Swimming pool in the garden - how to get rid?

molly_mandy_2

Does anyone know how easy it is to fill in a garden swimming pool.

It takes ages and money to maintain and never used now so is it just a case of filling it with soil and say, covering with a rockery. It's quite a small pool.

Or is it more technical? I'm worried just heaping soil in could lead to subsidence in the garden in the future?

I contacted 2 swimming pool firms online - their reply was to keep it operating! Not an option!

Thanks to anyone who has an idea.

p.s. hope I'm on the correct board.

Tallymanjohn

No, you cannot just fill with soil - when it rains the water won't be able to drain away & you'll eventually end up with marshland!!. We had the sme problem with a large pond. Ideally you need to break out as much of the pool base & surround and possible - you can put some of it back in the base as hardcore - then check what is underneath - you may find a clay liner which also needs to be removed or at least well perforated. Then, when you've allowed for as much drainage as possible, you can fill it in with soil - a reasonable layer of sand/hardcore underneath will also help.

darich

although not a swimming a pool it is also waterproof - we (local authourity) have have perforated road surfaces before building on them with fill material so that the asphalt isn't an impervious barrier.
Nothing fancy about it - a jcb simply pecks holes in the surfacing at 500mm centres.

I'm not sure how a swimming pool is constructed but the same principal should be applied other wise, like Tallymanjohn says, you'll end up with something resembling quicksand since there will be no drainage.

Debt_Free_Chick

Is it full of treated water? If so, you need to give some thought about draining it as there are strict rules about contaminating the water course these days. You could be OK simply pumping it into the drainage system, but check with the water company.

As has been said, you'll need to fill most of it with hard core and ensure that any surface water can drain away.

You might want to find an excavation contractor for advice. A swimming pool company is bound to say keep it - if they suggest you get rid of it, it's rather like turkeys voting for Christmas!

molly_mandy_2

Thank you all very much for the advice.

I hadn't thought enough about the implications of just 'filling it in'! I think you might just have saved me from living in a swamp next year :eek:

I'm so glad I posted.

Tallyman - you're doing well with your ratio ..... keep it up!

alanobrien

Hire a concrete breaker from HSS or similar for a day.
Break up the bottom and sides then fill it in, job done.

molly_mandy_2

I don't think I should be put in charge of a concrete breaker but I know a man who can

Thanks guys.