- 1). Drive a pair of stakes into the soil with a rubber mallet. Drive one stake at the base of the foundation of your home and the other stake at least 8 feet -- this varies depending upon the size of your pool patio -- in a straight line from the first stake.
- 2). Attach a string with a level line to each stake in the ground. Adjust the stakes until the level line reads level. Measure the string with a tape measure and flag it with tape every foot. To flag the string, simply apply tape to the measurement on the string.
- 3). Measure down the string with your tape measure at each tape flag, record your measurement as you work. These measurements are used as guidelines for adding and removing soil to create a grade.
- 4). Start at the foundation of your house and add soil until it reaches the desired height. Increasing soil using the tape flags as your guide helps to prevent uneven grading.
- 5). Distribute the soil evenly over a small area with your garden rake. Measure from each tape flag with your tape measure, and make a 3/4-inch pitch per foot down your slope. This creates an inclination for the pool patio that prevents water from accidentally seeping into the home's foundation.
- 6). Add and remove soil as needed, working away from the home's foundation until the soil has an even slope away from the house. Repeat for each section of tape on the string thus grading the yard for the pool patio.
- 7). Tamp the soil lightly with a hand tamp. Tamping the soil consists of packing it down on the lawn, creating an even base for the pool patio.
- 8). Remove all rocks and debris from the graded soil with a grading rake. Start at the home's foundation and pull the rake in a straight line. Repeat working one section at a time until the entire pool patio area is graded.
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