Filling in a back yard pool.

[Ridgewalker]

I had a pool put in about 5 years ago...biggest mistake I have ever made.
I will agree with the OPs comments about lack of back fill, I watched them work mine in and I am positive it has voids under the slab next to the pool in spots.

[Cidertom]

Kind of related subject:
I was on an engine company defending a house against a wildfire a few years back.. We used the owners pool as a water source. It appears that the water table in that area is close to the surface. Soon after we emptied the pool it started out of the ground. Rose up about a foot.

Insurace Co paid and didn't whine (something about cost of pool vs 450K house).

So when taking a pool out of service be careful about ground water table.

[Red55]

Originally Posted by Cidertom

Kind of related subject:
I was on an engine company defending a house against a wildfire a few years back.. We used the owners pool as a water source. It appears that the water table in that area is close to the surface. Soon after we emptied the pool it started out of the ground. Rose up about a foot.

Insurace Co paid and didn't whine (something about cost of pool vs 450K house).

So when taking a pool out of service be careful about ground water table.

That was one of the justifications for me to keep the pool a couple of more years 20,000 + water available. Got rid of mine cause of expense Too much time maintaining it and too little use. Now if I had some of my neighbors money I would have constructed it closer to the house and then enclosed it but I would then have the priviledge of sending the local taxing authority the price of a new car every year in additional taxes. Once the tax assessor sees a pool they KNOW you have money (or it sure seems that way ) -Ed

[Reg]

Progress, sort of.
The BobCat has been pulled out two more times, to my knowledge.
Both times in very wet deep soupy stuff, that to me looks/feels like clay.
I was down there yesterday with the tractor following a couple of dry days.

For THIS kind of work with THOSE drivers it seems the BobCat is less than ideal.
With a tractor I have much wider tires and especially at the back have weight and width - loaded 24 x 17.5 with about 50 gallons of Rimguard in each.
With a full bucket I can pack down stuff I have already laid as I go forwards to the next dump point.
If I start to sink I can dump it, push it around and still have the big rear wheels on the area that is even more packed to get me out.
Well, I think that is what/how I was doing things, at least I got some seat time out of it.

(-:

[bucmeister]

I would agree that a 4x4 tractor with loader would do better.

Was told years ago, before we put in our pool, that a pool costs big bucks three times, installation $$, maintenance $$, and finally filling it in $$. That assessment made sense which is why we opted for a 30' above ground. Sure it had no deep end and was not ground level, but was way less costly to put in and will cost very little to take down in a couple of years when the interest is fully gone.

[ICGREEN]

We put in a pool about 4 years ago. Power cover with keyed switch so no fence. While it's more my wifes pool than mine I will admit I do enjoy an evening swim. We put it in because we wanted our grown kids and grand kids around. It really does draw them in. Beats the public pool. They are 1. expensive to put in 2. expensive and time comsuming to maintain and 3. alot of fun if you enjoy friends and family around. For just my wife and I it would be a waste. Might fill it in in 20 years or so when I'm to old to enjoy and maintain it but for now it's well worth the time and money. We have a heater which we use to boost a little in the spring and fall but for the most part the automatic cover gets enough solar that we probably don't spend more that $3-400 for a whole season of heating. The key is to spend the money upfront so you don't end up spending it on the back end. In retrospect we would have probably gotten the self cleaning option installed.