Pool Removal in Memphis, TN

Pool removal makes sense when a pool costs more in repairs, chemicals and insurance than it gives back in swim days. Many of the in-ground pools behind Memphis ranch houses were built decades ago and now need new plaster, liners, pumps or decking. Removing the pool ends that spending and gives you the yard back. The main decision is whether to fill the pool in place or take it out completely.

Partial fill-in or full removal

Partial removal (fill-in). The pool is drained, holes are punched in the floor so water can drain, the top couple of feet of wall are broken off, and the shell is filled with the broken concrete and clean fill. Angi's pool removal guide puts partial removal at $2,500 to $10,000. It costs less, but part of the pool stays in the ground. Angi notes that sellers must disclose a partial removal to buyers, that it can lower property value, and that the area is not suitable for building over.

Full removal. The entire shell, walls, floor, plumbing and decking are broken out and hauled away, then the hole is backfilled with clean fill compacted in layers. Angi lists full removal at $4,000 to $16,000. It takes longer and costs more, but the yard is ready for new construction and there is nothing to disclose.

Vinyl and fiberglass pools are generally removed completely; Angi notes a partial fill-in will not work for vinyl. Concrete and gunite pools are the usual candidates for a fill-in.

Why compaction matters in Memphis

A pool hole filled with loose dirt will settle for years, and Memphis's heavy rainfall, about 55 inches a year per Wikipedia's climate table, speeds that up. We place fill in layers and compact each one. For a full removal where you plan to build later, a compaction test can document the fill. Angi lists soil compaction as a $250 to $1,000 add-on and notes that some jobs call for a structural engineer.

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The parts people forget

• Electrical. The pool pump, lights and heater circuits have to be disconnected and made safe.
• Gas. A pool heater may have its own gas line that needs capping.
• Decking and fencing. Concrete decks, pavers and pool fences usually come out in the same job.
• Access. Equipment has to reach the back yard, sometimes through a fence or across a side yard, and we plan the route so the driveway and lawn are protected.
• Permit. Many cities require a permit for pool removal. We check yours.

Above-ground pools

Above-ground pools are a much smaller job. Angi lists them at $300 to $800, usually done in under four hours. The frame and liner are taken apart and hauled off, any sand base is leveled and the ground is ready for sod or seed.

Finishing the yard

Once the fill is compacted, we grade the area to drain away from the house, spread topsoil and leave it ready for seed or sod. If you want a patio or a shed where the pool was, tell us at the walkthrough so we can plan the fill and compaction for that use.