There are many home improvement projects you can do without hiring a contractor, such as painting a room or planting flowerbeds. However, certain projects need professional services, such as swimming pool removal.
Why are you asking the question: can I remove my own swimming pool? Most of the time, it’s because homeowners don’t want to pay for the cost of hiring pool removal contractors. You know that you need to get rid of the neglected pool in the backyard, but you are feeling unmotivated because of the investment you will need to make for demolition and backfilling the empty space.
Here are a few reasons why you should rethink your approach if you are asking if you can remove your own swimming pool. These considerations will help you see why it’s worth the money to pay for pool removal from a professional contractor.
Avoid Future Yard Problems
You can find plenty of videos online showing DIY demolition and filling in a pool – going from backyard swimming pool to level ground in just a few days. What you don’t see in these videos is a few months or years later when the ground settles, leaving the homeowner with sinkholes, uneven ground, and/or drainage issues.
In-ground pool removal can leave your yard a dangerous place if you don’t follow the right pool removal method. Professional, engineered backfills are essential, especially if you or future property owners want to build on the space to expand the home in the future.
You need to make sure the ground is secure, which is why it’s essential to have a professional contractor to assist with proper soil compaction.
Using the Wrong Pool Removal Method
Removing an above-ground pool is much simpler than tearing out an in-ground pool. The removal process doesn’t leave as much of a hole if the pool was sitting above ground. The process for above-ground pools is less complicated, but still not easy. You still need to drain the pool, disassemble the materials, then haul everything away. Finally, the area where the pool was located might need a little bit of fill dirt, such as topsoil for the top layer.
Complete pool removal requires full demolition and hauling away the remaining materials. The best solution for choosing from these two types of pool removal is to talk to a professional contractor about city requirements and necessary permits.
Inexperience Using Heavy Machinery
Yes, you can rent heavy machinery, but you need to be sure that you have the knowledge and skills to use this equipment without causing collateral damage in your yard. Usually, the intention is to save money on the cost to remove a pool. Sometimes DIY pool removal is a more expensive option because of the unintended damage that occurs.
Heavy machinery can break sprinkler lines, crush plumbing and sewer connections, ruin septic tanks, and more. In that case, you’ll be spending a lot of money to bring in a professional plumbing and repair team to fix the damage.
Hiring a professional pool removal company is a simple way to avoid these issues. The team knows the best practices for pool removal, including the right ways to use heavy machinery to avoid damage to the property.
Problems with Gas and Electrical Lines
One detail that DIY homeowners overlook is the proper handling of the gas and electrical lines. Not only are these systems connected to the swimming pool to run the heating, water, and more, but you might accidentally hit the main lines that are running through the property.
You need to know where these main lines are located, as well as expert industry strategies to avoid damaging them. Too often, homeowners don’t do the preparatory work, then discover the lines when the damage has already been done.
Hiring the pros is the ideal solution. An experienced pool removal company knows where to look, how to mark the lines and proper techniques for protecting the utility connections during the excavation.
Using the Wrong Fill Dirt
You need to bring in a lot of fill to cover up the hole left behind in your yard. Most homeowners assume that all dirt is the same, so it doesn’t matter what type of fill dirt they choose. You might be surprised to learn that there are major and important differences between different types of dirt.
You shouldn’t just fill in the swimming pool with the cheapest dirt you can find. Most “free” fill dirt out there contains organic material, clay, and trash, all of which cause problems with drainage and compaction. Additionally, it’s important to use the right amount of fill dirt vs. topsoil. Typically, 80% of the hole needs fill dirt, with about 20% of topsoil on the highest layer.
Underestimating A Pool Removal Project
The truth is that there are a lot of things that can go wrong in a DIY pool removal project. There are a lot of materials to haul away, and this process can be complicated, especially if you don’t have the right tools or equipment.
Homeowners mistakenly think they can get the job done in a weekend. Then, they end up with an ongoing mess in the backyard and a much higher bill than anticipated. Small details can lead to big issues, such as underestimating how much fill material will be required to fill the volume of the pool and still have the ability to compact everything down.
Contact Pool Removal Contractors
Can I remove my own swimming pool? Don’t set yourself up for failure because you removed a pool incorrectly. Instead, invest in the right services so you can avoid issues in the future. At Mikula Contracting, we offer quality services for both above-ground and in-ground pool removal. Contact us anytime to schedule a consultation and request a free estimate.
