02/01/2023
To Fill or Not to Fill?
-Or-
Why Removing Your Pool Will Cost You Thousands in Upfront Costs And Lost Revenue
As the United States economy looks at the prospect of another recession by the end of
2022 and beginning of 2023, many homeowners will begin to hunker down on discretionary
spending (US News). For many, this will mean their pool is the first on the chopping block of
cutting costs. In the interim of a recession, the idea of putting money into an existing pool seems
ill-advised to homeowners feeling the uncomfortable strain of tightening finances; however,
there are many factors to take into account when making the decision: to fill or not to fill?
An outdated, unkempt pool can not only be a money pit and an eye sore, it can also be a
potential danger to current and future residents of the home. For these reasons, for the past five
years 44% of people have been more likely to look into removing or filling their swimming pool
rather than remodeling it (Google Trends). What they may find along the way is that the
seemingly simple solution can become a convoluted, financially taxing mess.
River Pools and Spas points out that filling a pool creates downsides to the future of your
backyard, such as the inability to build or place any new structures in the area the pool once sat
due to structural red-flags. This band aid solution must be disclosed to future buyers as well,
because of the risks and restrictions it causes, potentially lowering the value and appeal of your
home. So, although this is the cheapest option, running homeowners on average $2,000-$10,000,
it leaves you in a bind and drastically reduces what you are able to do with your home in the
future (Home Guide).
The next option homeowners who are at their wits and pockets end look into as a solution
would be a full removal of the pool. This is by far the most expensive method, averaging
$4,000-$16,000 using the figures available from Home Guide. Although this option removes the
pit-falls of simply filling in your pool, a full removal including a back-fill will require more
money and time. A full removal involves engineering, permitting, and the use of specialized
heavy-duty equipment. Both filling and removing a pool can undermine the potential of
increased value to buyers as well as decreasing equity and value to the current homeowners. The
cost and time involved in these efforts to erase an existing structure could be better spent on
remodeling.
Most may not think of remodeling their pool as being the most cost-effective option, but
between the increase in home value and the decrease in cost of maintenance this is the best
option. Remodeling an existing pool costs on average $5,000-14,000, a shockingly smaller cost
than what many people think it would be, and not any more expensive than the removal options
(Home Advisor). The benefits of remodeling are countless, increasing the value of the home by
at least 5-8% is one of the most attractive of the bunch (HGTV). Having an outdated or an
unmaintained pool can be expensive; between constant repairs, water leaks, and the decrease in
value from an out-dated design. With a remodel all these issues can be solved. Not only will you
have a more fitting feature as part of your home, but with modernity comes savings.
Replacing outdated equipment such as single-speed pool pumps, halogen lighting, and
under performing filtration will cut the cost of pool maintenance and energy costs by thousands
of dollars. New pool equipment pays for itself within the first year of purchase with energy and
maintenance savings alone. Simply switching from a single speed pump to a new high efficiency,
variable speed pump can decrease your yearly bill from $4,000 to as little as $300; this change
alone can cover the cost discrepancy between removal and remodeling (Gardner). Another step is
resurfacing the pool, although this can be the most expensive phase of the process, but this is one
of the steps that can result in the most savings long-term. An old surface finish can crack and
cause leaks that will be expensive and inconvenient to patch. Resurfacing the traditional white
plaster with a pebble finish is not only more modern and appealing, but also takes the life of the
interior from an expectant 8-10 years to an expectant 25 year replacement timeline (Gardner).
If your pool is on the list of things to be cut when looking at your options to reduce
financial stress within the home, consider a remodel instead of a removal. Times are stressful
enough as it is, don’t get rid of an outlet and an oasis through hasty decisions that will cost you
more money and freedom in the long term. Remodel your pool today with Build Your Own Pool
and Wholesale Pool Equipment.
Works Cited:
https://gardnerremodel.com/blog/fill-pool-remodel/
https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?cat=952&date=today%205-y&geo=US&q=fill%20swimming%20pool,remodel%20swimming%20pool/
https://www.hgtv.com/.../outdoor.../does-pool-add-value-home
https://www.homeadvisor.com/.../remodel-a-swimming-pool/
https://homeguide.com/costs/cost-to-fill-in-a-pool/
https://www.riverpoolsandspas.com/.../concrete-pool...
https://www.usnews.com/.../report-u-s-economy-slowing.../
