pool demo game plan?

[hazmat]

For several reasons we are considering removing our inground swimming pool.

1 - Except for the dog, we don't use it much
2 - It was very poorly constructed - falling apart after 7 years (we bought the house 4 years ago)
3 - Because of terraced layout (see pic 1) fencing immediately around pool or getting "auto cover" are cost prohibitive - and I quote the cover guy "Unless you are a <explative> millionaire, you don't want to know how much"
4 - Desire to enjoy fenced yard with new child (11 months old now - see pic 2) w/o worrying about pool - we live on very busy main street.
5 - Expensive to run pump and buy chemicals - We don't ever heat it as that is mucho dinero
6 - Very time consuming to maintain as plaster is already failing - difficult to vacuum etc. (see #2)

So - looking for advice on equipment / method for demolition. Trying to minimize cost & collateral damage.

After a few minutes with google, it seems that a hydraulic demo hammer on an excavator / backhoe / skidsteer seems to be the prefered choice for breaking up the concrete. We'd like to restore the original grade (sloping away from house) which means that the concrete would have to be removed vs the usual burial. I'd get a roll off dumpster to haul the debris.

Only acess for large equipment is on right side of house (septic is on left) but it is quite steep - falling off from front of house to back and away from house. No way to get a dump truck in there.

Local rental for 11,000# excavator with demo hammer is $700/day $1,800/week + $75 each way delivery. I'm guessing that breaking up all of the deck, pool & wall would take 3-4 days.

Plan A - rent excavator, demo as much as possible haul debris to dumpster with TC18 & possible 2 ton dump wagon (remember men, we always need to aquire new tools for every major project). Pros - excavator should be fast for breaking up concrete. Cons - TC18 transport of debris - slow

Plab B - buy used full size backhoe - rent demo hammer attachment. Pros - much faster removal of debris, machine avialable to transport any fill or topsoil needed to regrage, can work at own pace. Cons - maybe more collateral damage, wife thinks I won't sell backhoe when done. I assume that I wouldn't loose more than $2,000 on the transaction.

Plan C - buy used skid steer, rent demo hammer and or backhoe attachements as needed. Pros, somewhat faster than TC18, Cons - still lots of collateral damage.

Plan D - hire it out - expensive

Thoughts?

 

[GeneD14]

Most concrete around pools that I have seen are only about 4" thick. I do not know about the pool walls. I have tore out countless tons of concrete and here is what I think would be the cheapest solution:

Use a Bobcat (either rented or purchased used) pry up a corner of a slab with the bucket. Then either smack the slab with a 16 lb sledge or use a rented demolition hammer to fracture the slab. I would have help from local 16-18 yr old men that want to make a few bucks. If you are driving the skid steer you do not want to keep climbing in an out. So that is where the help comes in. One guy on the skid steer, 1 or 2 guys breaking the slabs as you pick up on them. Then I would scoop up the pieces and dump them into the dumpster.

Have bolt cutters handy in case you need to cut any rebar that hangs onto the broken chunks.

 

[RobJ]

Compainies do this all the time believe it or not in houston. Sometimes it hurts the home having a pool when selling. What they do is bust many holes in the bottom of the pool for drainage, then bust the sides in about 2 feet down. The sides go in the pool. Any decking is also busted up and pushed into the pool. Then a truck in fron of the house pumps a slurry (mud) over the fences in a 3-4" pipe. After a few days the slurry will settle and top soil is added.

Maybe you can do something like this. I don't think you need much to bust up the sides. An electric jack hammer will probably work for the holes in the bottom. Remember 99% of these done around here are in a residential neighborhood where sometimes a skid loader can't even get into the back yard much less a BH.

Good Luck,
Rob

 

[GeneD14]

Compainies do this all the time believe it or not in houston. Sometimes it hurts the home having a pool when selling. What they do is bust many holes in the bottom of the pool for drainage, then bust the sides in about 2 feet down. The sides go in the pool. Any decking is also busted up and pushed into the pool. Then a truck in fron of the house pumps a slurry (mud) over the fences in a 3-4" pipe. After a few days the slurry will settle and top soil is added.

Maybe you can do something like this. I don't think you need much to bust up the sides. An electric jack hammer will probably work for the holes in the bottom. Remember 99% of these done around here are in a residential neighborhood where sometimes a skid loader can't even get into the back yard much less a BH.

Good Luck,
Rob

I haven't heard of that in this part of the mid-west but that sounds great. What a time/$$ saver that would be.

 

[RobS]

Looks like a nice patio in the making to me. Can you leave some, or all of the current concrete decking in place and just fill in the pool. Cap it off with some nice pavers or something. If it's too big for your liking, take some of it out but not necessarily all of it?

 

[Farwell]

Rob,
I agree with you. The pool area would make a wonderful addition to the existing concrete decking and the pavers as a cap is a great idea. IMO, this would add value to the property, save a bunch of money, create a safer environment for the baby and add to the beauty of the back yard.
Farwell

 

[Paddy]

How bout building a wood deck over it?

 

[hazmat]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions - Sorry I didn't get back sooner - I was on vacation last week (cruising the erie canal between Syracuse & Rochester). Wifey is talking about some kind of outdoor room + Patio. The problem is too many existing projects aren't finished yet... Maybe just fill in the pool level with decking & plant grass for now.

 

[scott_vt]

Mornin Haz,
Wow, thats a sad story !!! We have had our inground pool, gunite reinforced construction for the past 12 years. Other than a new filter element and some issues with the heater for the hotub we are in pretty good shape! We were just talkin the other day about when we have grandkids, none yet, and we agreed that the fence will need to be locked at all times!

As far as demolition, my walls are at least 10" thick on sides probablly less on the bottom but 5 to 6" i would think. I have heard of success stories of breaking up the bottom of ther pool and filling it in, and it should drain properly then.

Im in agreement with the others abvout trying to save as much of the concrete decking as possible.

 

[mikim]

Thanks everybody for the suggestions - Sorry I didn't get back sooner - I was on vacation last week (cruising the erie canal between Syracuse & Rochester). Wifey is talking about some kind of outdoor room + Patio. The problem is too many existing projects aren't finished yet... Maybe just fill in the pool level with decking & plant grass for now.

Never had a pool ... but I think I'd be sure to put lotsa holes in the bottom as suggested so it'll drain. If ya just fill it - it'll still catch rain and float up your fill.