10 Common Pool Removal Mistakes

Posted on January 5, 2021July 5, 2023 by Tyler Mack

Most pool removal mistakes are because you hired the wrong contractor.

We often get frustrated calls from homeowners and contractors to fix pool removal mistakes. Sometimes we get called while the pool removal is still in progress and they have concerns. We generated this list of common pool removal mistakes to help inform people about pool removal pitfalls.

The value of performance and client experience is often overlooked.

Having a swimming pool in disrepair can be stressful and frustrating. You’ve made the decision to remove your pool and the contractor shows up unannounced with a big machine and surprises you. Now you are genuinely concerned and wondering what you signed up for. Here is what you need to think about before you sign that low bid, what the experience will be like and the results in the end.

10 COMMON POOL REMOVAL MISTAKES

Be aware of referral/marketing services that are not referring the best contractors for the job. The lowest bid is most likely not the best bid and you can’t always trust online reviews.

Is the pool being demolished to meet or exceed local pool removal code? How would you like it if you bought a house where the contractor cut corners with the pool removal?

Are you hiring the right company that is qualified to set grades/slope of the land for proper drainage (landscape architects, engineers, and land surveyors) and has the precision equipment to get it done right?

Be aware of companies that say all they do is remove swimming pools, making it seem like they are an expert because it is all they do. These contractors may give you the low price you want but they are not concerned about restoration, the impact to your property and client experience through the process.

The quality of restoration, grading, seed or sod and providing fertile topsoil at proper depth, is what makes it look like the pool was never there. The easy part is wrecking the pool, the real work is putting the place back together and making it look like there never was a pool.

The contract does not clearly specify how the job will get done. A lot of contractors do not like putting down plywood/ground protection. Make sure you clearly understand local codes. Is the concrete is staying or is it being removed? Are they bringing in properly licensed contractors to disconnect the utilities?

Some contractors try to save time using oversized equipment causing unnecessary impact your property and roads.

Not being aware of the surroundings, trees roots, utilities, property lines, and taking the wrong access path.

Attempting to move forward with a pool removal when the ground is too saturated with water or substantial rain is on its way. This causes increased trauma to the yard and the road with heavy trucks, it is harder to clean up the jobsite, and not possible achieve proper compaction.

Homeowners attempting it themselves. Most of the time they underestimate how much work they will be doing and time it will take and give up before they are halfway done. Also, they run the risk of doing costly damage to rental equipment and possibly injuring themselves.

MackLand Landscape Architects & Contractors is a swimming pool specialist. We design and install pools and we are America’s leading expert on swimming pool removals. Our local markets are Illinois, southern Wisconsin, and Colorado. If you are outside those markets, give us a call we are still happy to help.

Are you on the fence about removing your pool? Give us a call and we can consult you on your options: repairing your pool, removing your pool, or installing a new one. We guarantee client satisfaction and make sure the job is done right the first time. We also make sure the client has a good experience from beginning to end.

How Much Does it Cost to Remove a Swimming Pool

Posted on January 4, 2021July 5, 2023 by Tyler Mack

AVERAGE COST OF REMOVING A POOL WITH RESTORATION

	GOOD ACCESS (10’ WIDTH)	LIMITED (6’ WIDTH)	POOR ACCESS
Full Pool Removal	$10 – 14K	$12 – 16K	$20K and up
Low Impact Pool Removal	$7.5 – 10K	$10 – 14K	$15K and up
Basic Pool Removal	$6.5 – 9K	$7 – 12K	$12K and up
Above Ground Pool Removal	$1.5 – 3K	$2 – 4K	$4 – 6K

Note: Many other contractors do not properly restore the access path and pool area to a professional level. Don’t be fooled by lower prices that don’t include professional restoration.

COMPARING PRICES

Comparing apples to apples is just about impossible. In most cases we provide a scope of services that you would have to go multiple contractors to get the same scope of work completed. This is something anyone can do, but to do it correctly in a timely manner you need to have the right equipment and experience. Anyone can fill in hole, but the difference is the in the possibility of settling and impact/trauma to your property by the equipment being used. An excavation company may be cheaper, but they are not going to restore damage to your yard and will likely want to use over kill equipment causing unnecessary trauma to your property. Other landscape companies do not have the equipment or demolition knowledge to complete the project in safe timely manner without future issues.

COMMON QUESTIONS

Settling is the most common question asked. To date MackLand, LLC has never had an issue with settling on a pool removal. Why? Because we fill in thin even layers and compact it evenly as we fill the pool in.

How long will it take?

Most in ground pool removals are completed in 3-7 days. Above ground pool removals are completed in one to two days.

Who gets the permits?

MackLand, LLC will obtain all permit as part of our services.

How do we get started?

MackLand, LLC will start the permit process with a signed contract and a copy of your plat of survey.

What is PGE?

PGE is a regional classification of coarse gravel. PGE is 6-8” minus recycled fractured concrete gravel with fines suitable for use as sub base for roads or for general structural fill. MackLand, LLC will process all concrete
associated with the pool into PGE and use it as fill material.

What is better sod or seed?

Seed is by far the best way to go. Grass grown from seed will develop a more drought tolerant root system and blend into your existing lawn better. Also with sod it very possible to get grubs and other pests from the sod farm.

Sod vs Seed?

When do you need the project deposit?

MackLand, LLC prefers to pick up the deposit check in person after the permits are approved. Mack will deliver the permits and pick up the deposit check at that time. The remaining balance is due on completion.

Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Pool Removal

Posted on October 18, 2020July 5, 2023 by Tyler Mack

Concrete Bottom with Steel Sides

Looking for more usable space and to update their yard, our clients in Lake Geneva, WI called us to see about their pool removal options. The concrete pool deck covered from house to fence and did not provide for any green space in the yard.

The style of pool they had is one we see often – concrete pool bottom with steel sides. This style is also often seen with a vinyl liner. We broke up the pool bottom and removed the steel sides. The concrete pool deck was also broken up and used as structural fill.

We brought in clean fill material and compacted in layers. With this project, we brought them to rough grade instead of final with grass seed and erosion control blanket. Our clients are planning on installing a new, smaller patio and some garden space.

If you live in the greater Chicago or Denver areas please do not hesitate to give us a call about swimming pool removal or any of the other services that we offer. Also make sure to visit our experience page to see some of our previous pool removal work.

No one removes more pools than MackLand.

Littleton, Colorado Pool Removal

Posted on September 23, 2020April 11, 2022 by Tyler Mack

Fiberglass Shell Pool

After long deliberation, our client in Littleton, Colorado made the decision to remove the swimming pool in her backyard. While it held many memories, it was time for it to go.

This pool was a full fiberglass shell pool. We removed it entirely and then broke up the surrounding concrete walk. The concrete was broken down into small pieces and placed in the deep end as structural fill.

We brought in clean fill material and compacted as we went. For this project, we brought the area to rough final grade. A third party will be adding amendments to the soil and installing sod to finish it off.

If you’re in the greater Denver or Chicago areas please contact us to discuss your pool removal options.

America’s #1 Source for Pool Removals

Park Ridge, Illinois Pool Removal

Posted on September 22, 2020July 5, 2023 by Tyler Mack

All Concrete Pool

Park Ridge, Illinois is a highly sought after housing market. Our client purchased this house with the intent to fix it up as a rental. Removing the old, unused pool in the backyard was a big part in getting the house ready.

We broke up the all concrete pool and hauled it all offsite. Park Ridge, IL does not allow any part of the pool to be buried onsite. We also removed the concrete walk around the pool.

As we do with all our pool removals, we brought in clean fill material and compacted in layers. After bringing in pulverized topsoil, spreading grass seed and installing erosion control blanket, we finished the job and left the future renters with an expansive back yard.

If you live in the greater Chicagoland or Denver Metro areas please do not hesitate to give us a call about swimming pool removal or any of the other services that we offer.

No one removes more pools than MackLand.

MackLand’s Pool Removal Process

Posted on September 11, 2020July 5, 2023 by Tyler Mack

OUR PROCESS

The process starts with two on staff landscape architects that work through all the various facets of your pool removal project such as: obtaining the permits, tree removals, irrigation conflicts, and can design build your future patio or landscape your entire back yard.

Our process goes above and beyond the typical village, city or county codes for pool removals. Most pool removal codes just require the bottom of the pool be perforated and the sides of the pool be removed 24” below grade, what we call a basic pool removal. MackLand, LLC has developed the low impact method to complete pool removals in a safe and timely minor while reducing impact to your property.

The one thing that is significant about our pool removal process is that we are processing all concrete associated with the pool into a structural fill material classified as PGE, 8” minus recycled fractured concrete gravel with fines. This material is often used for sub base under public roads. Because we process the concrete associated with the pool into fill material, also called our low impact method, it reduces heavy truck loads of concrete out and then heavy truck loads of fill back in reducing trauma to your property and public roads.

The right equipment and the right size equipment is extremely important. Mack prefers to use two rubber tracked backhoe excavators that have an operating weight of around 12,000 lbs to complete the pool demolition work. Using a backhoe is key to completing the project safely and quickly. A skid steer/Bobcat can easily get stuck in the deep end of the pool or get damaged while removing the pool side walls because the machine does not have the reach to keep a safe distance. Most under qualified contractors will use a skid steer and say they have done it before but they will be risking their safety, and may struggle and cause unnecessary damage to their machine. There are also a lot of other contractors, like excavation contractors, that will give you a great price but will come with a 26,000 lb machine with steel tracks and cause unnecessarily trauma to your property and not worry about it because it is not their job to restore your yard.

Having the right equipment and the having the right approach are key to the success of the project.

COMMON QUESTIONS

How long will it take?

Most in ground pool removals are completed in 3-7 days. Above ground pool removals are completed in one day.

Who gets the permits?

MackLand, LLC will obtain all permits and typically pay all permit fees as part of our services.

How do we get started?

MackLand, LLC will start the permit process with a signed contract and a copy of your plat of survey.

What is PGE?

What is better sod or seed?

When do you need the project deposit?

If you are interested in finding out more about your pool removal options, please call us and we will be happy to discuss your project with you.

Littleton, Colorado Pool Removal

Posted on September 11, 2020July 5, 2023 by Tyler Mack

Liner Pool with Concrete Bottom

Our client in Littleton, CO contacted us here at MackLand last year about possibly removing their pool. We understand that it is a big decision to cross the bridge to remove the pool in your backyard. Especially now with COVID impacting public pools and social gatherings. This year they were ready to see the pool go and increase their backyard space for the kids to play in.

The liner was already removed from the pool, so we started right in removing the pool steps and walls. The concrete bottom and walk around the pool were broken up into small pieces and used as structural fill in the deep end.

We brought in clean fill dirt and compacted it in layers. Our client opted for use to bring it to rough final grade for them to take over from there. Now they can expand their lawn area for the kids to play in.

If you live in the greater Denver Metro or Chicagoland areas please do not hesitate to give us a call about swimming pool removal or any of the other services that we offer

No one removes more pools than MackLand.

Wilmette, Illinois Pool Removal

Posted on August 4, 2020July 5, 2023 by Tyler Mack

All Concrete Pool Removal

Our clients had recently purchased their new home. Unfortunately it came with a backyard pool they did not want. So they called us here at MackLand to have it removed.

This all concrete pool took up most of the back yard. We broke up the pool bottom and took down the pool walls. We also broke up the surrounding concrete walk and hauled that concrete offsite. There was an old timber retaining wall at the back edge of the pool that we removed as well.

We backfilled with clean material and compacted as we went. We finished with topsoil, seed and erosion control blanket. Our clients now have a large backyard for their child to explore.

No one removes more pools than MackLand.

Batavia, Illinois Pool Removal

Posted on July 16, 2020April 11, 2022 by Tyler Mack

Inground Pool Removal

After much debate and the pool being used less and less, our clients in Batavia, Illinois decided it was time to remove their pool. It dominated the back yard and they were ready to see it go.

The pool had fiberglass sides and a concrete pool bottom. It was surrounded by a concrete patio as well. Per code, we broke up the pool bottom to allow for drainage and remove the pool walls entirely. We also broke up the concrete patio.

After back filling the pool, we graded out the back yard to be a more usable space. The overgrown yews were removed to open up the area. We finished with grass seed and erosion control blanket to bring the area back to lawn. Now their dog has plenty of space to run in.

America’s #1 Source for Pool Removals

Northbrook, Illinois Pool Removal

Posted on April 29, 2020July 5, 2023 by Tyler Mack

Vinyl Liner Pool Removal

After enjoying their pool for many years, our clients were ready to see their pool go. The upkeep and maintenance were too much to handle for how little they had used the pool in the last few years. So they gave MackLand a call to find out about their pool removal options.

This pool is a very common pool type: vinyl liner, vermiculite bottom and fiberglass sides. The vermiculite bottom breaks up very easily and is left in place. The vinyl liner and fiberglass walls are removed and disposed of offsite.

After the walls and surrounding concrete patio were removed, we imported clean, compactable fill material. We compact in layers as we go to help prevent settling. After bringing in topsoil to fine grade, we spread grass seed and finished with straw blanket. Our clients now have a sizable backyard to entertain guests.

America’s #1 Source for Pool Removals