What is involved in removing an inground pool in Oakville?

Draining and disconnecting

The pool is pumped out first. Water has to be discharged responsibly, not onto neighbouring lots, and chlorinated water should be allowed to dechlorinate before it goes anywhere near a storm drain or watercourse. An electrician disconnects the pump, heater and lighting circuits at the panel.

Full or partial removal

In a full removal, the entire shell, including the floor, is broken out and hauled away, and the hole is filled with compacted material in layers. It leaves the most options later, including building on that spot.

In a partial removal, the floor is broken through so water can drain, the upper walls and coping are removed, and the rest is filled. It suits a lawn or garden, but a future builder may want to know it is there.

• Planning an addition or garage on that spot: full removal.
• Planning lawn, garden or a light patio: partial is often enough.
• Selling soon: tell the buyer which one was done.

Access and trees

Most Oakville backyards are reached through a side yard or a removed fence section. Compact excavators and track loaders fit through most openings. Trees of 15 centimetres or more in diameter at breast height are protected by the town's Private Tree Protection By-law, so machine routes and stockpiles are planned around their roots.

Fill, compaction and grading

Fill goes in layers and is compacted as it rises, so the surface does not settle later. The top is graded to shed water away from the house and topped with soil. Once the pool is gone, the pool enclosure rules no longer apply to that area, so you can decide what to do with the fence.

Timing within the season

Many owners plan pool removal for spring or late summer so the yard can be seeded or landscaped in the same season. Wet ground makes machine access harder and can mean more lawn repair afterward, so a dry stretch is easier on the yard. It is worth booking the site visit early so the plan is ready when the ground is.

What it depends on

The approach depends on whether the pool is vinyl-liner or concrete, how much deck and coping surrounds it, access, trees, and what the yard will be used for. A pool with a concrete deck is also partly a concrete removal job.

What we do about it

We look at access and trees at the site visit and explain full and partial removal for your yard. Our pool removal crews drain, break out, fill, compact and grade, and our site clearing service can take care of the rest of the yard. Book a free estimate to get started.