Fibreglass Pool Removal: Options, Process & Costs

Can a fibreglass pool be removed?

Yes. A fibreglass pool can be fully or partially removed.

Full removal involves excavating and removing the shell, plumbing, and equipment. The remaining void is filled with clean fill.

Partial removal is also called decommissioning or filling in. The contractor cuts drainage holes in the base, removes the top sections of the walls, and backfills the pool. The remaining shell stays in the ground.

A fibreglass shell is a single moulded unit. It is usually lifted out whole or cut into sections. For example:

• The Allure is 5.00 m long and 2.50 m wide. It weighs 477 kg dry and holds 12,800 L of water.
• The Amalfi is 9.00 m long and 3.60 m wide. It weighs 926 kg dry and holds 30,600 L of water.

We build and install fibreglass pools across South East Queensland. We do not offer pool removal as a standalone service.

The water inside a fibreglass pool helps balance external soil and groundwater pressure. Because the shell is lightweight, draining the pool can affect its shape and position. The water must therefore be managed before removal begins.

Fibreglass pool removal is available from specialist contractors in Australia. Pool Removal Perth in Western Australia, Reverse Pools in Melbourne, and Pool Removal Pro Brisbane in Queensland advertise this service. Pool Removal Pro Brisbane states that it removes the shell and leaves the site level. Contractors use machinery because a one-piece shell set in a concrete collar cannot be removed by hand.

What are your options for getting rid of a fibreglass pool?

There are two methods for removing a fibreglass pool:

• Full removal: The shell, plumbing and pool equipment are removed from the property.
• Partial removal: The shell base is holed for drainage, the walls are cut down and the remaining shell is backfilled. This is also called decommissioning or filling in.

A third method would leave the shell intact under the fill. No Australian contractor publishes this as an available option for fibreglass pools.

Full removal creates a compacted area with no shell, plumbing or pool equipment remaining. Pool Removal Perth provides pricing for full fibreglass pool removal. It offers in-place decommissioning only for concrete and liner pools, subject to council consent.

Partial removal leaves part of the shell underground. Pool Removal Perth states that this area is not buildable, cannot support additions or dwellings and must be disclosed to future buyers. It also states that partial removal limits how the area can be used.

How is a fibreglass pool cut up and lifted out?

Fibreglass pool removal has eight stages. The contractor drains the pool, disconnects services, removes the concrete collar, and then removes the shell.

1. Drain the pool. Draining the shell before demolition is quoted separately from demolition. Water supports the shell while it is in the ground, so draining can affect the shell structure. A pool builder or removal contractor should perform this work.
2. Disconnect and cap services. The contractor cuts and caps the skimmer, suction, and return lines. They remove the pump, filter, and chlorinator and isolate the electrical supply to the pool equipment.
3. Remove the concrete collar and bond beam. These components secure the shell in the ground. The contractor removes them with a saw and breaker, then disposes of the broken concrete as spoil.
4. Remove the shell. If the site has sufficient crane access, the contractor can lift out the shell in one piece. Otherwise, they cut it into panels that an excavator can lift. The method depends on the available crane setup area and the distance from the pool to the truck.
5. Remove panels and spoil. The contractor moves the shell panels, broken concrete, and surplus soil to a truck or skip. Restricted backyard access increases the required machine time.
6. Backfill the excavation. The contractor fills the excavation with clean fill.
7. Compact the fill. Compaction is a separate stage. For narrow-access jobs, Pool Removal Perth uses a 90 kg plate compactor that fits through the available opening.
8. Restore the surface. The contractor levels the ground with the surrounding yard and restores the surface finish. The removal method determines what the filled area can support. The surface finish does not affect load capacity.

Access width determines which machinery can reach the pool. Contractors select excavation equipment based on the width from the kerb to the pool excavation:

• Below 1.38 m: Only a mini machine fits.
• From 1.38 m to 1.57 m: A mini excavator and standard bobcat can access the site.
• At least 1.57 m: Full-size equipment can access the site.

Pool Removal Perth’s standard removal machine is a general bobcat that measures 1.9 m wide and 2.0 m tall. For smaller openings, the contractor uses narrower machines that fit through gaps as narrow as 800 mm. Each contractor compares the measured access width with its machine dimensions.

The distance from the pool to the truck also affects equipment requirements and cost. Pool Removal Perth uses distance brackets of 0 to 5 m, 0 to 20 m, 20 to 40 m, and 40 to 60 m. Longer distances require more machine time because each load travels farther.

Published project durations vary by scope. Reverse Pools, a Melbourne removal contractor, states that filling in or removing a fibreglass pool takes 2 to 5 days. Pool Removal Perth states that a full fibreglass removal can take one day on site. The same page provides a general duration of days or weeks for full removal. Actual duration depends on access width, the surrounding area, and the distance required to remove materials.

What does it cost to remove a fibreglass pool in Australia?

Pool removal prices may refer to either the complete project cost or the removal work only.

Pool Advisor, an Australian pool-advice publisher, estimates that complete removal of a 50,000 L in-ground pool on an easy-access site costs $7,200 to $18,000. The trades marketplace hipages states that in-ground pool removal can cost more than $10,000.

Contractors may publish lower starting prices that cover removal work only. These prices can exclude GST, drainage, access modifications and a compaction certificate. Pool Removal Perth lists fibreglass pool removal from $3,000 plus GST and full fibreglass removal at $3,000 to $4,000 plus GST.

Pool Removal Perth lists different starting prices by pool material. Fibreglass pool removal starts at $3,000 plus GST. Liner and concrete pool removal starts at $3,500 plus GST. These are the contractor’s entry prices for Western Australia. They do not establish a general rule that concrete pools cost more to remove than fibreglass pools. No second Australian source provides the same price comparison.

Five factors can increase the removal price:

1. Site access. Narrow access may require a smaller machine. Smaller machines carry less material per load and take longer to complete the work. Pool Removal Perth charges about $1,000 plus GST for restricted-access work using a smaller machine. It also lists fence panel removal from $150 plus GST and garage door removal and reinstatement from about $350 plus GST. Based on these rates, modifying the access may cost less than the small-machine surcharge. Access should be measured before pricing a removal or installation.

2. Distance to the truck. The distance between the truck and the pool affects machine time. For our installations, access that is 3 m wide with the truck within 5 m of the hole allows material to move directly from the hole into the truck. Longer distances add machine time for each load.

3. Surrounding concrete. Concrete around the pool must be cut, broken up, loaded and removed. A pool with a narrow paved apron requires less work than the same pool within a large concrete entertaining area.

4. Water removal. Draining the pool is quoted separately. A full pool therefore adds a cost before removal work starts.

5. Compaction or engineer’s certificate. Pool Removal Perth bills this certificate separately. Under the contractor’s Western Australian guidance, the certificate is required before applying for a building permit on the former pool footprint. This cost applies when a structure will be built in that location.