Do I wet my mason sand base before the final compacting pass

[Dynastol]

I have built my mason sand base over the past couple of weeks (see attached picture) - is it a problem that the sand has dried out because the pile of sand was sitting around in the California sun for so long before I shoveled it into the frame?
I saw people on YouTube spray sand with water as they were compacting it; is that something I should do before the final leveling/compacting pass?

 

[kellyfair]

I have built my mason sand base over the past couple of weeks (see attached picture) - is it a problem that the sand has dried out because the pile of sand was sitting around in the California sun for so long before I shoveled it into the frame?
I saw people on YouTube spray sand with water as they were compacting it; is that something I should do before the final leveling/compacting pass?

Couldn’t hurt!

 

[phonedave]

I have built my mason sand base over the past couple of weeks (see attached picture) - is it a problem that the sand has dried out because the pile of sand was sitting around in the California sun for so long before I shoveled it into the frame?
I saw people on YouTube spray sand with water as they were compacting it; is that something I should do before the final leveling/compacting pass?

Time for my PSA on soil compaction.

Soil compaction is a LOT more scientific than "Wet it pretty good and then pack it down a lot". This is why we recommend that people do not build up the soil under a pool to level it, but instead dig down.

However, it looks like in your case you are putting your pool on a asphalt driveway and you are using sand just to get it level, and just to get it to where you can put the wood supports for an Intex type pool
You also have constructed a frame to hold in the sand.

In this case you should be OK. Your sand layer is only 1 to 2 inches thick, and mason sand is pretty forgiving when it comes to compaction. Wetting the sand will help with compaction and help you to get a smoother finish on it though.

 

[Dynastol]

Time for my PSA on soil compaction.

Soil compaction is a LOT more scientific than "Wet it pretty good and then pack it down a lot". This is why we recommend that people do not build up the soil under a pool to level it, but instead dig down.

However, it looks like in your case you are putting your pool on a asphalt driveway and you are using sand just to get it level, and just to get it to where you can put the wood supports for an Intex type pool
You also have constructed a frame to hold in the sand.

In this case you should be OK. Your sand layer is only 1 to 2 inches thick, and mason sand is pretty forgiving when it comes to compaction. Wetting the sand will help with compaction and help you to get a smoother finish on it though.

Thank you!