Getting rid of a pool

[daddycreswell]

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum. Anyway, 7 years ago the wife wanted an inground pool, so we installed one. Fast forward to now, the kids are 14 and 16 and play every sport. So we don't use it much at all. For the first 4 or 5 years we wore it out. We have no plans of moving in the next 10 plus years, we have been there for 12 years now. I am thinking we need to get rid of the pool... wife finally agreed with me some what, she wants a deck built that will take over the area of the current pool, it's roughly 1400 sqft of space. I am wanting to do it the cheapest but best way possible. I've got a call into the guy that takes care of the pool, and another guy who builds pool. I have yet to hear back from them on a for sure price.
I know you can punch holes in the floor, and fill with junk then gravel and finish with topsoil. That seems to be the most expensive way to do it from what I've read. The other way is to build the pool "up" with wood forms to level it up, then build your deck over the area. Has anyone done either? I'm figuring it's going to cost me 10-15k for the whole job. But if I keep the pool, this year I have to install a new liner (5-6K), play for electric for all the equipment for the next 10 plus years, in that time I am sure I will need another liner. Plus I play $1200.00 a year to open, close and keep the pool clean. So I can pay 10-15k this year and be done with the flipping thing, or I can pay 20k over the next 10 years for new liners, maintenance and new equipment for the pool and no one use it. What do you guys think is the best route?

 

[930dreamer]

All those figures are scary. If it were me I'd be doing all the work myself be it cleaning, maintaining, opening or removing the pool etc.

 

[My Old Tools]

So it's a soft liner pool, not gunite? Demo the perimeter deck, pull out the liner or dump it in the bottom, and start backfilling. Talk to pool contractors that are charging their customers to haul dirt away. Maybe you can get a deal to dump it in yours.

 

[Burl]

A few years ago I had a 16' X 32' X 50"deep in-ground pool that I removed. It had an 8' wide wood treated wood deck all around it. We were done using it, my kids were grown and gone to college, so I made it my winter project to remove it. First I removed the deck, I was giving away 8' long deck boards like crazy. Then came the pool. I began by slicing the liner into pieces and removing it, then came the metal galvanized sides and angle iron tie-backs. I borrowed a friends 8 X 12 trailer and took 2 loads of stuff to the dump, both loads weighing about a ton each. I contracted a guy with earth-moving equipment to fill in the hole. I was lucky, he used dirt taken from a landslide a few years ago piled up by the DOT, which was free just a mile away. The whole thing was a project, but turned out well.

 

[polizei1]

Why don't you leave the pool as is, and build the deck over top after filling it with dirt? Is that a solution?

 

[GMCGarage]

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum. Anyway, 7 years ago the wife wanted an inground pool, so we installed one. Fast forward to now, the kids are 14 and 16 and play every sport. So we don't use it much at all. For the first 4 or 5 years we wore it out. We have no plans of moving in the next 10 plus years, we have been there for 12 years now. I am thinking we need to get rid of the pool... wife finally agreed with me some what, she wants a deck built that will take over the area of the current pool, it's roughly 1400 sqft of space. I am wanting to do it the cheapest but best way possible. I've got a call into the guy that takes care of the pool, and another guy who builds pool. I have yet to hear back from them on a for sure price.
I know you can punch holes in the floor, and fill with junk then gravel and finish with topsoil. That seems to be the most expensive way to do it from what I've read. The other way is to build the pool "up" with wood forms to level it up, then build your deck over the area. Has anyone done either? I'm figuring it's going to cost me 10-15k for the whole job. But if I keep the pool, this year I have to install a new liner (5-6K), play for electric for all the equipment for the next 10 plus years, in that time I am sure I will need another liner. Plus I play $1200.00 a year to open, close and keep the pool clean. So I can pay 10-15k this year and be done with the flipping thing, or I can pay 20k over the next 10 years for new liners, maintenance and new equipment for the pool and no one use it. What do you guys think is the best route?

Keep the pool. Its worth it. remodel around it and make it nice. Sitting on a deck in the hot sun *****. Drinking a beer in a pool is much better. Plus Kids 14 an 16, they are just getting into socializing with opposite ***, pools can make their lives alot better in that area.

New liner after 7 years? Better be talking to the liner company about that.

 

[glentre]

I agree, the easiest thing to do is leave it in place, punch a lot of holes in the bottom and sides for drainage then a layer of gravel and then compactable dirt machine compacted in 6-12" lifts. This may not work if you have very hard non-draining clay soil since the rain water will not drain out of the old pool hole anyway.

I removed a pool five years ago but was lucky it was fiberglass. Just jack hammered away the concrete apron, attached straps to the lifting lugs and lifted it out in one piece with an excavator. Sold it for $4000 and replaced it with a much larger one.

Glen

 

[OzarkMan]

I had a 9' deep concrete diving pool that needed to be removed due to house expansion. It was 18x34 long. Guy came by with two large bobcats and hydraulic hammer and tore it out. i wanted it completely removed so we would be able to build a new pool later further out from the original location. Cost me $6k but they hauled everything out and brought in several semi's worth of backfill. They also took out the old backyard patio, attached storage room and patio cover. Our pool was built in the 70's with inefficient piping and no in-floor cleaners.

 

[matt_i]

Around me I could rent a mini excavator hoe and a tow behind compressor-based jackhammer for a weekend for under $1k. If I couldn't break it all out with that then it's definitely a job for pros.

 

[Showkey]

Some areas do not let just abandon a pool...........it must be removed and properly back filled. Check before you act, as 5 years from now when you go the sell it becomes an issue.

If you do fill it..........don't fill with junk unless you want a sink hole project for your hobby for the next tens years.

Friend just removed his pool as part of the house sale......all in cost him $2000. The area he was in ( Philly suburbs) no plumbing, electrical remenents were allowed and back fill material must be approved all parts of the pool had to be removed.

 

[rzims]

I would agree with what others have said, punch lots of holes and fill it in.
The only thing I would caution is to make sure you compact the fill in lifts. If you don't get good compaction, you'll have settling issues later which going to cause issues if you do a patio over it....

 

[ratdoggy]

Some areas you need a permit to remove one....
BTW you are probably paying property taxes on it too

 

[mikegt4]

Some areas do not let just abandon a pool...........it must be removed and properly back filled. Check before you act, as 5 years from now when you go the sell it becomes an issue.

If you do fill it..........don't fill with junk unless you want a sink hole project for your hobby for the next tens years.

Friend just removed his pool as part of the house sale......all in cost him $2000. The area he was in ( Philly suburbs) no plumbing, electrical remenents were allowed and back fill material must be approved all parts of the pool had to be removed.

^^this

My son grew up playing in his grandparent's pool everyday with his cousins (a very large family). When he bought his first house he insisted on one with an inground pool. After the first year he realized that, as an unmarried adult, the pool was far more effort than it was worth. To remove it the city had a long list of regulations to follow including filling the hole with sand compacted with lifts (10" IIRC). It would have cost him a lot so he decided not to fill it in for now.

 

[yeldogt]

I would never get rid of my pool -- some years we use more .... others not as much .. but I would never remove it.

In many locations you have to remove the pool -- you can't just fill them in any more.

Maybe this is not possible in tour situation ..... I have never paid to open my pool or clean it. I have a Polaris and a chlorinator -- I clean the skimmer and empty the Polaris every morning with my coffee walk about ........ add CL to the chlorinator every Thursday.

Some years we close it .. other times we pay to have it done.

 

[FMC]

koi pond

 

[Easyjet98]

When the kids get up to 17, 18, 19, they start using the pool again....becomes the cool place for them to gather and hang out. So you might wait a few more years before making a permanent decision. Have you checked into a salt cell system? We had that on our pool and it was pretty maintenance free and ends up being less than the cost of chemicals over a period of time.

 

[ddawg16]

When the kids get up to 17, 18, 19, they start using the pool again....becomes the cool place for them to gather and hang out. So you might wait a few more years before making a permanent decision. Have you checked into a salt cell system? We had that on our pool and it was pretty maintenance free and ends up being less than the cost of chemicals over a period of time.

Yup.....time to teach the kids how to clean it as well.

When they start bringing their friends over, a clean pool all of a sudden becomes a priority....

 

[chazzz]

What about your grandkids? they might want to come over and swim in your pool?

Keep the pool.

 

[Pziddy29]

I purchased a home with a inground pool about 4 years ago.I wasnt looking for a house with a pool.So for me its just a bonus.Yes maintaining cleaning the pool cost money,but It nice to lounge around the pool and relax when it's hot out.I will say this.Most people think by getting rid of the inground pool they have that they will save on taxes.I would consult your town if your looking at it from that point of view as well.As most town give little to nothing after you fill in the pool.Other than that.If it was up to me.I would rather build over it than fill it in.You never know when you decide that you want it back.To me it makes no sense to install a pool and take it out later.Unless your made out of money then do it.Just my opinion.

 

[wafer]

I had my in ground gunite pool removed a few years ago. In my area the bids ranged from $6.5k to 9K to remove the pool and lay sod after filling and grading.

At the time, I put a thread in the Free Parking section of garagejournal that shows the process from start to finish: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=273374

The thread might give you some idea of what might be involved.

 

[Moose364]

I would never remove it, unless you plan on putting another one it later down the road, as you said you may not use it this year much, but trust me your kids will start using it when hanging out with friends. I was for removing mine about 5 years ago the wife talked me out of it. Now Im so Glad she did, we have grand kids that would live in it if they could, there at our house every weekend in the summer. and when your little 3 1/2 year old grand daughter says she want to come swim at PaPa Moose and GiGI house. well guess what. YOUR Going to need that pool.

 

[nes999]

I had an above ground pool. I sold it last year on Facebook. I couldn't be happier. It was way to much work for what it was worth.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

 

[Garageguy65]

Sorry if this is in the wrong forum. Anyway, 7 years ago the wife wanted an inground pool, so we installed one. Fast forward to now, the kids are 14 and 16 and play every sport. So we don't use it much at all. For the first 4 or 5 years we wore it out. We have no plans of moving in the next 10 plus years, we have been there for 12 years now. I am thinking we need to get rid of the pool... wife finally agreed with me some what, she wants a deck built that will take over the area of the current pool, it's roughly 1400 sqft of space. I am wanting to do it the cheapest but best way possible. I've got a call into the guy that takes care of the pool, and another guy who builds pool. I have yet to hear back from them on a for sure price.
I know you can punch holes in the floor, and fill with junk then gravel and finish with topsoil. That seems to be the most expensive way to do it from what I've read. The other way is to build the pool "up" with wood forms to level it up, then build your deck over the area. Has anyone done either? I'm figuring it's going to cost me 10-15k for the whole job. But if I keep the pool, this year I have to install a new liner (5-6K), play for electric for all the equipment for the next 10 plus years, in that time I am sure I will need another liner. Plus I play $1200.00 a year to open, close and keep the pool clean. So I can pay 10-15k this year and be done with the flipping thing, or I can pay 20k over the next 10 years for new liners, maintenance and new equipment for the pool and no one use it. What do you guys think is the best route?

$6000 for a liner? What is the size of your pool???

I have a pool. Inground square 16x32. I put in a new liner last year. $750 from one of those online catalog companies. "In the swim" "dougherty water whse" ect..

Called a mom n pop shop to install it. Charged me $700 cash. I prepped the old liner and cleaned out the bottom of the pool. He came out and measured for the new liner , the install was beautiful.

Even the pool shops only wanted $3000 tops for a liner.

$1200 to open,close, and maintain? Not to sound mean but why don't you do it yourself. It is easy. Lots of online vids.

Try a mom n pop shop to install a liner. If it was me I would put in a deck around the pool and enjoy it.. As a matter of fact that is my summer plan with mine.

And yes they are a pain and money hole to maintain

 

[Pziddy29]

I purchased a home with a inground pool about 4 years ago.I wasnt looking for a house with a pool.So for me its just a bonus.Yes maintaining cleaning the pool cost money,but It nice to lounge around the pool and relax when it's hot out.I will say this.Most people think by getting rid of the inground pool they have that they will save on taxes.I would consult your town if your looking at it from that point of view as well.As most town give little to nothing after you fill in the pool.Other than that.If it was up to me.I would rather build over it than fill it in.You never know when you decide that you want it back.To me it makes no sense to install a pool and take it out later.Unless your made out of money then do it.Just my opinion.

 

[Rod N]

I had a pool at my last house and thought maybe I could put a deck over it and have a grow op in the pool.
Wife didn't think that was a good idea.

 

[Falcon67]

That seems like a huge expense to just bury. We've love to have an inground, but the $30K to do it just ain't happening. We make do with the 18' above, love it. Once set and going it takes little maintenance unless you let it go. I run it with a big Tagelus sand filter. The pool was a whopping $389, it's been up for almost 5 years now. And no, I don't spend that much on chemicals. Maybe 1/2 gallon acid, partial tub (big tub from Sams) of chlorine tabs, maybe 1/2 bottle algaeside. About time to fire it up.

To the OP question - Most people here just rip out the decking and fill with dirt, plant grass. At least I've never personally met anyone that removed much of anything other than that. The President's home here at the university has a "add on" concrete patio that looks suspiciously like it used to be an inground pool.

I do know from knowing pool guys that you can't - usually - just drain it and cover with a deck because the pressure from the ground and/or ground water migration tends to push them out of the ground.

>I could put a deck over it and have a grow op in the pool.
Colorado is where ya wanna be, pot raisin' is the life for ye.

 

[jade97]

Dig it up and deliver it to my house. I'll give it a home.

In my old house I put in a liner pool - $28k. there is no way I'd fill it in in 7 years.

I can't afford a pool at my new house...

 

[Steevo]

I moved to get away from my in-ground pool.
Best thing I ever did, real-estate-wise.

 

[danieldd]

We buried our about 6-7 years ago. 18x36 unground pool with a vinyl liner. I drained the pool, removed the liner and punched a couple of holes in the deep end. Landscaper guy brought over a bobcat, picked up the concrete deck and put it in the deep end. Filled it the rest of the way with topsoil, smoothed and graded everything and reseeded the lawn. Cost me $3K.

Best decision I ever made. Pools are expensive to maintain. Now, my neighbors are wanting to do the same as I am. Costs may have gone up some from when I did mine, but I figure no more and $4K.

Took the landscaper 2 days to totally transform my backyard.

 

[planeguy]

With two teenage kids you should at least wait till they are gone before backfilling such a large investment. At that point you may decide its time to rethink the whole empty nest and the a pool is a selling point to many buyers

 

[gtr1999]

I am thinking about the same thing right now. I bought a new house last August and it has a 16 x 32 x 9 inground. I maintained it and kept it clear as tap water. I winterized it and once the filter was shut off and I wasn't topping it off I noticed it was leaking. I believe the previous owners knew about this and the liner was near replacement.

I have been looking at replacing the liner $4500-$5000 or just closing it up. I don't have anymore young kids or much time to use it. I contacted a couple of pool companies, landscapers , and excavators. Prices for the same work ranged from $2500 to $6500. Most figured 2-3 days, some 1 day, and another 2 weekends.

I checked with my town and they do require a permit and inspection. The liner and steel frame have to be removed from the hole. Concrete can be dumped into the hole. The tax savings is about $200 but it cost $100 a month to run the pump and maintenance costs run about $800-$1000 a season. So overall in my case the cost really isn't worth it to me. Yes on those Hot humid July and August days a pool is nice. I do like the look of a clean pool but those just aren't enough for me to spend the time and money it takes to keep it clean.

 

[Samh]

I was in a similar boat with my old house that we were thinking of renting. It was a liner pool as well. Pool people wanted $3400 to replace liner and $3200 to fill it in. They had a bobcat and a small trackhoe. Called a guy that had a caterpillar 963, and he charged $1000 to fill t in. With a liner pool, you either need to bust out the bottom, or the sides.

 

[ncboat]

Getting ready to do exactly that. Kids are gone and it does not get used besides liner is around Eol. Quotes are in the 4500 dollar range. I want the deck broken into small pieces to defer settling. The new shop will touch a corner of the old pool area. You do have to disclose upon sale of the house the existence of the old pool.

 

[mbatarga]

The Pelican Parts company owner (Wayne Dempsey) covered his in-ground pool with a deck.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-...67-waynes-crazy-deck-inside-pool-project.html

and finished:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/442665-waynes-crazy-deck-project-done.html

 

[Blue XJ]

Do you have any road construction going on in your area? Around here, the construction crews will deliver all of the dirt they need to haul away to your location, generally for free, or very cheap, since they have to pay to dispose of otherwise. See if they could bring in enough to fill the pool opening.