filling an inground pool

Beary+Ghastly

me and my husband are thinking of buying a house with an inground pool. We have very small children so keeping it really isn't an option. How much would it cost for a contractor, and how much if you were going to do it yourself? I'm in the NE.

Thanks,

musictchr25

It is no longer legal in most areas to just backfill an inground pool with dirt. In order to fill the pool legally, the entire pool structure will need to be demolished. This demolition could cost you upwards of $5,000, and potentially more depending on the access to your yard and the size of the pool. It's definitely not a DIY project unless you have the means of renting equipment and having a dumpster for disposal.  

If I were you, I'd get an elephant cover for the pool - they are strong enough to hold weight, and you could leave it on year-round instead of seasonally if you didn't want to use the pool in warmer weather.  If you are planning on staying in the house long-term, you may decide that you'd enjoy a pool when your children are older and don't need constant supervision.  

vineheart137

I agree with @musictchr25 - if the only reason you want to fill it is for the safety of the kids, you will most likely be better off getting an elephant cover, or a pool fence like the one in the picture I attached. I can't imagine spending thousands of dollars to get rid of something you and your children can very well enjoy when they're a little older.

Now, if there are other big reasons to get rid of the pool- Maybe it's taking up too much yard space or something - I also agree that filling a pool isn't a DIY project. Your best bet is to shop around and get quotes in your area.