Will Pool Demolition Raise the Value of My Home?

Like all things real estate related everything depends on the area you live. Generally speaking pool demolition will not raise the value of your home. In parts of the country where pools are much loved there is a chance that a pool demolition could hurt the value of your home. In most cases demolishing a swimming pool will have little to no effect on your home value.

Will Pool Demolition Lower My Taxes?

Homes with pools often appraise at a higher value than homes without pools. So removing a pool will lower your taxes. Will removal lower them substantially? Probably not. Swimming pools represent a small portion of your overall property tax assessment. 

Do I Have to Disclose a Pool Demolition When I Sell a Home?

Yes, most cases and in most cities you must disclose the site of a formerly demolish swimming pool. 

So if you are looking at swimming pool demolition from a purely value added perspective swimming pool demolition is probably a wash. Removing a pool certainly won’t increase the value of your home and you won’t recoup the money spent on property taxes. But most people who seek out pool demolition, seek it out for other reasons, such as family safety. 

1. Drain the swimming pool

Before demolishing a swimming pool you’ll need to drain it. You can either open the drains and let time and gravity do their job, or pump out the water. Once a pool has been complete drained, you will need to drill an array of holes in the bottom of the pool. Holes will allow the pool to drain properly and constantly once its been filled in.

2. Demolish the Top Two Feet of Concrete

Demolish the top two layers of concrete around the pool and take the pool down to ground level. This is done usually with a Bobcat with a pneumatic drill attached to it. A bobcat can quickly demo a pool and the associated concrete.

3. Fill in the Pool

Once the top to three layers of concrete have been demolished use the demolish concrete as fill and dump it into the bottom of the pool.

4. Top the Concrete Fill with Fill Dirt

Fill in the pool with extra fill dirt, and then grade and compact.

5. Landscape

After your former pool site has been compacted, call a landscaper and have sod planted.

Pick a pool demolition contractor that has a lot of experience, both in general and specifically when it comes to pool demolition. You want to find a pool demolition contractor who has a couple years of experience under their belt. You also want to only hire pool demolition contractor that is licensed by the state of California, bonded, and insured. You also want to find a pool demolition contractor that has current and verifiable references.

The easiest way to obtain a lot of this information is to get an estimate. Actually you should obtain at least three estimates from pool demolition contractors. Use these estimates like you would a job interview. Ask lots of questions and take the opportunity to get a feel for how your pool demolition contractor works.