A home with an inground swimming pool is a dream for many homeowners. However, as soon as the dream comes true, you notice it’s rather pricey to maintain it. Not only maintenance, but you may also see it as a potential safety hazard if you have children or the elderly at home.
This revelation leads many homeowners to consider removing the pool and creating more space on their property.
It’s certainly not a terrible idea!
However, what matters here is you know the ins and outs of this procedure. Being unaware of the pool removal process could make the whole project go south. So, here’s our definitive guide to pool removal in Melbourne.
Let’s begin with the basic distinction: Inground pool and Onground pool
1. Inground Pool Removal
The name is rather self-explanatory; it is a pool built in the ground. Removing inground swimming pools is the most difficult because the process involves many steps.
These types of pools can be removed in one of two ways—partial or complete pool removal in Melbourne.
Partial Removal
If you choose partial pool removal in Melbourne, here’s how the process works.
- Step 1: If your swimming pool has any water, drain it before moving to the following procedures. Needless to say, this is an essential step for what’s coming next.
- Step 2: After draining the pool, punch holes in the bottom to allow for future drainage.
- Step 3: Now, break the top concrete layer and place the rubble in the pit of the pool.
- Step 4: The hole in the ground will now be filled with soil or gravel. Then the surface must be compacted and prepped for the following steps.
Partly removing a pool is the most common way chosen, which is also the least expensive alternative. Besides, it’s a swift process that hardly takes over three days. However, there are 3 significant cons to partial pool removal in Melbourne.
- A: It could affect the property value during future negotiations.
- B: Most cities consider this pool area non-buildable. It means you can’t construct any other structure in that area.
- C: It has a risk of sinkage and lack of proper seepage if the process is not done correctly.
Complete Removal
The complete removal of an inground swimming pool is much more complicated than partial removal. However, it is essential and useful in certain situations; thus, the need to know about it.
- Step 1: As usual, start by draining the water in the pool.
- Step 2: Break the concrete and other pool materials into small pieces. However, unlike in partial removal, the rubble here is loaded into a trailer or dumpster and transported to the closest landfill.
- Step 3: The remaining swimming pool hole is filled with soil or gravel.
- Step 4: Finally, the area needs compacting and prepping for the next part.
One significant merit of complete pool removal in Melbourne is that it has little to no impact on your property value. Further, this process has no risk of sinkage or seepage as no concrete rubble is buried in the ground.
Also, this area is still considered non-buildable in most cities, but it’s alright to place sheds, landscaping, concrete, or trees.
The only concern with this is the cost. It’s comparatively more expensive than partial pool removal in Melbourne. Therefore, you must consider your budget before going ahead.
2. Onground Pool Removal
Nowadays, we have various types of above-ground swimming pools. Some of them are inflatables, semi-inground, steel framed, etc. However, the removal process for almost all of them is similar.
For convenient pool removal in Melbourne, it is always best to hire a reliable contractor. They have the necessary tools and skills to make it a relatively smooth process.
Here’s how it generally goes.
- Step 1: Drain the pool. You can simply use a pump and the closest sewer point to the pool.
- Step 2: Tear down the pool. Pay attention to the type of above-ground pool you have, as the demolition process may vary slightly.
- Step 3: The demolition process will result in much rubble and dust. To remove all the rubbish, either rent a dumpster or engage a rubbish removal service. However, recycle it if you can. By doing this, money will be saved, and waste won’t end up in landfills.
- Step 4: Now, repair the site as per your wishes. If you want to use that space for landscaping or installing another concrete structure, take respective contractors and do the needful.
Final Say
As much as pools are a hassle to maintain, they are also a hassle to remove if proper steps are not followed. One needs to consider many factors to find the right steps in the process of pool removal in Melbourne.
Consider the following factors:
- Effect on land stability: If you want to erect a new building on the backfilled area in the future, partial pool destruction is not advised. If it is not adequately filled and compacted, there is a chance that this region will move or sink.
- Budget: Depending on factors like your pool’s size and the equipment required, pool destruction might be expensive. The expenses, however, are also influenced by the demolition process. Due to the greater volume of components that must be broken down and disposed of, complete pool demolitions often cost substantially more than partial pool removals.
- Impact on land value: If you fill in your pool and later decide to sell your home, you will be obligated to inform prospective buyers about the process. The type of demolition carried out may have an impact on how desirable your house is. A full pool demolition typically results in fewer restrictions on the future use of the land, making it simpler for you to find a buyer.
Take your pick after considering these factors. Besides all these factors, there’s one more that is crucial to pool removal—the right contractor.
Check out PS Concrete for reliable services from tight access excavation to driveway removal. It comes with the best possible service for all concrete works. However, make sure to convey your needs properly to your provider, so there are no communication gaps.