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We were on ABC 7 News today talking about swimming pool removal

Posted by Ryan Crownholm on Tue, Jan 28, 2014 @ 9:38 PM
As this drought becomes more and more of a reality in the Bay Area some people are taking leaking swimming pools into account in their water conservation decisions.  More and more of our customers are saying this is one of the main reasons they are removing their swimming pools. David Louis discusses some of the water concerns with my customer and I at one of our jobsites in Palo Alto.

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What is the best type of swimming pool removal for YOU?

Posted by Ryan Crownholm on Fri, Nov 01, 2013 @ 12:00 PM

Pool Demolition So, you have finally decided to take the plunge and dive-in head first into your swimming pool removal. Suddenly, you are faced with a whole new set of questions. How will your pool removal be handled? Most cities allow a partial collapse and fill, where others require a full removal of all concrete and rebar and then backfilled under the supervision of a licensed Geotechnical soils engineer. There are many options that fall between these two ends of the spectrum and I will do my best to describe each techniques and the pros and cons of each.

The Partial Removal and Non-Engineered Fill (Sides Broken down)

The process:
This is the most common type of removal that we see. This technique involves punching holes in the bottom of the swimming pool, breaking the sides (bond beam) down 18"-36" from grade and then backfilling and compacting with no engineering oversight.

Suitable future use:
Most cities will consider the area of the former pool non-buildable (no additions or dwellings) but the area will be perfectly acceptable for landscaping, sheds, concrete, plants or trees.

Advantages:
The main advantage to this type of pool removal is cost savings and the speed at which it can be removed (2-5 days)

Disadvantages:
There are a few disadvantages to this technique. The main disadvantage is that it will be something you will have to disclose to future buyers of the property and could affect the value of your home becasue it is considered non-buildable. On the other hand, you should check with the city building depatment and see what the property setbacks are to see whether it is a buildable area in the first place.
Another disadvantage is that if someday someone wanted to install a new swimming pool the old one would have to be dug up, broken out, recompacted and re-dug to the shape of the new pool. Also, if this technique is performed incorrectly you may have an increased chance of sinkage, swelling, or a lack of proper seepage. Refer to How to hire a contractor blog to make sure your contractor measures up.

Partial Removal and Engineered Fill

The Process:
This technique is the same as above except that the backfill would be monitored by an engineer technician who would perform density testing during backfill and then submit a senior engineer letter. This technique is typically only used when required by the city but if you are unsure of your contractors abilities it might be a good idea.

Suitable future use:
Most cities will consider the area of the former pool non-buildable (no additions or dwellings) but the area will be perfectly acceptable for landscaping, sheds, concrete, plants or trees.

Advantages:
The advantages to this type of pool removal is cost savings and the speed at which it can be removed (4-5 days). Another advantage would be that you have verification that the area has been properly compacted.

Disadvantages:
There are a few disadvantages to this technique. The main disadvantage is that it will be something you will have to disclose to future buyers of the property and could affect the value of your home becasue it is considered non-buildable. On the other hand, you should check with the city building depatment and see what the property setbacks are to see whether it is a buildable area in the first place.
Another disadvantage is that if someday someone wanted to install a new swimming pool the old one would have to be dug up, broken out, recompacted and re-dug to the shape of the new pool.

Full Removal with Non-Engineered backfill

The Process:
All concrete (Gunnite), fiberglass, liner, re-bar, etc. is removed from pool cavity and hauled off-site. The area is filled and compacted.

Suitable future use:
Most cities will consider the area of the former pool non-buildable (no additions or dwellings) but the area will be perfectly acceptable for landscaping, sheds, concrete, plants, trees or new swimming pool.

Advantages:
When you sell your home your disclosure will state that the entire pool was removed which may have less impact than if you had performed a partial removal. If your property setbacks would not allow building in the area regardless of the former pool there should be little or no impact on home value. Another advantage of removing the entire pool is that with no concrete burried in the pool it leaves less room for error in the backfill process. If a contractor doesn't know how to properly layer the concrete chunks during backfill it can leave air spaces that over time can cause sinkage in the former pool area. This process also eliminates any concerns of seepage as with the partial removal. In my opinion, if you are going to go through the expense and effort of a full removal it is usually worth it the spend the extra money to have it engineered. The cost is typically about 10% more.

Full Removal with Engineered Backfill

The Process:
All concrete (Gunnite), fiberglass, liner, re-bar, etc. is removed from pool cavity and hauled off-site. The area is filled and compacted. Provide a demolition and compaction plan wet stamped by a state licensed Engineer, perform density testing and oversight during backfill, and submit a final engineer review declaring the area "buildable"

Advantages:
Although this is the most expensive option, it is the absolute best process. In the eyes of real estate and building departments it is as if the pool never existed.

Disadvantage:
Cost
This should give you an overall idea of your options. Keep in mind that there are some variations in between these that may fit your special situation. I tried to simplify "the process" just to give you an idea of what would be done in each scenario but I would be happy to talk to you in more depth about our specialized process for removing swimming pools. I hope you find this helpful and I wish you the best on your upcoming project!

Geotechnical Engineers Ryan Crownholm
925-933-4448
http://www.ihatemyswimmingpool.com/


Tags: Swimming Pool Backfill, cost to remove a swimming pool, Swimming Pool Removal, Swimming Pool Demolition

Unused Pools: Potential Breeding Ground for West Nile Virus

Posted by Ryan Crownholm on Fri, Aug 31, 2012 @ 5:30 PM

West Nile Virus. If you haven’t heard about it lately, you haven’t been paying attention to CALWNVMAPthe news, because this year marks the most cases ever reported in the United States since the infection first showed up in 1999.

 

How many cases are we talking about? Just under 700 people have been diagnosed, and – even worse – 26 have actually died from their symptoms.

 

How does it keep spreading? And why can’t medical experts seem to get rid of it? This may come as a surprise to you, but the answer might be as close as that unused pool in your backyard.

 

It might seem strange to blame a swimming pool for a dangerous virus like West Nile, but consider this: the sickness is transferred to humans by mosquitoes. Those same mosquitoes need to lay eggs to continue the species. Where do they do that? In stagnant pools of water. That can mean rain water that accumulates in abandoned car tires, bird baths, small ponds… and unused pools.

 pool westnile

This very thing is what caused that original West Nile outbreak in Queens, New York, in 1999. People had stagnant pools sitting around, and they were perfect incubators for baby mosquitoes.

 

You could go to the trouble of hiring someone to clean up your old pool and start maintaining it again, but if no one is using it, why would you waste that money? Luckily, there’s a better option out there that will prevent your backyard from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes: you can have the pool removed.

 

Pool removal may seem like a big expense at first, but if you actually calculate how much money you would be spending on maintenance (or the risk you run with West Nile virus by letting it stagnate), you’ll make back that money in no time. Even better, you can finally get your yard back!

 millionmosquitos

Maybe you’ll decide to add a garden. Or a deck or patio. Or maybe you’ll just keep the grass green to give Fido a nice open space to run around in. The point is, if you remove your pool you open yourself up to a lot of options while reducing your monthly costs and protecting yourself from the nasty things that can come from unused, stagnant water like the West Nile virus.

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Removing Your Pool Is Good for the Environment

Posted by Ryan Crownholm on Mon, Mar 19, 2012 @ 4:30 PM

If you’re an environmentally-minded person who’s been debating the removal of your pool, consider this: owning a pool impacts the environment in many negative ways. Some of these ways are probably pretty obvious if you think about them for a second, but other you may not have even considered.
water conserve
Excessive water use. How many areas around the country are either in the middle of a water shortage now or have experienced one in the last few years? Quite a few. With more than 7 million private swimming pools in the U.S., they put a major dent in water conservation. In a place like Arizona, a typical pool can lose up to 6 feet of water each year just from evaporation! Think about all the water it takes to refill that pool and then multiply your numbers to account for the whole country.

Chlorine and other dangerous chemicals. Pools need to be kept clean, but many of the chemicals we use to maintain their cleanliness kill important bacteria and can even harm tiny organisms in the soil near the pool. And unfortunately, water isn’t the only thing evaporating from your pool. These chemicals also get released into the air when the heat evaporates them, annotoxicchemicalsd this contributes to greenhouse gas production. It’s even been found that when chlorine is released into the environment, it can cause deformities in living creatures and reproductive damage.

Energy for heating. If you’ve thought of this one, it’s probably because of all that extra money it costs you to keep a pool heated, but it’s also wasteful at a time when large parts of the country are struggling to cover our basic energy needs. Heating 7 million pools puts a lot of pressure on the system, when that energy might be better used elsewhere.

Erosion. This is one very few people even know about, but swimming pools can cause the land to erode. Why? Because they’re so heavy. In fact, some areas close to coastlines have banned people from installing any more private pools because all of that extra weight has caused the land to sink and water levels to rise. It seems insane to think about, but your pool could actually be causing the coastline to erode at a faster rate.

People have comSwimming Pool Removal Estimatee up with “solutions” for some of these problems, but there’s nothing that solves everything. Using different, safer chemicals to clean their pool, for example, can help. As can heating the pool with solar covers. But those things don’t offset the damage that can be done by pools, and some “fixes” just cause other problems. For example, saltwater pools have become more popular in recent years as an environmentally-safe alternative to traditional pools, but many people don’t realize that backwash from pools that are treated with salt water pool generators can actually kill their plants and sterilize the soil, which will stop future plants from growing.

The best way to protect the environment – and your wallet – is to have your old pool removed altogether. After the one-time cost of removal, you’ll get your yard back, regain financial freedom, and be able to relax knowing that you’ve done your part to help make your neighborhood cleaner and safer.

 

If you have any questions regarding the swimming pool removal process.

Feel free to contact me.

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How to Tell If It's Time to Remove Your Pool

Posted by Ryan Crownholm on Mon, Mar 12, 2012 @ 8:00 PM

Did you know that keeping and maintaining a pool might be costing you $2,000 to $3,000 a year for an average-size model? Thousands of dollars a year for the rest of your life that might be better spent on traveling, remodeling, or kids’ college expenses. And that’s not even counting any repairs that you’ve had to do over the years.

You’ve been thinking about getting your pool removed, but how do you know if it’s really time? While there’s no one-size-fits-all definitive reason to get rid of an old pool, lots of factors can affect your decision.

The kids are gone. Maybe you bought your pool when your children were little and it seemed worth the investment rather than joining a swimming club or going to the water park all the time, but now they’ve grown up. What’s the point of keeping an expensive pool when you and your spouse barely use it, and the kids only visit once in a while?

You want to sell. If you’re thinking about selling your home, you might be surprised to learn that having an expensive pool to maintain may actually hurting the value rather than helping it. Especially if the pool is older and hasn’t been maintained in pristine condition. Consult with your realtor to see if they believe they can get you a better offer if the pool is removed.

You have to repair it. Normal maintenance isn’t the only expense involved in keeping a pool. If you ever have to pay for repairs, you might find yourself out thousands. In fact, many people discover that it’s actually less expensive to simply remove the pool than to fix something they’re not getting a lot of us out of.

You want your yard back. Having a pool always seems like a great idea at the time, but after the novelty wears off, many people discover that they simply have an expensive hole in the ground taking up their yard. It’s only usable a few months out of the year, so the rest of the time the pool is just a reminder of the nice yard they used to have.

You want to buy. Not everyone wants a pool, but if you truly love a house with one already built in, that doesn’t mean that you have to give up on it. The cost of pool removal is something that will even out within 2 to 3 years when you consider how much it takes to maintain a pool. Some buyers even negotiate the price down to cover the cost of pool removal.

You want to free up money for your future. The cost of pool removal isn’t insignificant, but it’s a one-time expense and then it’s done. Keeping a pool is like a car payment that never ends. Without a pool to pay for, all that money can go towards allowing you to live the life you want.

Whatever the reason, every year thousands of people come to the decision that keeping and maintaining their pool just isn’t worth it, but they don’t know how to get rid of it. A professional pool removal service can help by making the endeavor fast and easy. All you have to do is sit back and watch while everything is handled – from the demolition, to the backfill, and through the final grade. In as little as a week, you can have your yard back the way you want it and stop worrying about the continuing costs of keeping a pool.

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The Full Engineered Swimming Pool Removal Process

Posted by Ryan Crownholm on Mon, Feb 13, 2012 @ 4:16 PM

Have you ever wondered what exactly we do during the swimming pool removal process? Take a look at a video of one of our Full Engineered Pool Demolitions to get an idea of what goes into removing that unwanted swimming pool.

 

If you have any questions or would like us to bid on your project; feel free to contact us or get a free estimate for swimming pool removal in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area.

 

 

 

Tags: remove pool, Swimming Pool Backfill, Swimming Pool Removal, demolish pool, pool demolition, excavate pool, pool removal, Swimming Pool Demolition

Kids Are Gone? Maybe the Pool Should Be, Too

Posted by Ryan Crownholm on Thu, Jul 28, 2011 @ 6:17 PM


When you first bought your home, your pool might have been an attractive feature. You wanted the ability to teach your kids how to swim at home, throw pool parties for their birthdays, and keep them active during the summer. Those memories made the investment worthwhile.

But after your kids have moved out to go to college or start their careers, it might be time to consider whether or not you want to keep that pool.  How often do you and your spouse go for a dip? Is the hassle of maintenance worth it? Where else can you spend all the money you’re now “sinking” into your pool? What about all that space it’s taking up in your backyard?

You may not have considered pool removal, but for many, it’s the right option. As you’ve regained your freedom, you may be looking for funds to go on that vacation you’ve been putting off or take up a new hobby. If you don’t use your pool often, visiting a community pool every now and then is much cheaper than spending $200 on maintenance, not to mention the added electricity and water costs.

Many people assume that they should keep their pool to maintain their home value, but the truth is that, as a pool ages, it can negatively affect the value of your home. And in neighborhoods where pools aren’t the norm, it can make selling your home harder. To find out how pool removal affects the value of your home, get a professional opinion from a real estate agent.

And consider how you could use the extra space in your backyard. Thinking about getting a dog to fill the empty nest? He’ll appreciate the room to run around. Or you could start that vegetable garden you’ve always dreamed of having. The possibilities are endless!

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8 Ways to Spend the Money You’ll Save WhenYour Pool’s Removed

Posted by Ryan Crownholm on Mon, Jul 25, 2011 @ 4:55 PM

Getting rid of that pool you rarely use? You may not realize just how much money you’ll be saving in the long run. With maintenance fees at around $200 a month, you’ll have an extra $2,400 every year to do with as you please! Here are just a few of the ways you could use that money.

  1. Work on your swing. Why not join a country club? After the one-time initiation costs, it’s likely your monthly fee will be less than your old pool maintenance charge. Perhaps you could invest your extra dough in a few drinks at the bar.

  2. Discover Hawaii. Start an annual tradition of a week-long trip to the Aloha state. Packages for your hotel and flight will run you between $800 and $2000, so you may even be able to bring along a friend. Visit the volcanoes, go hula dancing, enjoy a luau, catch a wave, or just relax by the ocean.  Why not visit a different island every year?

  3. Plan a monthly spa day. Relieve your stress from the work week, or get a break from those screaming kids. A nice massage or body wrap will help you feel your best, and why not try a facial, so you look your best, too? With a budget of $200 a month, you can go to town!

  4. Learn to fly a plane. While costs vary depending on your region, flight school costs between $3,000 and $4,000 to complete, so throw that money you’re saving in an account and, in less than two years time, you’ll be ready to get in the cockpit, enjoying life among the clouds.

  5. Go on a second honeymoon. Didn’t have the budget to do what you wanted the first time? Now you do! Visit the Venice canals in Italy. Take a safari in Africa. Enjoy fine French dining in Paris. The world’s your oyster!

  6. See the Super Bowl live. In 2010, tickets for the big game went for anywhere from $1,350 to $315,401. Sure, you’ll be on the lower end of the range, but you’ll still get to see the action in person.

  7. Buy a home entertainment system.  How great would a 60” screen look in your living room? What about a surround sound system to go along with it?  Get the experience of the movie theater right in your own home.

  8. Learn to play the guitar. Who doesn’t secretly want to be a rock start? Now’s your chance. For a few hundred dollars, you can invest in a nice Martin or Fender, and then spend the rest of the money on lessons from a professional.

Okay, you might just save the extra cash in an emergency fund, pay down credit card debt, or invest it for your child’s college education, but now you have a sense of just how much money you are throwing away on a pool you rarely use.  Let us help you take the leap!

 

 


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A Couple of Top 10's To Consider When Removing Your Swimming Pool

Posted by Ryan Crownholm on Fri, Mar 19, 2010 @ 10:49 AM

If you are reading this blog right now, you are most likely among the thousands of Americans who are fed up with the maintenance, repairs, and liability of having a Swimming Pool. I have personally removed hundreds of swimming pools in the San Francisco Bay Area, and thought I would share some of my clients' experiences and how they came to the final decision to hire Dig & Demo to get rid of it.

Top 10 Reasons Most people remove their Swimming Pool.

  1. "The kids used it for years and now they have moved out and it never gets used"
  2. "The pool is in desperate need of a remodel but the cost of the remodel is too high to justify"
  3. "The pool is leaking and the cost of repair is more than the cost of removal."
  4. "We are moving out and renting the property and don't want the liability of a pool."
  5. "We never wanted a pool but the home of our dreams already had one."
  6. "The pool takes up our whole yard and we want room for the kids, dogs, us to play"
  7. "We want a pool more suiting of the house (make my round pool square)."
  8. "We want to put an addition on our existing home and the pool is in the way."
  9. "I drained my pool to save water and it popped 2 feet out of the ground!" True story
  10. "I'm greening my home and want to save water and engergy."

Top 10 Things to Consider When Hiring a Pool Removal Contractor.

  1. Check the contractors license number at http://www.cslb.ca.gov/ or by calling 1-800-321-2752.
  2. Get at least 3 bids from quality swimming pool removal contractors
  3. Get a minimum of 10 references and call at least 3 of them.
  4. Make sure all project expectations are in writing and only sign the contract if you understand the terms. There should be NO change orders or up charges for a pool removal if bid is done properly.
  5. Confirm that your pool removal contractor has general liabilitiy insurance and workers compensation. Also, make sure they will not be using any subcontractors without your knowledge.
  6. Never pay more than 10% or $1000, which ever is less, for a deposit. Additionally, never let the payments get ahead of the work.
  7. Before work commences, make sure your contractor has pulled the proper permits.
  8. Ask your contractor what techniques they will use for compaction and ensure it is appropriate for the soil type.
  9. Whoever you decide to hire, it is important that they have substantial experience in removing pools. If the process is done incorrectly, the cost to correct the mistakes will be more than the original cost of the removal.
  10. Do NOT make your final payment until all work is done to your satisfaction and all items in the contract have been fulfilled. (This includes the city permit being finalized)

Thank you for reading and I hope you find this helpful. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have. Please feel free to call me.

Ryan Crownholm
Dig & Demo
925-933-4448
General Engineering Contractor
lic # 834630
http://www.ihatemyswimmingpool.com/

Tags: Swimming Pool Backfill, Swimming Pool Removal, Swimming Pool Demolition