DIY Pool Removals

Some homeowners tackle pool removal themselves. The quick fill option requires only basic tools, including a sledge hammer and wheel barrow. One also must get delivered a load of clean fill dirt equal to the pool’s volume.

The demo and fill option required considerably more labor and possibly a jackhammer, but in theory, this can be done by the homeowner as well.

POSSIBLY get pix from TNC super volunteer John Gray’s daughter

Cost of material to fill in a pool:

• Typical pool of 400 sq ft, avg. depth of 4 ft, requires 60 yards of fill.
• Fill is sold by the ton, 1 ton= 25 cu ft or 0.93 yards, but compaction reduces that by about 20%, to 0.75 yards, so you need about 80 tons.
• One truckload is about 21 tons, so nearly 4 truckloads are needed.
• Typically would order 3 loads of fill dirt or haul-off dirt at $17 - $22/ton, then nearly 1 truckload or 17 tons of screened fill at about $24/ton.
• If planting a zeriscape, may want top 3 inches or about 5 tons of DG or decomposed granite on top, at $40-$45/ton.
• If on urban fringe, there may be a remote delivery fee of around $100/truckload.

Total costs range from $1,500 to $2,000, plus any remote delivery fees. Other possible costs include renting a jackhammer and a compactor.