A Definitive Guide To Inground Pool Removal Service

Inground pools have been a great source of fun for families across the globe for decades now.

They have seen the coming and goings of many generations of people. Its been a cultural touchstone, from BBQs to even baby showers and in some instances live births of babies have taken place in and around inground pools in people’s homes.

However, they are very difficult and costly to maintain and you might not want to be burdened with such costs. You can also not want a pool anymore to get some relief on taxes. Maybe you don’t want people to come over for BBQs or any reason at all.

The solution to all of that is getting a swimming pool removal.  

Benefit Of Inground Pool

The benefits of removing your Inground pool: 

• You can save money by avoiding the constant maintenance cost of the pool. 
• You can save your time wasted in constantly working on the maintenance of the pool. 
• You can avoid pool accidental hazards, especially if you have kids or the elderly around the house. 
• You can add more space to your yard.  
• It will make your property more marketable and sellable as most people do not want pools. 
• More room for better landscaping schemes. 

Methods of Removing Inground Pool 

There are four major methods to remove inground pools. They range from fast and affordable, To long and expensive. You might be tempted then to go with the cheap and affordable method. That is fair but there are a few things you know about these methods and what they entail before you make any kind of decision. 

You can find many swimming pool removal services near you but you need to know the steps that are involved before you hire anyone or you decide to remove an inground pool yourself for an ultimate DIY experience.  

1. Partial Removal

This is by far the least expensive method and it takes less than 5 days to be completed.

Here is a step by step of how it’s done.

1. Drain water, punch several holes into the bottom and remove the walkway around the pool. 
2. Demolish 18”- 36” of the top layer of the pool. 
3. Fill the bottom of the pool with rubble and dirt. 
4. Fill the top layer with topsoil. 
5. Compact the soil. 

Disadvantages of partial removal: 

• Most cities consider filled in areas to be unfit for construction. You can only build sheds on filled areas and not undertake any major construction. You can also top it off with concrete or tress. 
• If not done properly, this method can potentially have the risk of sinking, swelling or lack of proper seepage. 
• The market value of the home may be lowered. 

2. Partial removal with engineered backfill

This method is mostly the same but some steps are done with the supervision of an engineer. 

It is not commonly used and is mostly used if the city requires it.

Here is a step by step of how it’s done.  

• Drain water, punch several holes into the bottom of the pool and remove the walkway around it. 
• Demolish 18”-36” of the top layer of the pool. 
• The bottom is filled with rubble and dirt under the supervision of an engineer.  
• The Top layer is filled with Topsoil under the supervision of an engineer.  
• Finally, the soil is compacted also under the supervision of an engineer.  

Disadvantage : 

The disadvantage is mostly the same as a normal partial removal. As most cities will not grant permission for construction in the backfill areas. If not done properly it will potentially cause sinking, swelling or lack of proper seepage. The market value of the home will still potentially decrease.  

3. Full removal with non-engineered backfill 

It is a more expensive and tedious method of pool removal compared to partial removals but it comes with distinct advantages as the market value of your home sees little to no impact from this method. The risk of sinking and poor seepage is also drastically decreased as there is no concrete left.

Here is a step by step of how it is done

• Drain pool  
• Remove all pool materials in the complete demolition of the pool and not just the top layer. 
• All pool materials are broken into small pieces making it easier for the transport and disposal of said materials. 
• Fill the pool with dirt and gravel with the top layered fill with topsoil.  
• Compact the soil. 

Disadvantages of full removal with non-engineered backfill: 

• You still will not undertake any major constructions other than sheds. As city government will not grant you permit for major construction. 
• It costs more than partial removals. 

4. Full removal with engineered backfill

It is the most expensive method of inground pool removal however it is also the one with  

Significant advantages.  It is done under complete supervision and the presence of an engineer. It also leaves the market value of your house untouched. 

Here are the steps involved in this method : 

• Drain the pool. 
• Complete demolition of all pool material, not just the top layers.  
• Transport and disposal of the demolished materials.  
• The bottom layer of the pool is filled with dirt and gravel. 
• The top layer is filled with topsoil 

• Compact the soil. 
• The soil density is tested to determine and declare if the area is suitable for construction. 

Permits

As per the rules and regulations set by your local governmental body. You might need to get a permit for pool removal. Many local bodies have laws and bylaws on how to remove pools. You can’t just fill it in as you see fit as some of these laws might be specific about backfilling.  

Depending on where you live these permits can be free or cost you hundreds of dollars.  

Inground pool removal alternatives 

If you don’t want to use your pool anymore nor want to remove it you can possibly use it as a . Pond or a sunken greenhouse. You can also use it as a garden space.  

DIY Pool Removal

I will preface this by saying “It’s a bad idea do not go through with this”  however if you feel confident that you can remove your inground fibreglass pool yourself. click here for step by step instructions on how to do just that.  Now that you have seen the list of instructions hear me out on why it’s a bad idea. 

Firstly you are not a trained professional. There are certain nuances that you are unaware of that might cause damage to your property. Like if there are power lines along with the pool inground you are liable to cause a lot of damage. You can trip some wire and cause a power outage in your home or a network outage. Some of these damages might cost you more than hiring professionals to do your pool removal.  

You are very likely not to meet the local governmental standard of pool removal by doing it yourself. Maybe you don’t get the drainage wrong or maybe you pour concrete wrong. You might end up breaking a few laws and maybe your lawn in the process. You could end up with a pit right on your lawn or even a pool of mud.  

Needless to say but you lack all the required tools and experience using them. These are heavy industrial machinery operated only by those who are licensed to do so. You could very easily cut through your plumbing, destroy your septic tank and lose a few toes in the process as well. 

Do you know where your electrical lines are? Or Where your gas line is? If the answer is no, avoid DIY at all costs because finding out where they are after you have destroyed them is going to be unpleasant. Hire professionals who know exactly where to look.  

Now let’s say you got everything right except for the draining but, why would that matter? Eh? “Its water you say doesn’t matter if it goes to a nearby river or stream I’m adding water on water”  

Now, while I agree that water is indeed water. What isn’t water is chlorine. Which you have in a healthy quantity in your pool. Chlorine can kill vegetation and Aquatic life so not only should you get the HOW? Right. when it comes to draining you should also get the WHERE? Right.  

Let’s move on to filling your pool now. This should be easy, right? Just throw a bunch of dirt and rubble and you are fine. Well, you cannot just use any old dirt. You need to make sure what you use can be compacted and drained.  

Another thing to keep in mind is the ratio of fill dirt and topsoil. 80% fill and 20% topsoil is the common rule. It makes for well-compacted dirt and a top layer of soil where grass can grow. 

Lastly, whatever amount of fill material you think you need, You are grossly underestimating it.  

To make sure you get enough you need to measure the volume of the pool and purchase enough material to fill it.  

Factors in hiring a swimming pool removal contractor  

You need to check if they have their license for the work, under no circumstances should you hire a contractor that cannot produce a valid license. After you make sure they are licensed, read some testimonials. It does not hurt to consider your options until you are satisfied.

Once you decide to hire a contractor make sure everything regarding the legal agreement is above board.

Remember you should not pay above 10 % as an upfront fee. Keep in mind the price will be driven up depending on the size of your pool and how easily it can be accessed.

Now, you need some insurance that the contractors won’t just leave with half the work done. Try to get a legal contract signed by them regarding the work and payment. You can consult your friends and families who have recently gone through with removing their pools if need be.  

In terms of cost, you can expect a full removal to cost anywhere from 6,000-15,000USD and in some rare cases up to 30,000USD. In terms of partial removal, it will range from 3,000-8,000USD. 

However, in some rare cases, it can go as high as 12,000USD or even higher but generally speaking partial removal is 30% cheaper than full removal.  

After filling the pool

So, you filled your pool and now you have a patch of grass where your pool used to be. You might be wondering what to do with that extra bit of lawn. Well, as long as you followed regulations you can do whatever you want within of course the limits of the laws of your local government.  

IF you had a partial removal you can build a shed or plant some trees, do some landscaping as your heart desires. IF you had a full engineered removal well, you can basically do whatever.

You can even take on major constructions projects on the newly unused space. As it is recognized as fit for construction in contrast with other methods where it is deemed not fit for construction.  

The choice is yours

As you probably know by now, there are plenty of options when it comes to inground pool removal. All of it with its advantages and disadvantages. Depending on what your needs are and what your budget is you need to make your own choice of what method you want to use for your In-ground pool removal.

You can even go the DIY route as inadvisable as it may be. If you have enough experience and confidence, sure go for it. Just make sure you don’t cause more harm than good.

Considers all your options at your own pace and go with the method that you are most comfortable with. Because in the end the choice is yours and you know best what is right for you.

Good luck with your projects and remember it never hurts to ask questions.