What's going on, Albuquerque?

Anybody ever filled in a swimming pool?

So I am a DIY-er because of my past career in construction and skinflint tendencies. I've got a pool in my backyard that I just don't want anymore. It's an in-ground, gunite pool with a concrete pad surrounding the top. I have seen info on the Internets about having the thing demoed by an excavator, but I was wanting to do the deed myself (think jackhammer and/or small amounts of dynamite (j/k)). My questions are:

1) Do I need a permit (I am the owner, so owner/builder or other)?
2) Is there a tax break/water bill rebate for removal of a swimming pool?
3) Anybody ever done such a thing and want to offer advice/guidance/free labor?

Please, no random comments about how much you like pools and what a big mistake I will be making by getting rid of the thing. Thanks in advance.

Discuss!

Tags: demolition, filling, in, pools, swimming

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by jeff on April 14, 2010 at 2:19pm

unless you have specific site reasons to completely remove the shell, i'd just do the following:
1. punch a bunch of holes (8"?) into the bottom of the shell to allow for water pressure (ground water) equalization.
2. demo & remove the upper 24" of the pool shell.
3. backfill & compact using standard practices (12" lifts of moistened soil compacted with a vibratory plate).

i'd leave the remainder of the shell in-ground since removing all of that gunite (actually the rebar is the big pain to deal with) would be kinda pointless.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by JJinNM on April 14, 2010 at 3:19pm

I don't think it's a mistake to want to get rid of the pool. You can obviously do what you want. Just wondering if anyone has ever prepared a pool for "hibernation?" My neighbor has talked about doing that but doesn't know how. She'd like to put a wooden desk over it since she doesn't use it. But, she wants to leave it in case it's a good selling point one day.