BEST Pool Removal in San Francisco Bay Area

1. Acquisition of Permits

The well-known adage holds true: "Nothing is certain but death and taxes." In today's world, it seems that permits are required for almost everything, including pool demolition.

Regrettably, obtaining a permit is the only legal way to carry out pool demolition in the Bay Area. When a pool is constructed, a permit is issued, creating a public record of the swimming pool's existence on the property. Attempting to remove or bury the pool without a permit leaves public records unchanged, and complications may arise when selling the property. In the worst-case scenario, unauthorized pool demolition can lead to undisclosed issues for sellers in the future.

Although permits can be costly, their price is often much cheaper than the potential consequences of proceeding without one. Each city and county has its own formula for calculating permit fees, which are typically based on a percentage of the pool demolition costs and may change periodically.

2. Proper Drainage

At first glance, draining a swimming pool may seem straightforward, but in reality, it's a more complex procedure. The average pool contains approximately 20,000 gallons of water, a volume that could cause significant property damage.

As a result, it's crucial for the pumper to determine the water's destination before commencing the drainage process. Unfortunately, some pumps are placed in pools with outlets directed towards the nearest drain.

In such cases, pumpers may leave only to return and discover that they have flooded their neighbor's yard or, worse, their basement. Most cities and counties in the Bay Area have established rules and regulations governing the pumping of pool water, specifying when and where pool water can be drained.

3. Equipment Disconnection

Before initiating swimming pool demolition, it's essential to ensure the proper disconnection of all pool equipment from your electrical panel. If your pool features a gas heater, it must also be disconnected. Both gas and electrical systems must undergo inspections to verify the disconnection process.

Electrical Disconnect

When beginning the pool demolition process, all electrical circuits associated with the pool and spa must be safely de-energized. Simply turning off the switch is not sufficient. Most cities and counties stipulate specific requirements for electrical disconnects related to pool demolition, often requiring the disconnection of electrical conduits from the electrical panel or subpanel and capping them.

Locating the power source can be challenging, as it may come from the main service panel or a subpanel, particularly in older homes with extensive electrical work. Gas heaters should also be disconnected, with the gas shut off and the line capped. If the heater is less than three years old, it may retain some value; however, older heaters are generally considered obsolete.

Gas Line Considerations

In newer swimming pools, gas lines are equipped with shut-off valves at the meter, enabling the gas line to be closed off without affecting the gas supply to the entire house. In the case of older pools without a shut-off valve, shutting off the gas for the entire house is necessary to disconnect the gas line. It's important to note that turning off the main gas line to your home will extinguish pilot lights in gas appliances.

These pilot lights must be reignited once the gas is turned back on, a task your contractor should include as part of their service. Newer gas meters are equipped with an earthquake shut-off valve that automatically closes in response to a pressure drop when the gas is shut off to terminate the heater line. Only the service provider (PG&E) can reset this valve. To avoid utility disruptions, your contractor must coordinate the shut-off with your service provider.

Regarding the consideration of leaving gas lines for future use, such as for barbecues or fire pits, this is generally not recommended. Many heater lines are made of steel and have been in the ground for an extended period, potentially leading to corrosion. Moreover, numerous heater lines are not buried and lie directly beneath the pool deck, making them susceptible to damage during demolition.

4. Pool Deconstruction

The term 'pool demolition' encompasses three distinct methods for the proper abandonment of swimming pools.

Method 1 (Fill In):

Initially, holes are created in both the deep and shallow ends of the pool to serve as outlets for any water that may accumulate at the pool floor upon completion. The remainder of the pool structure remains intact and is filled with compacted soil. When employing this method, some customers choose to retain the existing pool coping and decking, creating an aesthetically pleasing way to incorporate the unwanted pool into their backyard landscape. Although this method requires the least amount of pool deconstruction, a substantial quantity of backfill material is necessary.

Method 2 (Partial Pool Deconstruction):

This approach also involves creating holes in the pool floor. The pool walls are then demolished down to a depth of 24 to 30 inches from the top of the pool, ensuring that the pool shell is low enough not to interfere with future landscaping or irrigation work. In this method, the pool decking is typically demolished and placed within the pool shell. It is essential to maintain the 24- to 30-inch clearance even after depositing the decking into the pool, and any surplus decking must be hauled away.

Method 3 (Full Pool Deconstruction):

In this method, the entire swimming pool shell is completely demolished. The resulting pulverized concrete and steel are loaded into trucks and transported to a recycling facility, and the pool cavity is thoroughly backfilled with compacted soil.`

5. Backfill

Backfilling is a critical aspect of the swimming pool removal process, and it is often a phase that can be mishandled. Initially, every pool deconstruction project may appear the same upon completion. However, what truly matters is the condition of the site one year and subsequent years after the deconstruction process.

Filling a hole with soil is a straightforward task, but it is of utmost importance that the soil is compacted effectively to prevent future settling. The last thing anyone wants after completing pool deconstruction is soil settlement, which can jeopardize the success of new landscaping.

To avoid soil settlement and ensure optimal compaction, it is advisable to enlist the services of experienced soil engineers. While contractors may comprehend the need for compaction during pool backfilling, they may lack knowledge regarding how to achieve maximum compaction for specific backfill materials. A mere assurance from a contractor that they will compact the soil does not guarantee the desired outcome. Compaction testing is essential to validate that the backfilling process achieves the correct compaction level. If there are plans to construct a structure on any part of the former pool site, verifiable compaction is indispensable.