3 places, we arent fixing it till the end of the season though, my kids are swimming and its HOT. Thank YOU for your comment and happy swimming!
@@Bellavanacoffee I think you have done a great job showing others what to do and what not to do lol.. or try not to do.. I know it bothers you really bad about the pavers touching n I know you are aware about jacking the pool up however you stated you didn’t want to jack it up but honestly if you ever want to get the pool level this is what you should do. I’m not sure if you have done it before or not. I just wanted to let you know it is very easy to do, with y’all setting up one every year you may know or not know but you can build this extension out of wood to place right on the floor jack and right under the edge of the top railing. If you took the time and a few extra bucks on wood building it you would have it to use every single year therefore getting it totally level is not a problem. Lift the leg and keep placing spacers shims on your brick right when the leg sets back down. It works perfectly n very easy, it will stay level all season ..
Dani, YOU ROCK!
You’re making me want to go buy a pool for my family now.
UGH. Don't do it. LOL It is my daggum nemesis! lol. But it is my most popular youtube content lol. So..Thank you!
All the prep work involved is making me NOT want to buy a pool now!
Your a legend darling. You worked hard on this .
Awwwww hah! You are so kind. Have to fail a few times to get it right...THIS season I finally got it right...only 1.5 inches off level! ha! Thanks again.
@@Bellavanacoffee I'm gonna film my pool then put it on My channel. Please take a look if possible.
CONGRATULATIONS!! I am SOO happy you got the pavers situated and moved!!! Pool noodle as your padding!👍😉😁
Hey girl thank you so much I just came in from sliding some padding in between there’s not enough space for a pool noodle LOL but I found some padding that I had that’s kind of slick and waterproof but also padding it actually supposed to go under a floor before you lay the flooring. Thanks again!!!
@@Bellavanacoffee yeah!!! I was cherring for you! Great job mama! Well done!😁👏👍
@happy farms I didn’t have enough room for noodles with my current pool so I got 5” tall roll of terrace board well 2 rolls it’s super thin and can slide right behind those legs a lot of people use it and zip tie it to each leg to keep it n place. I’m sure you could easily make holes to run zip tie Thru using aviation snips or just measure and use a drill bit. I didn’t use anything on mine tho I just slid it between leg and liner so landscape rocks didn’t slide under pool or poke from the side and it’s stayed in place no prob at all since I put it in which was May 2021 and it’s Aug 2022. It’s not expensive either I got mine from target app but Home Depot has it on their app now comes in brown or black.
this was my first mistake last year. the pavers must be in the ground level. this year i dig deeper to put each paver to the same level as the ground is.
YES! Thanks. I pinned a comment about the pavers so everyone can see. Wish someone would have told me! thanks.
I also did not bury my pavers. I like to be able to keep track of everything. My pavers are close to ground level because they are not thick but I put in extra sand to keep the liner supported. It's really tough to get everything perfectly level.
@@angelateichman3063
I dont think sand is recommended by manufacturer. Sand has a tendency to wash away/shift.
@@ericmuller3339 I just have sand underneath the edges of my liner not underneath. I keep a close eye but you need support around the edges to avoid pinhole leaks.
Even putting them ground level here in Alabama.it rains so much everything sinks. I'm opting for cement next year. ;) 😉
We have the 18ft XTR pool and it’s 3,5inch out of level. I hope it holds up this year and next year we will level the ground.
Yes, it should hold up. thanks for watching!
keep it up
Did your pool hold for the year?
Oh yes. We are working on getting it set up again for this year will be doing regular Corey not salt this time. How’s yours?
@Happy Farms today we just finished installing the pool, which was the reason why I came across your video, and I definitely appreciate it because of your instructions. The process was very easy. Also, can you please link the video you mentioned where you show the setup of the filter/pump. I clicked the link, and the video shows as not available. Thanks again, you've earned a new sub!
17:44 so adorable .. measuring cup handle, true elation 👍😎✊
I had to go back and watch! I was absolutely manic about it at that point and grabbed a stick first and then that measuring cup. 😂 thanks.
Glad I’m not the only one worried about screwing up a pool set up ⬆️👍🏾 thanks for the info
YOu can do it!!
OMG your pool is perfect Dani, you and your family are going to have such a fun summer🤩☀️!
Thank you my love Harry!!
O man that is not perefect if anything than it is far from perefect. Why did you put antything under the pool legs?
@@lovethecomments9802 because her ground is extremely soft they get a lot of rain so the legs start to sink in more n more over time, hence making the pool very unleveled. This is their 5 th pool they have set up so she pretty much has it down as to what works best for them..
I hope you and your family are enjoying your pool. Great video, I love your spirit and your enthusiasm.
Thank you hahah. My spirit will not be broken by failing at this pool over and over. One day we will get it right! Take care and happy swimming
I just received my pool today and so excited to set it up. Thank you so much for this video, I’ll be using it for guidance.
YAY! take your time! good luck!
Thanks for the video. We got the ultra yhis year & your tips were great. I know what you mean about not having it level. We luckily poured a concrete pad 2 yrs ago for the old one, but we did have the hot & grumpy thing going on. 🤣🤣
LOL yes and we have waited again....to get it set up and it's already in the 90's here....sigh... thank you for watching!
Don’t go by the water line to base your idea on if it’s level go across the top frame first cause it’s possible you may have pulled the liner in a spot too far when removing wrinkles and pool may be level or close but water line makes it appear like it isn’t if the bottom of liner is given too much in one area which happened to me but my pool is still level within an inch even after a winter season.
thank you! excellent video! would love an update video to see how the pool is doing this year.
Thank you, I need to fill it still...hope I can do it without messing up. I will dig the pavers in this year so they are level with the ground. I will still be 2" off level because I have a metal pipe below my high side so I cant dig deeper and I am not willing to move it and add sand / dirt to the low side.
We have a 20x52 intex pool and we used 1.5" insulation foam taped together, cut in a circle and then cut holes for the pavers to be flush with the foam, on a mostly level ground of course. Gives a soft cushion, plants cant grow through it and the pavers are level with the foam.
Nice tip!
@nastynat0513 we just did this on our very first pool. We are also going to add a piece of thin pond liner over top of the pavers just in case so the vinyl doesn’t get scratched. How is yours holding up?
I used 12x12 pavers, small brick pavers will settle over time and become uneven. This is my second pool 18x52” about 8200 gallons is what we calculated. My lowest to my highest point is a half inch off which tbh iam happy with especially for a screed board a level and a laser level. The liners with squares makes your in balance a bit more noticeable, but hey trial and error. Where ours meets our deck I did add some pool noodles in between the paver and the liner just as a precaution because it was closer to contact for some reason. I use the 14” intex sand pump aswell and it’s been pretty easy to maintain.
Awesome info thank you for sharing and watching my video! This year we are 2” off level and I’m okay with it :) so far my pavers are good but I see your point about the size! I wish I had a deck.
The best tip in leveling an above ground pool is ...”Take a level and level each post support/slab to the one next to it and do this all around the pool. This way the bottom may not be perfectly level but the filled water level will be”
I thought I bought the large level, but its not quite long enough for this..smh
@@denisedenise8535 tape it to a 2x4 with duck tape and pound a stake in the center of the pool , pound a nail in the top of the stake , now drill a hole in the 2x4 with the level taped to it . now you have a rotating device to make a perfectly round , level circle, level and grade pavers and dig out the pool to match the level pavers. bam you got a perfect circle level enough for a pool
@@denisedenise8535 how did the pool work out
Great video.. you seem like a good person. I wish you continued luck with your pool. God Bless.
Thank you! You too!
I read on AGP forums online that you should curl the tarp back up, whatever hangs over the edge so that you have a little vinyl buffer against the pavers because they almost always move against the liner.
I was waiting for this for 1 month
thank you for waiting! It took some time to get it put together and edited down so it was not 40 minutes long. :) I hope it helps you and good luck with your pool.
I think you did a great job!!!! I hope you are loving it 💗
If you're really concerned about those few places .... I saw a video of a guy that used a regular car jack to lift the section of his pool he needed to fix and did that is 3 places and that did it. 😳 idk... if it's still bothering ya I guess
I really should jack it up and fix it. sigh. Its hot and I dont really care anymore. ha. we will fix it at the end of the season, or start of next I guess...what a failure lol! at least the kids are swimming! I am afraid of the jack putting pressure on my metal and damaging it. but the pavers are poking still in a few places not good but I try not to think about it and just swim lol!
So glad you fixed it, But I am definitely hiring a pool installer, my husband and I are not so talented. Thanks for the video.
You can do it! but yes, it will cause fights so if you can afford it PAY someone to do it! Thank you!
And for those that have an old Walmart style pool or Coleman style pool yes, the plastic leg caps do fit these Intech pools
This video was extremely helpful!! I’m setting up a 12x30 with the same design just smaller we are on a hill and are almost done digging it out/leveling we have so many rocks and tree roots it’s been so hard. This video has been a big help.
We are setting up ours too! It’s such a pain to dig and level. We are mid dig now! It’ll be so great when it’s done 🥰 good luck!
NO it's not. They did this so close Completely wrong. The pool is going to collapse, and get holes. Do NOT follow their lead. DO NOT!
@@hbic3
So what's the right way?
@@hbic3
This is their 5th pool they’ve set up not one had came down. Each yr the pool setup has gotten much better, I think for their ground n weather conditions it’s the best they can get it which is not totally wrong..
@@ericmuller3339 He doesn’t know, he probably just thinks he knows how but never done one but in his mind he thinks he has a better way lol..
The pool looks awesome, Dan! I bet you and the fam will have a great time with it! Hopefully it will stay level!
I hope so too! Thank you Chris!
I can only 2nd what has been already written. Those pavers must be level with the ground the pool sits on. The pool liner is now hanging from the frame instead of sitting on the ground and it's a disaster waiting to happen and will happen sooner than later. At the 15 min mark you can see the legs are bending outward already. You have to empty the pool and correct that before use!
Instead of getting a tarp search for some pond fleece. It's a non rotting material that is normally used between the earth and pond liner. You can get it up to 1.000g / m². It provides protection to the pool liner and also gives a bit of cushion under foot when standing in the pool.
We put 4 inches of sand. Now after 6 years that sand is rock solid
It looks great,mines the same ,I just call it the deep end,works for me,just have fun 👍
That is exactly where I am at this season (but will make sure the pavers are not touching the liner and dig them into the ground a bit) but 2" off is not bad and I do not feel like messing with it again. :) thanks for watching and your positivity.
Good looking thumbnail too
Somebody is going to have an awesome summer! Looks amazing!❤️💗❤️💗
well top of the mornin to YOU Pam Pam!
@@Bellavanacoffee Pam Pam. 😂👌🏽
I hope it's worked out for you. ....We had to bite the bullet and hired a landscaping team to come in and level the area,. Way outside of our wheelhouse. They used stone dust and reenforced the sides with landscaping timber. Stone dust made the ground almost like concrete, you could play basketball on it. It was an unexpected expense but so glad we did it, our pool is l level and we no longer fear it will collapse.
That was a good move my friend! This year we are all good! well an inch and a half off level but I am stoked my pool is solid and I am not worried like I was every other season. Thank you for watching and commenting. Happy swimming!
How much did the landscaping cost you? Great idea by the way.
@@ch33kz it came in around $1200
@@Boswd thank you for the quick response, gonna think about that one.
@@ch33kz and what's great about it... After we take the pool down for the season... We put our solo stove fire pit and the grill in that space so it doubles as a patio.
Is this what you recommended in your other video for everyone to use ? TongGass Zinc Anode Weight ? If not please post what your talking about . . . Thank you !
Yes! Some folks hang it in their salt pools, I had mine in the filter !
Hi,
If you use sand for leveling the ground, the water splashes, rain and other ways wet the sand, not destabilizes the pool?
Thank you
yes they do not recommend using sand because of that, but you can use SOME sand, just not inches and inches to build up a low spot because it can errode yes. Some say to build a frame AROUND the sand so it will stay in...but I don't have time for that either. Just try to get your ground level...
You are just an absolute treasure! Thank you!
Well thank you kindly! I hope you found it helpful. I appreciate your positive comment! I am just doing what we are all doing..trying to get something right. :)
Well I was going to recommend digging the pavers onto the ground but I see you already had a d-bag mention that. I set mine up like yours last year and plan to dig them into ground this year and leave them. My pool was also a little off level even tho I checked it numerous times lol.oh well. Gonna start on setup tomorrow and try to do a little better
wohooo yes you saw that comment haha. well I wish I would have done that, but things are going well so far! I wish you a perfect level pool this season! Thank you for watching!
@@Bellavanacoffee yes i saw. I smh the whole time reading it. One other thing I would recommend that I done was upgrading the intake strainers to 1.5" to get a better flow rate. Just have to wait for parts to come back available from the covid pool buying surge 🤦♂️
@slamd hatch oh good idea! I’ll look for those too. Keep me posted please.
@@Bellavanacoffee do you have an Instagram account? Im currently setting my pool up and I can send you a few pictures of my pool and everything im going thru right now.
@@slamdhatch1150 danihappyfarms
About How long do you leave your pump running for? First time pool owner here with a sand filter pump? Thank you! Your video helped me out so much!
8 hours minimum per day. I run it more in the summer, 8 and 8 but I give it a break so it can cool down also. I run it at night always and then during the day in the summer as well. Happy swimming and thank you for watching !
@@Bellavanacoffee Thank you!
so graceful jumping into pool. just one thing I do not understand why you are not putting the pavers at ground level. take the time and get the base at the pool legs level. Use some paver base and set the pavers at ground level. Please do not use salt it will shorten the live of the pool poles, then you must buy a replacement. Clorine tip i use is chlorine is affected big time by the sun. Use when sun is set vs first thing in the morning. Also, for me on a well I replace pool water when needed vs pool shock the water. thanks for the video, i am a fan now.
I agree, i did dig the pavers in to ground level this season and it was very close to perfect, but still not level. (1.5-2" off level) Thanks for watching and the suggestions.
Loving the 30 shirt… okay back to the video
Wow, lovely
We just had a hail storm
Oh My LORD!! Just finished putting up this pool!! Son started two weeks ago with leveling, daughter and I finished that Friday around noon. We then began assembling pool. Finished around 5..Started on pavers Saturday morning around 9 Finished around 2 (mind u, both days its been completely sunny and 90 degrees, so lots of breaks in between) Started filling process, then ran into issue with water spicket losing more water on ground than in pool! So was able to get about myb 3 inches in. Been babysitting pavers spent a lot of time today digging around them n watching and stressing! Now in limbo waiting for plumber to replace spicket! In the meantime, my question is -My legs seem to keep wanting to slide inward towards the liner direction,it has gotten a little better with any added water i can put in,but still some of them keep sliding. will this get better as the water begins to fill and push on the walls or did I do something wrong(I dug them down level with ground and have noodles in front of them) Sorry so long Thank You So Much For All Youre Help
Hi! to answer about the legs,, they should be straight up and down, but mine are never perfect. Its hard to say without seeing but it sounds like you have done a lot right...pool noodles, digging pavers in...they should not be "sliding" but yes as they get weight on them they should be firmly in place not able to "slide". I wish you good luck! and maybe someone else will comment to help you better. ~Dani
Are they a chance the pavers sitting on that tarp are scooting after use were there not sitting in the ground ?
Not sure what you’re asking sorry
Does this pool have a heater or can you get a heater for it, if so how does that work?! I’ve never owned a pool and am thinking about getting one! Thanks!
HA that makes me giggle because my pool is SO HOT we put ice jugs in it to cool it off. I am sure they have heaters, some people use the cover to heat it with the sun. I am sorry I am not an expert on the heaters. Thanks for watching and good luck with your pool! ~Dani
Go clockwise when pulling wrinkles it works out much easier
That is one great looking pool!!
How do I get each legs level ? Should I check each individually or more at once with a longer level?
use the level across from leg to leg on the top. but if your ground is not level....it won't help much...(me)
Another fun summer ahead!
Hey Meredith!!! thanks for watching!!
I set my pavers into the ground about an inch so it wouldn't put strain on the pool & cause holes
Good job!
Hi Danni, You do a very good job on setup, I was wondering if you put wood spacers in between the leg on the high side to help level the pool?
Hi thanks, so if I "jack up" my legs on the low side, it causes more pressure on the liner, because the water is still pushing to reach the lower ground...this year I will dig the pavers into the ground and keep them from pushing into the liner..I want to level it..may add some dirt on the low side, but I don't want to move it again and risk tearing the liner and honestly I am just tired of messing with it after 3 seasons! it's only about 2" off, so it is not terrible. (factory is ok with 1-2" off) I need to get going this season though. Thanks for watching.
This is my biggest fear... I myself am on the 3rd intex pool. This year I have a 24X24X52 Ultra frame.... I just paid to get the yard leveled, putting the pool up on the next nice day.... Also I ordered a Hayward 1.5 matrix sand pump filter combo for the filter upgrade...Love your videos
Thank you so much! Best of luck to you!!
Do these not last long? We just bought our first one, a 26’x54” and now I am nervous!! They are expensive!!
@@sitcheyr9352 We have a 12'x30" deep pool, on it's 4th season, it's not the nicer one, just the base model, it would likely last one more year. The larger ones are a little thicker, and the xtr's have a much better railing system that lasts better.
@@dizzytt69 Thanks, that’s good to know!
@@sitcheyr9352
I have the same as you, the most important thing if you take it down at the end of the season, which I do. But I just take time cleaning it well, letting it dry well, as well as I wash n rinse all my other parts ( frame ) and of course dry it all I have a big large heavy duty container from Sam’s club to house it all in. If you clean it n store it properly it will last years n years. My brother has had his for 5 years going on 6.
My 16 foot pool is 2 1/2 inches off level is that too much? I don't want to have to empty it and try again but I will if it means my pool will last
2.5 is still factory approved! Its a bummer cause you can't fill it up all the way, you don't want it over flowing when kids splash around..but its safe!
Well done guys, we will be doing the same here in our house in France. 😘
THank you! Just be careful the pavers (if you use them) dont poke in like ours did :( best of luck!
Great job. What happened to the sand filter set up part one.
Thanks for calling that to my attention. The link to filter part 1 is now linked. I made a new video this year when I set up my filter, I will have it up this week, so hope you subscribe to catch that. And good luck to you happy swimming!
can you show me how you check that it is level? inbetween brackets or what?
You could measure from bracket to bracket and use a level for that, but even then you could be off level honestly, the best way is to start filling it up and you will immediately see how far off level you are within the 1st inch. If the water is running all to one side, that’s a bad sign and yes, you have to use a little bit of water… but within 2 inches you’re going to know what’s going on
I fought leveling my ground for weeks until I was ale to get a Transit from a friend. My pool is dead level using this tool. I leveled mine with pavers that were at ground level not above the ground.
yes thats another thing...dig pavers in. Glad yours is level!!
What is a transit?
@@kholstein64 Google it. You see them at job sites
@@kholstein64 look into a (Tubing) Water Level as well.. the ancients have been using them forever. My wife and I use the water level for pool setup.
@@ChetNorris Imagine commenting telling someone to Google it if you going to bother commenting why not just tell them ffs
Can I put a larger pump on this pool I have the same pool my filter is running low pressure and rec Circulate it has a lot of power it runs really good but not sure what’s the problem
This is the biggest pump available I think, but yes you can always use a bigger pump, actually it is recommended to do so.
We were going nuts thinking the pool was not level even thought it measured 52 inches all around. We looked closer and could see that the liner was sewn uneven, the pool was filled 3/4 and we counted the blue blocks from the liner grey edge. Some stated with a full block and some with half a block and some even with 1 1/2 blocks which gave the look that the pool water was not level. We filled it all the way and the water line was exactly level up to the grey edge.
that is good! good job!!
Hi, looks like your previous pool wasnt XTR model. Is the correct? XTR model has the steel galvanized outside and inside whereas the non-XTR don't. Do you notice any rust on your new pool? Thanks
yes the xtr version is still showing a bit of rust after 2 seasons (salt pool though so its to be expected, salt also voids warranty i believe) this year I am going all chlorine (new filter so no other option)
Hi, would you have purchased the salt water system you had again? Did you go with non saltwater filtering this time because of the rust issues? Thanks
@@VMH. yes I love the saltwater system but after three years I did give out on me I think because I was using an extension cord though and it got wet, this year I’m going to chlorine because I was given a new pump and I’m gonna give it a shot but I will probably end up going back to salt even though it does cause a little bit of rust! :)
Thanks for your reply. Im getting the exactly same pool and ordering the same saltwater pump you had separately. Im planning to coat the steel end and tees with Everbrite Coating. It's a but expensive bit so hope that will work. Also going to wrap all connections with silicone taping to seal off the inside so if there is rust, it will be visible and easily taken care of before severe corrosion happen to the steel.
If possible, cound you pull a tape measure of your out to out dimensions of top rail corners at the tees and legs? Im trying to find out exactly how much the legs extend beyond the 20ft diameter. Thanks alot!
@@VMH. sure, but not sure what measurement you want, from one side of pool to the other?
With your season 1 setup, did you use it all season with the 5 inch deviation? Or did you abandon and drain immediately? I think I'm going to end up with almost a 3 inch difference.
we DID keep it off level (which I regret) 3" is ok! You just won't be able to fill it up all the way, our issue was with it so full the water ran over one side and therefore rusted to poles fast (it took 2-3 seasons to rust out though) but I know it was that because of were it finally rusted out.. 1-2" off level is factory approved. (mine is still off that much) so 3" you could go for it! Just drain and fix it next season! we have drained ours every year since I always screw it up! this year we will try to over winter it but I think the water gets so gross! I will prob drain anyway but keep half filled just to keep it secure and safe in the winter.
@@Bellavanacoffee Thank you! Yeah I’ve disassembled and re-leveled twice already, so I’m just feeling “so done with it” and was hoping I can just live with it 😆. Hoping to winterize too. Can usually get away with that in Texas … but the freeze last year was a little crazy for our area. Anyhow, thanks again.
@@tituspullo3946 IT WAS! it got really cold for a week here in north LA.
Great job Dani, we learn from.our experiences and you will know next year exactly where to position those slabs so they don't touch the sides. I've been preparing my base, compacting soil, then membrane and compacted sand followed by faux grass (so we can use the space in the winter). Even though we are compacting the base I'm nervous about how it will take to the pool full of water. Wish me luck on getting it level! Happy swimming!
Thank you Rich! Good luck ! Let me know how it turns out!
Sand washes out from under the pool no matter how well you think you have compacted it. Is why I finally used paver base some use stone dust also adding a barrier like the 4.5” tall dig in edge helped me so I had no wash out and for once I didn’t have to redo my entire set up and take it all down and completely relevel and put everything back together. A lot of work digging a trench by hand 55’ diameter but well worth it
Hey Guys! Your videos are pretty helpful! I have a question for you. We just put up our 22ft Intex XTR and I thought I had it pretty level but no… it’s off by 3 squares. And you know I thought as long as my posts were plumb it’d be ok but now I’ve got 4-5 posts that are leaning like 5degrees. I was running around plumbing them as it filled but maybe I missed them, maybe it happened later… so here’s my questions given your first couple years. Will it get worse? Maybe even collapse? Should we scrap and try again even with hundreds of dollars of water in there? I should hAve watched your videos a little closer….
OH we did the SAME thing , twice! ours was more than 3 squares off. This year mine has some that are leaning also, im off by 2 inches. It shouldn't collapse if its just 3" off and the legs arent too crazy. It can put extra pressure on your legs. Its really your call. Its so hard to drain and start over. Take a look at some of my older videos to see how bad mine was (full pool playlist is in my playlists) You have to make the call. I have two pavers that are pushing in- point first, and not good for my pool AT ALL but Its june, the kids are happy, I will drain it at the end of the season and fix it next season. Again, good luck and thanks for watching.
You’re the best, thanks for the reply. I guess we’re going to let it rip. The family is going to riot if I fiddle with this thing anymore. Next year is a new game!
@@anakanowinsubishi2674 Let’s go with let it roll because we don’t we don’t want it to rip lol happy swimming!
@@anakanowinsubishi2674
Not sure if you know there is a very easy way to jack it up literally with a floor jack n making this small wood support to assist. You would definitely need a man or older son maybe to help but it is very easy to do it will also help you get your pool perfectly level next summer..
I saw that video where they jacked the area up and were able to fix their paver. Pretty cool 😎
Did you order directly from intex, or from a hardware store? I ask because I was on their website a few days ago and saw complaints about the truck delivery process.
direct from amazon actually.
How do you install the return on the side wall?
Hi, the return should go in just like the other tubes...sorry not sure your question exactly, I do have other videos on setting up the filter which could help with that.
is it amazing and Beautifull
Did you spray the T-9 inside the frame too or just on the outside? How many cans did it take?
Good job on your setup, leveling can be hard. Easiest way I know of is to put a paver in the center then get the longest level you can (you can use a board if necessary, but make sure it's not warped). Then level each paver to the center one. This prevents additive errors from causing a larger error in total. After you're happy with everything you can remove the center one and fill it in with sand.
Thanks, I used about 2 cans just the outside and it didnt seem to do much it was like oil...so I am assuming it just washed off eventually. I will see how long this pool lasts. This will be season 2. Thanks again, hope to get it right this year...fourth time is a charm right. ;)
@@Bellavanacoffee you learn a bit each time, the frame style intex pools are more forgiving than a steel walled pool.
Are you doing saltwater chlorine generation or how are you sanitizing?
I'm asking because I'm looking to buy one of these pools and want to do saltwater but I'm scared of what that will do to the longevity of the frame. I did see a post on a pool forum that one guy would wash down his frame with a hose as part of his daily maintenance and swears by it. Claimed he was on his 4th season with the pool.
Thanks for posting the video. I appreciate the content.
@@jeremyfehrman6344 YES salt to chlorine works soooo well. Its SO hot and sunny here all summer and I had no algae. Run it 8 hours. a day. sometimes 12. I also rinse after swimming. SALT saves money, feels better but it will damage the frame , we lost our first pool after 3 seasons BUT it was off level and the water was constantly running over the metal...so I blame that.
"TAP" "TAP" "TAP" 💥 there she blows! LOL‼ great vid!
Danni good morning, I watched some of your videos and u have gone through a lot with this pool. I just bought one 32x16x52. I'm about to go saltwater system? What u think?
I'm concerned about rust, well i may save some in clorox now but then end up paying 75$ for legs when they rust. Any good advice ? Should I stay old fashioned cloring?
Thanks.
I am all about salt. Saves me TONS on chemicals. have not put a single chemical in this pool this year. Id prefer that to having to replace the poles or even the whole pool in 4 years or so. but lots prefer the other way. the system costs close to 600 bucks though....so there is that....
good luck in your decision happy swimming let me know!
@@Bellavanacoffeehey thanks for the reply but I don't get it? U said you all about salt , because safe money, then u said having to replace liner and poles.
Salt is what makes this rust faster.
U got me confused, sorry.
@@pedroaldorodriguez1161 Yep. it does make things rust faster. But to me it is worth it. Ours rusted after 3 years but only because we had water running over one metal bar for three seasons.
@@Bellavanacoffee Thanks danni , I guess I'm going saltwater , I just have to keep my eye on the ph
@@pedroaldorodriguez1161 I dont' check anything lol. I am so bad don't do what I do lol
can you put a link for the tarp you used
I will and here you go: amzn.to/3s3gLhQ This is 20x24
Your video I love thank you for all you’re help you are so awesome you made it look a breeze
Looks good! I’ve learned over the course of having 2 pools, I now have a Coleman 22x52, unfortunately a lot of the process is trial and error and certainly a learning experience! My pool is uneven as well BUT much better than last year. Maybe next year it can be even better to almost perfect 🤞🏼 IF I drain it 😏
YEP you got it girl! trial and error. happy swimming and thanks!
Hey mine is WAYYY OFF LOL .So I just don't fill it to the top. Next year I'll just try again. I considered moving it.... then reconsidered. Too much work. I just did what you did. Stuck some bricks under the poles ground level as not to touch the pool. They sank further. Lol oh well we're enjoying it and it looks pretty safe
Did you have any leaking for the bottom from the beginning of filling ?
Not this season, but in past seasons with our older pool, yes, I fixed leaks with gorilla waterproof tape. Is your new pool leaking? ~Dani
It was water first but then it stopped i have the bottom of the pool full now. Probably got at least 8 more hours to do today
What do you use to level just a shovel to dig up?
Yes shovel, rake, a level....get a lazer level if you can, it is so hard to level.
Nicely done!, fill it up more !
ha, well not a great job, but its decent! I wont' fill it up too full because it is salt water and I don't want the water spilling over the side and causing rust again. Thanks for watching and commenting! Happy swimming!
Great video!! Thank you :)
Thank you for the comment, happy swimming!
Did you notice if the steel frame from the Ultra to the Ultra XTR are different?
Not really a difference to notice at all! But its the first season so I will see if it holds out from rust better than the other.
What kind of ground cloth rhino pad ?
Used a good tarp. It should be linked below video
How do you make sure the ground is level?
bahahahahah well my friend, don't ask me because mine is never level. But I have heard you can buy or rent a Lazer level to really get an accurate reading. It is very hard to tell!
Are you worried the liner might rip from the pavers?
I managed to pull them back and insert padding on the ones that are still just touching. But yeah, it sucks!
My pavers did the same thing 😭 the pool is really heavy to move the legs like you did. Also did you put any filter at the bottom? While the pool was filling up we found that it was leaking from somewhere but we never found the problem but it stopped leaking the next day so, I was really confused hahha
I’m sorry you had the same issue. I’m not sure what you mean about a filter at the bottom. We put a tarp down. Good luck my friend.
Baby powder on the legs will make disassemble 10x easier. Your welcome folks
😎 reminder set!
Your an awesome woman. Thanks 4 the tips
Aww shucks. LOL Thanks a lot! We have to do it again this year and try to get it level, we have a pipe on the high side so cant dig deeper so we need to raise one side by 3". More videos to come.
Watch the vid where they use a floor jack and 2x4 to raise the leg so u can get a paver under there to level it out. Did you have to build a pool cove where the liner bottom meets the side liner? Ill be doing mine next month
@@kevincumms1430 never heard of a pool cove. I will have to look that up. Didn't want to jack up with all that water weight in there, Brand new pool didnt want to risk damaging the leg or liner...so we didn't. Its empty now and we will be starting over in spring...fourth time is a charm....
Amazing job!! 👀looking good! 😍😍💘
Thank you so much 😀
I have a 16x48 round Intex Ultra XTR pool that I'm trying to put up but I'm confused about the poles because i bought the pool used an it didn't have the instructions with it. But my pool looks exactly like you're pool. But with me watching your video along with so many others I'm still confused about how these poles are suppose to go. I don't know if they're supposed to go outside the banner or on the inside of the banner some people have them out some people have them in and I've noticed on yours you have one that's actually inside the banner it's the 2nd pole from the ladder and then all the rest of them are outside the banner. Can you please let me know which way is the correct way? I'm starting to get really frustrated with the whole thing not just over the poles but also becuz on one part of the ground keeps wanting to sink an i can't seem to get the ground leveled correctly. Im a renter So i can't go taring the whole yard up i don't think my landlord would appreciate that to much lol. So please any tips you may have for that would be awesome. An thank you for your video it's really helped me in many ways. Your video even made me see that no one's perfect also when doing this stuff an i really appericate that too becuz not many people shows there mistakes an sometimes people needs to see that part as well so again Thank you.
I think you mean the plastic part that goes around, yes they should be inside that but its not a HUGE stress if you forget (like i guess I did lol) if your ground is sinking please use a brick under the legs or the legs will sink like mine have before. AND dig the brick or paver to ground level and make sure it doesn't push against the pool as you fill it up (did you see my other video "mistakes not to make when setting up your pool" you will see I made that mistake too and the bricks were poking into my liner) It is VERY frustrating I totally get it, don't give up and as long as it is close to level you are ok! ( up to 2" off level is "factory approved" and mine is 2" off no matter what I have done) GOOD LUCK YOU CAN DO THIS and I will check for your messages.
@@Bellavanacoffee thank you and i was about to watch your other videos right now. I'll give you an update when i get it done again thanks. Hope your pool is doing well this year
How do I measure 📏 my yard so I can set my pool up
Do you have a big tape measure and then mark the spot and then measure some more whatever size your pool is you want to create the space at least a foot and a half wider for example I have a 20 foot pool but we cleared 21 1/2 feet around the pool
I had a 20x48
I had a 20x48 pool
@@Bellavanacoffee ok thanks
@@Gemini_901 that’s what mine is 20” round and 48” deep
it cannot be overstated how important the barefoot check is
You are SO right! thanks for watching!
I want to live where you do if it’s only a couple hundred bucks for concrete, lol! It’s about 5 thousand here for a pad like that
Yes my husband said that and I knew he was way off! ha! its so expensive to get a good concrete slab poured.
@@Bellavanacoffee yeah, I thought it was a super innocent comment lol!
Well done girl.💋
What do you use to heat up the pool?
The sun. Lol. I just wait...its still cool..kids don't mind...
I wish I had that problem , mine is keeping it cool in the Desert Arizona heat my pool was 110 degrees after one week of being set up 🤣🤣🤣 I have to go n buy ice blocks which only helps a tiny bit..
@@KimmieB. cool, interesting
I would swapped for a while
I haven't been in a warm pool for ages
Nice try...but sucks leveling a pool for the average DIYer.
I used pavers in my 22x52 pool but after I leveled the pool and set it up with legs, I dug out the area the paver needed to be so it was level with the ground before adding water. The leg bottom is supposed to be level with ground to match the liner. The pool also flexes out when filled.
And another nice upgrade is to plug the tiny dual outputs and put in a real skimmer in the wall. The flow is so much better that way and the ability to use a skimmer basket vacuum attachment that doenst clog every 5 minutes and require a fight is such a win!
Plus if you notice a slight sag to an area after its filled and settles, you can double up a 2x4 and use a floor jack to lift it slightly in that area and add or reduce some dirt under the paver to adjust the area.
yes yes yes the following year we dug the pavers down to ground level. at the end of last season, my pump died...bummer. .. and thanks for watching and commenting!