Shed Pads and Above Ground Pool Sites
shed pads and above ground swimming pool leveling prep
Having a Shed or Above Ground Pool installed?
Many times the "perfect spot" where you want to put your above ground swimming pool or shed isn't perfectly level and needs to be properly graded for use.
Many times we can affordably work with your existing grade to bring your project area to level without the expense of additional leveling fill material. We use laser grading to make sure your site is perfectly level (within 1/2") for your Pool or Shed.
Shed Pads and Pool Pads are very similar in construction, with the exception of the "top-coat."
The top-coat of most shed pads will be about 3" of 3/4" clean bluestone as specified by most Shed manufacturers to comply with their warranty. This 3/4" bluestone will provide good drainage qualities.
The top-coat material on swimming pools is about 1" of fine sand. This is an area many homeowners and contractors make a mistake and attempt to use several inches of sand to level a site. We will never correct grade with sand - it is a very "unstable" product which can wash away and also attract burrowing insects and critters. Grade is corrected with a compacted fill material to bring the site to laser level within 3/4"-1", then we use find sand for the last 1/2"-1" of final grade.
On shed pads we will also lay down commercial quality landscape fabric under the top coat(s) of material to prevent the material from sinking into the substrate (dirt) below. This is also an often overlooked steps which can lead to rapid deterioration of the finished product as the top-coat material sinks into the dirt substrate below.
All shed pads and pool sites are compacted with a power compactor to provide a solid surface with minimal settling which will provide many years of good use.
Edging is optional, but recommended for material retention. Most times we will use a plastic edging for rounded sites, and wood timbers for rectangular sites.
