Converting Pool House to Garage?

[Diddly]

I searched but didn't find anything, recently picked up a house with a 36 x 48 semi attached pool house. I plan on filling the pool in and pouring a slab hopefully to meet the remainder of the existing floor but I may end up skimming the entire thing. Has anyone ever done this? Any compaction or settling issues in the long run? Anything else to think or worry about? The building is heated and air conditioned which is a plus too.

 

[BPJOOP93]

that wouldbe an ideal space. dont pour the whole thing over leave a spot for a pit. or have it poured for a lift in the middle.

 

[mackrmnn]

That's nice the way it is! Build a matching Garage next to it!

 

[Nighttrain]

If its a fiberglass pool I would have it cut up and removed. there is probably a void under it. Once removed bring in a good compactable base and compact it the best you can. If it is a cement pool thats going to be tough. It would be hard to get any type of big equipment in there to break it up.

 

[TAMPAGT07]

That's nice the way it is! Build a matching Garage next to it!

BIG TIME...Screw that...I would keep that the way it was, add a grotto, change my name to Heff, and invite a bunch of women over.....Build yourself a new garage...

 

[Nick DL]

To each their own but I would love to have that in my home. Why not just build a garage? It may end up being cheaper in the long run.

 

[Agent1320]

I think you should do this where the pool is...

 

[Lippyp]

Wow, now thats real Thunderbird Two stuff, does he have palm trees that bend over along his drive too?

 

[Zeke]

I have a friend who did this exact same thing. He left the shell in the ground and broke through the bottom. Knocked the coping and curb down a bit and filled with slurry. He put a slab over the whole thing.

Then genius struck and he refinanced the home with the additional sq footage added as "living space." He spends more time in that part of the house than any other. TV, games, pool table, bar, eating table, couches, it's all there.

As a garage he would not have had a direct way in from the access, but he's not a car guy or shop kind of guy.

Anyway, depending on your location, maybe consult with a soils engineer and do it.

 

[Krash Kadillak]

Seems to me to be too nice of a room to turn into a garage.....
You should definitely do a cost analysis vs. building a new structure (if you can).

I filled in an in-ground pool at our old house in Southern California. I contracted with a guy who specialized in that work. IIRC, it was about $3,000 to fill it in and compact it. He jack-hammered off the deck material and the top 2' of the pool sides and put the debris in the bottom of the pool. Then brought in fill dirt. Even after compaction I still got a bit of sinking. About a year and a half later I finally put a patio slab on the area.

Oh....and he ruined my front lawn with his Bobcat......

 

[TAMPAGT07]

I think you should do this where the pool is...

First I thought old Jack (Olsen) put in another lift at his place..Then I noticed the Porsche wasn't his...

 

[cyamaha2007]

if the pool is fiber glass cut out the bottom with a skill saw and start busting is up. Bring in a good fill like minus or chat. Put it in in small layers like 2in at a time water it and use a plate compactor. It will take a long time but worth it. About pouring a skim coat over the existing concrete dont do it i havent seen it work out well ever. If the existing slab is thick enough i would just pour a slab over the pool area and maybe coat the floor so you cant see it. That will make a awsome workshop.

 

[Jack Olsen]

First I thought old Jack (Olsen) put in another lift at his place..Then I noticed the Porsche wasn't his...

But that's one of those expensive ones.

(The lift, too.)

 

[930dreamer]

Nice pool house.

 

[glider]

You could make a basement. The bunker!

 

[Diddly]

Thanks for the input so far! Definatley not interested in keeping the pool, for numerous reasons (insurance, maintenance, we have a small child, not really swimmers, etc) Also in our town you are only allowed 30% lot coverage between the house and outbuildings so an additional structure is out of the question. This place was in a perfect location and a great lot and we bought it with the intention of re-purposing the pool building. I am pretty sure that the pool is tiled concrete, I have done some reading on pool infills where they have jack hammered a series of holes in the bottom and broke the top two feet or so around the edges away but left the rest intact. I will have a contractor do the actual fill and concrete work. We do not actually take possession until late January so just thinking out loud right now.