A swimming pool isn’t merely a luxury for many Australian homeowners—they’re also long-term investments and outdoor living upgrades that provide leisure, enjoyment, and quality family time.
However, we understand that circumstances change. Increasing maintenance costs, outdated and dilapidated pool aesthetics, and concerns about young children compel many homeowners to demolish their swimming pools, renovate their outdoor areas, and adapt to their unique situations.
Regardless of your reasons, swimming pool demolition is a cost-effective solution that opens up new possibilities for your outdoor living area. As a trusted provider of Brisbane robot demolition services for over twenty years, we can help you get started on this endeavour, relieving you from the burden of high maintenance costs and safety concerns.
This guide explains the steps for demolishing a swimming pool, empowering Australian homeowners to make informed decisions and transform their outdoor living areas into natural sanctuaries where they can relax and unwind.
Why Should You Consider Swimming Pool Demolition?
Australian homeowners consider swimming pool demolition for the following reasons:
Steep maintenance costs
Ongoing maintenance expenses, including chemicals, sanitation, electricity, and repairs, can drain your finances.
Safety issues
An unprotected swimming pool can pose a significant safety hazard to families with young children and pets.
Obsolete aesthetics/deterioration
Demolishing an outdated, dilapidated, leaky, cracked, swimming pool may be more cost-effective than renovating it.
Additional backyard space
Removing a pool provides homeowners with extra space for landscaping, gardens, patios, home extensions, or outdoor recreation areas.
Lower utility costs
A swimming pool increases water usage and monthly utility bills. Constant refilling, leaks, or frequent maintenance raises can significantly raise your water expenses.
On the other hand, pool pumps, filters, heaters, and lighting fixtures lead to higher monthly electricity bills.
These rising costs may prompt some Australians to consider demolishing their swimming pools. If you’re in this situation, hiring a qualified professional concrete cutting company can provide you with long-term satisfaction and value for money.
Professional contractors have the expertise, equipment, and knowledge to ensure a safe swimming pool demolition process, saving you time and potential headaches.
Property sale
Potential buyers have diverse preferences. While some buyers prefer multifunctional homes with swimming pools, others don’t. Demolishing a swimming pool may increase your chances of closing a sale and expanding buyer interest.
Removing a pool can also significantly reduce your maintenance costs, expand your usable outdoor area, and potentially increase your property value, making it a smart long-term investment.
Pool Demolition Strategies
The following sections examine two effective strategies for demolishing swimming pools. We encourage you to collaborate with your contractor to determine the most suitable method for your specific situation, enabling you to enjoy long-term peace of mind and comfort.
Partial Removal (Fill-In Method)
For many homeowners, partial swimming pool removal is a more common and affordable method than a full removal.
Your contractors will drill holes in the bottom of the pool to facilitate adequate drainage and prevent rainfall accumulation and overflowing. Next, they will demolish the sides of the pool near the top and place the rubble at the bottom of the pool. Finally, they will carefully backfill and compact the pool to prevent the creation of a sinkhole over time.
Partial removal is more advantageous than its full counterpart due to the former’s more affordable upfront cost. A partial demolition typically takes only a few days to complete. However, additional backfill and compaction may extend the process. Nevertheless, homeowners can expect their service providers to finish the process in one week.
On the other hand, a partial removal creates the possibility of soil shifting, especially when your contractor didn’t layer the concrete properly or when backfill and compaction issues arise.
Finally, a partial removal renders your land non-buildable. Although you can do landscaping in your backyard, you cannot install structures on it because of the ground’s instability, an increased risk of collapse or sinkholes, and a reduced load-bearing capacity.
Full Removal
A full swimming pool removal is a comprehensive process that will leave your backyard without a trace of it. Your contractor will remove every component of your pool, including concrete, fibreglass, steel, and vinyl lining, and haul them to the disposal site. A professional demolition team will fill and compact the void left behind by the pool.
A full removal is safer than the partial version because it has a lower possibility of backfill errors that lead to major backyard issues, providing you with long-term peace of mind. Compacting the pool void reduces the likelihood of seepage due to improper concrete layering.
Homeowners can also build structures on top of the old pool area after it has been completely removed. The absence of structural limitations allows them to build home extensions, fire pits, and backyard patios that make their outdoor living space alluring and increase long-term property value.
Conversely, a full removal is costlier than the partial method due to its longer project timelines (usually five to ten days), material disposal requirements, and the need for fill materials, including gravel, sand, topsoil, and recycled concrete.
The Swimming Pool Removal Procedure
Whether you choose a partial or full swimming pool removal, both alternatives require several key steps, including the following:
1) Planning and obtaining permits
Your contractor will evaluate the pool’s structure, including the concrete, vinyl, and fibreglass, and consider its size, location, and accessibility.
Your service provider will obtain the required permits from your local jurisdiction, ensuring strict compliance with local codes for demolition and backfill procedures. To prevent damage, experienced professionals will also locate and mark underground utilities, including gas, water, electric, and sewer cables.
2) Draining and disconnecting
Your service provider will drain your pool completely to comply with your state’s environmental policies. Technicians will disconnect all electrical, plumbing, and gas lines linked to pool equipment.
3) Demolishing
This is the grunt work phase, requiring specialised equipment and operational expertise that ensures excellent value for money.
Technicians will saw the pool deck into smaller sections, eventually removing the entire structure. Demolishing concrete or gunite swimming pools requires excavators, hydraulic breakers, or skid steelers. Experienced operators will employ delicate cutting techniques to section the shell or create clean edges for partial pool removals.
On the other hand, they will cut and remove fibreglass or vinyl liner pool shells and their supporting structures. The final demolition phase entails clearing debris, including concrete, steel rebar, fibreglass, liner, and pipes, and hauling them into dump trucks for proper disposal.
4) Backfilling and compaction
This is the most critical stage of swimming pool demolition, ensuring long-term durability.
Engineers will use engineered fill, composed of soil, sand, and gravel for optimal results. They will add incremental, compacted layers measuring 15 cm to 30 cm that prevent future sinking or voiding. Meticulous compaction ensures that the ground can handle future landscaping or structural enhancements.
5) Final grading and property restoration
Professional contractors will grade the compacted and backfilled area to match its surroundings and ensure proper drainage. They will also add topsoil and seeds, allowing a new lawn to grow and transforming your old swimming pool area into lush, vibrant greenery.
Why Hire A Professional Concrete Cutting Contractor?
Although a DIY swimming pool demolition may seem enticing, we strongly encourage you to hire a highly experienced and qualified contractor to do it for you. It is a complicated, risky endeavour that requires professional assistance.
Since 2003, Cutrite Concrete Sawing & Drilling has provided Australian clients with reliable, cost-effective concrete cutting solutions. If you require efficient swimming pool demolition, our friendly and hardworking staff is up to the challenge.
Our team utilises state-of-the-art machinery and cutting tools to provide our customers with partial or full swimming pool removal services. For over two decades, our unwavering commitment to safety and 100% customer satisfaction has transformed numerous Australian swimming pools into lush, stunning outdoor areas.
Contact us today to discuss your unique swimming pool demolition requirements, schedule an on-site inspection, and receive an upfront, personalised quotation tailored to your needs and budget.