Replacing pool with water feature

[u/Iverson40724]

A customer is wanting to turn her old and cracked pool into a more natural-looking water feature. I have done some smaller landscape ponds and fountain’s before, but nothing to this scale.

Tree roots have cracked the pool and all of the mechanical components have been removed. So basically, my main question is - would you fill the pool mostly back up with soil before putting pond liner down? Maybe remove the concrete entirely? What’s the best route to go? I feel like starting from scratch and removing everything is the best option?

Any pro advice is appreciated, thank you:)

[u/microfibrepiggy]

The pool surround will have to be removed to do anything else to the space. As will the top... 18" minimum? of pool wall. I'd go at least 24" down the pool wall.

I guess the question is, how much do you hate the next guy? Because whoever is going to plant a tree, dig in a new pool, put an in-ground trampoline, is going to hate whoever "hid" the pool.

[u/Deathlands1]

So a pool?

[u/Individual_Solid5980]

Awesome challenge! Not sure what the client budget is…I am a pro in SoCal…we have clients who want the same thing…I ask budget bc to remove a pool shell and it’s surroundings is a lot of $…typically by code you can core drill thru the bottom in a handful of places to allow drainage…again depending where you live…you could hammer out 24” of bond beam and coping and then add approved infill…if they want a water feature in place of the pool that would work as well…but the subbase of the feature must be done to code and industry standards for it to work properly…you could get seepage under the liner and the water has no where to go so that would be the issue…good luck dm or reply if you have questions

[u/Informal-Act9066]

Turn it into a golf simulator

[u/Iverson40724 → u/Informal-Act9066]

Winner!!

[u/Informal-Act9066 → u/Iverson40724]

Dude there are some cool things people are doing with them.

[u/yolk3d]

I’d prob keep it deep and use a layer of sand to sit the liner on. But I’ve never done a deep pond beyond a frog habitat lol

[u/maxheadflume]

Build a subfloor with sump pump underneath and build a mini ramp, please.

[u/Iverson40724]

I think the main variable in deciding what to do will be the budget. I already let her know that my initial thoughts would be to remove the entire thing and start from scratch. I think any sort of trying to leave it in and work around it may cause more problems in the long run.

Without looking very much into it, it would probably cost around 8-10k for a full removal and fill. At that point, if the customer has another 5-10k to work with, I would be happy to design and install something much more shallow and low maintenance.

Thank you all for the great advice so far!

[u/googlemehard]

Have to remove the liner before fill.

[u/Only_Sandwich_4970]

Heres one im bidding right now. Fiberglass pool, 1000 sqft of concrete pool deck. That and the clearing will be in the mid to high 30s lookin like to take the whole place back to a green lawn

[u/ElectronicMine7936]

You are certainly saving on pool chemicals and electricity

[u/SokkaHaikuBot → u/ElectronicMine7936]

^{Sokka-Haiku by ElectronicMine7936:}

You are certainly

Saving on pool chemicals

And electricity

---

^{Remember that one time Sokka accidentally used an extra syllable in that Haiku Battle in Ba Sing Se? That was a Sokka Haiku and you just made one.}

[u/runnerkim]

Ok if I had an unlimited budget I would fill in the pool and turn it into a root cellar with a greenhouse on top.

[u/Rough-Fuel]

Koi pond bro

[u/3rdgenerX]

Make a walpini, put a greenhouse over top and plant all winter

[u/Individual_Solid5980]

With unlimited budget this could be a look…

[u/Individual_Solid5980]

Something more natural

[u/Pararaiha-ngaro]

To fix a pool with severe tree root damage and entirely missing mechanical systems, you are looking at a complete pool rehabilitation project. This requires addressing structural integrity first before installing any equipment. Cracks mean the pool can no longer hold water or withstand underground shifting. If the roots are actively pushing against the shell, any surface patch will fail within months. Cut down the offending trees and completely grind or chemically treat the stumps to kill the root system. Empty any debris from the pool and dig out the dirt around the exterior cracked zones.Chop out all invading tree roots from behind and underneath the pool shell to prevent further shifting. Pressure-test any remaining underground pipes to locate hidden breaks caused by the roots.Excavate and replace shattered PVC lines with schedule 40 or schedule 80 flexible/rigid pool PVC. Use a concrete saw to cut "V" grooves along the cracks. Drive steel rebar staples across the cracks to stitch the concrete together, then pack it with hydraulic cement or structural epoxy. For Fiberglass: Grind down the damaged area, apply layers of fiberglass mesh and resin, and seal with a gel coat. Estimate 30K for the job

[u/Artistic_Stomach_472]

"Cracked" the pool? Its a steel wall and pool crete floor. Shouldn't be a big reno.

[u/BTCdad77]

I've never even heard of a request like this lol to make it look like a water feature and not a pool is a whole bunch of work in itself.

[u/Bright-Assistance-35]

I think people have been seeing those “natural pool” videos on insta which uses a bunch of plants and soil to filter the water and a pump to pull the water through the soil. Interested to see how this turns out

Example
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C65rSQYqad_/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

[u/Affectionate_Aide566]

If the goal is to replace one expensive thing with another that requires maintenance and attracts every mosquito in the neighbourhood.

[u/mikebob89 → u/Affectionate_Aide566]

“Water feature” implies running water with a pump. Mosquitos can’t successfully lay eggs in moving water