So, I’m renovating an old house which has a defunct swimming pool in the side yard. All the mechanicals have been stripped, and the pool is in tough shape otherwise, so we’d like to go ahead and fill it in. This side yard is actually a second lot, and a corner lot at that. City code here would allow us to build what is termed a “zero-lot-line” duplex which could cover up to fifty percent of the lot. Our intention is to eventually (two to three years from now) develop this lot and build over the pool area. At that time, I would excavate a basement that would be deeper than the bottom of the pool is now, so compacted backfill is not an issue at this point. Given that I really don’t need to worry about compacting clean backfill, would it be foolish to just break up the pool apron and block walls, push them into the bottom of the pool, backfill, regrade, and worry about getting rid of all that concrete when I’m excavating for the new build? If we think we could recover the investment of this side yard without developing it, then we may just leave it empty. I just don’t want to be short-sighted. Any thoughts would help.
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Be sure to put some holes in the bottom.
Be sure you get a "Wetlands Jurisdiction Determination" from the Army Corp of Engineers before you fill that swimming pool with dirt. Plan to provide quite a bit of information, including longitude, latitude, a copy of the plat, a tax map number, directions to the site, a certified statement regarding the soil chemistry, and a few other details.
I don't have a swimming pool, but I do have a huge pit in my backyard with stagnant water in it. I happened to mention to the local codes inspector (big mistake) that I was going to backfill the mosquito farm, at which point he quickly informed me of the procedure just mentioned.
Of course, I'm only kidding about your idea. Unfortunately, the BI wasn't kidding about mine.
MichaelNew knowledge is priceless.
Used knowledge is even more valuable.
Your excavater would really appre$iate not having all that concrete at the bottom of the hole.
When you do backfill, since you're not going to compact, over fill so you don't wind up with mushy pond bottom crud.
SamT
Guys that don't do things correctly the first time.....then argue that they did nothing wrong.....if made to agree to fix the problem, rarely put the time and effort into truely doing it properly. they'll just look for the quickest fix to appease you and get their money. JDRHI 84310.51
Anything like that you bury will come back and bite you in the butt.
it'll cost you a lot more to get rid of later after burying it.
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All of the advice you have recieved is correct, especially if you add it all together.
If you are going to leave the pool intact enough to hold water, you do need to knock some holes in the bottom of it.
And I guarantee that it wil be a real lot less expensive to pull the concrete out now rather than later. I don't know how to explain why, but it just is.
(Great play on appre$iate, BTW)
Mostly because it's clean and you have access for demolition right now. Later you won't. The concrete comes out easier when it's not buried.
But the reason why I'm adding my two cents in here is to wonder why you would fill it in and then dig it out again if you are going to build there. That seems expensive to pull it out, fill it in, and then dig it back out again.
Any chance of knocking a few holes in the bottom and building a deck over it until you decide?
Yes, everyone's telling me what I was afraid I'd hear. The problem with it as it is now is that the lot is sloping to the front so has been terraced at that end of the pool area where there is a 3 1/2-foot stone retaining wall. We'd have an elevated deck area wide out in the open. Just as I hate to shell out the money to fill it in now and excavate again later, I'd also hate to invest so much in decking lumber and labor just to cover a hole. Of course, if I leave the pool alone, I'd still have to put a fence around it as the previous owner tore the entire fence down. I need an easy, cheap option---PLEASE? I certainly do appreciate all the feedback, folks.
I'll think it over some more. I get called to tear pools out and fill them in a few times a year, but never like this.Any chance of putting the foundation in right now?
Depending on where you are and the availability of sand. I would be tempted to price out putting some holes in the bottom and then filling the pool with sand. Easy to salvage when you are ready and probably either usable in your new construction or sold at that point in time.
Practice your bunker shots, beach volley ball, great for the kiddies etc.
great minds think alike and.....at the same time.lol larryhand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
All right, guys. I really appreciate all the feedback. I do have to mention, however, that I grew up with a sandbox and have too many bad memories of crawling around in cat dirt with my Tonka Trucks. I'm sure if I filled it and left it as a sand pit, I'd be inundated with neighborhood cats, followed by all the stray pit bulls looking for cats to eat, followed by my own old bassett hound looking for cat dirt to eat. Heck, while we're at it, any cure for that? Honestly, I do appreciate the input. Just hang on; I'll have plenty more to ask. The older I get, the more I tend to over-analyze things.
i'm not sure where you are at,but around here sand is cheap .50cents a ton.i'd just have someone bust the bottom up and fill with sand.later when i dug it out i'd worry about the sides. i did fill a pool with dirt last summer it took almost a 200 ton of dirt to level that thing,i didn't think it was ever going to get full. filled it in one day with a bobcat and 2 dumps bringing in fill .larryhand me the chainsaw, i need to trim the casing just a hair.
Sand, gravel, topsoil, anything you can reuse or sell later, but leave the sides alone, just take out some of the bottom at the deepest part.SamT
Guys that don't do things correctly the first time.....then argue that they did nothing wrong.....if made to agree to fix the problem, rarely put the time and effort into truely doing it properly. they'll just look for the quickest fix to appease you and get their money. JDRHI <!----><!----> 84310.51