Using a Water Level to Level Backyard For Above Ground Pool Part 1

You can build a water level much cheaper. All you need is the same clear tubing, but you can use an empty plastic milk jug for your "base station." Just loop it through the handle a couple times before putting it down into the jug so it won't come out. The hole does not have to be in the bottom of the container. It will work just as well bringing it up and out the top of the jug, and you don't have to use a fitting that may or may not leak. Just set your jug on a kitchen chair, or the paint can shelf of your ladder. . . . you don't need to build a fancy contraption unless you want to. Remember, you will have to store it when your pool leveling needs are finished. You have a kink in the bottom of your story pole? Don't drill a hole for your tubing. Just put the lowest attachment point about 6" up from the bottom and leave the tubing free from there....it will not kink. If you put a wooden disk onto the bottom of your story pole, you can probably get it to stand un-aided.

I've been surfing YouTube , trying to find an easy one-man way to measure for leveling my pool. There is nothing like this anywhere. This makes so much sense and you've helped me immensely. Thank you very much for the video. .

Thank you for being so detailed. I probably watched 15 videos before I finally found someone who would show me exactly how the water level works. I have a 60 foot span I am building a retaining wall and for the life of me cannot figure out how I was going to do this. My son suggested I use a water level I have no clue really how they worked but your video detailed it extremely well.

The best easiest perfect way!! I have planned to do this for my 16x32 Bestway (Intex). This will insure all 24 support bricks (or blocks) have the exact same PLANE. The poles are all the exact same length. If done this way the top edge of the pool will be PERFECT. Same pole length plus same pad horizon for all pads equals success. The rectangular edge on all four sides depend on this to be perfect. relatively speaking it is not as important for the bottom of the pool to be exact , just smooth and close. It is the outer edge that matters. Of course if you have a basketball under the center then the material will be shorter side to side in that area causing those supports to stand more upright. Good job Garret, this is the most under and never talked about technique for making a pool level. Your is the only one. I did this search because my brother asked me to do a video for my pool. FLAT is not the same as level. Water does not lie. :)

Ideas: Have a patio tile near the base station that does not move outside the pool area for 'calibration'. Good tip about temperature expansion. Be sure you get the soft vinyl tubing with a large diameter like yours; our local ACE has vinyl, but it is very stiff (so get the cheaper stuff). I am using a longer 1x2 and have my base station higher so I can read at chest level. Also, my 18'x4' AGP has 13 legs, so I started by digging recesses for (13) 12" round pavers that are 1.8125" thick, and calculating in SolidWorks the distance between centers, and scribed a line 18' diameter in the dirt.

You are the only person I have seen with a hilly yard like mine. We have had a pool for 2 years and it is always not leveled. I will use your techniques to level my yard this year. Thank you so much for this video!!!

Hey man, thanks for the video! What kind of fitting did you use for the tubing on the bucket?

Ingenious, really awesome man! Thanks

I’m getting ready to level our spot for the pool now. Thanks for this video! Later this year we’ll be doing a 10x8 shed and yours looks great! How’d did you do yours?

That is amazing. Thanks Well explained.

Awesome! Thanks mate! :)

Hey Garrett im wanting to use the water level to level a pier an beam cabin an was wanting to measure from the bottom of the floor joists underneath the house at each pad supporting the joists. I can see how it works on the ground elevations but i would be bringing my stick up to the bottom of the floor joists an trying to read the difference. Question is will it work backwards by using the top of the stick instead of the bottom ?

Brilliant !

wooooooooow! I am so doing this thank you

hi, what did you use to dig up your area? A tiller?

Thank you!

Could turn the tape upside down also. Make it dummy proof

After use, how do u empty the water from the tubing?

I disabled an I’m trying to fix this old moble home it’s a small single wide no blocks under it yet I want to do it myself can’t pay anybody to go it could you tell me how I would use this method an where would my starting point be on the moble home I really need to understand this method if you can help please thank you

Good concept and brilliant tool but it’s much easier to level sand and it will compact