How to Remove an In-Ground Swimming Pool
In-ground swimming pools can be delightful backyard additions to any home. However, there often comes a time when the pool is no longer used or wanted, or it becomes a hassle to maintain. The solution to an unwanted pool is to fill it in. There are several ways of filling in a pool that achieve very desirable results. However, removing a pool by filling it in requires specialized knowledge and tools. The average homeowner should not attempt it. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Concrete drop hammer
- Chisel scaler
- Excavator
- Excavator ramp
- Dump truck
- Filter fabric
- Fill dirt
- Top soil
- Power tamper
Instructions
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1
Using a concrete drop hammer, break up the concrete bottom of the pool thoroughly into square sections 4 to 5 feet across.
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2
Insert the excavator ramp into one end of the pool so that the excavator can roll over it. Remove the broken concrete by picking it up in an excavator and placing the pieces in a dump truck for disposal.
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3
Use the drop hammer or side chisel to break off each of the sides of the pool.
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4
Using the excavator, remove all the concrete from the bottom of the pool and place it into the dump truck for disposal.
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5
Unroll a layer of filter fabric over the entire length of the pool bottom to prevent the fill dirt from washing down into any concrete that remains. You need to run several lengths to cover the entire pool, overlapping each length by approximately 1 to 2 inches.
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6
Using a bobcat or backhoe, fill the pool with fill dirt stopping 8 inches from the top of the pool.
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Using a bobcat or backhoe, fill the remaining 8 inches with top soil.
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Run a power tamper over the entire surface of the pool to compact the soil.
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Add additional top soil if the tamper pushed the soil down under the ground level. Run the tamper over the soil again. Repeat until soil is at the same level as the rest of the ground and does not compact under the weight of the tamper.
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10
Landscape or sod the ground as desired.
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Tips & Warnings
You can leave some broken concrete in the bottom of the pool to reduce the amount of fill dirt that you must purchase. A single layer of the concrete is all that should remain to allow for proper water drainage.
It's a good idea to protect the rest of the lawn by laying down large sheets of plywood surrounding the pool area.
Contact the building and inspection department in the county in which you live to find out if special permitting is required for this project.
Do not use plastic tarps in place of the fabric filter as this will trap water.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
