A pool removal is a large and often detailed project that can disrupt your normal routine for a short period of time. To prevent it from becoming an even longer and more disruptive project, it’s important to thoroughly vet potential pool removal contractors before signing with one.
7 Questions To Ask A Pool Removal Contractor
Collect reviews and recommendations from friends, then contact your top choices and ask them the following questions. This will help you feel more confident in your selection’s skills, making for a less stressful experience and helping increase the likelihood that the project will be completed well and on time.
What Happens If You Hit Rock Or Water?
Despite your contractor’s best efforts, they may unexpectedly hit rock or water during the pool removal process. This is a rare occurrence, but understanding what steps your contractor will take just in case can ease your mind.
If the contractor hits a layer of rock and needs to dig deeper to ensure the fill’s integrity, they may be able to hammer or blast out the rock and continue with the removal. This can cost extra money due to the additional equipment rentals needed. When hitting water, your contractor can install a temporary dewatering system that keeps the hole dry until filled. This helps prevent cave ins, which can increase the amount of fill dirt and time required to complete the job.
How Much Dirt Will There Be?
A pool removal doesn’t have to leave your yard a mess, but it’s likely that you’ll have some large amounts of dirt in the yard for a few days while the pool is being filled. Generally, you’ll need about five garden sheds worth of dirt to fill a pool, so expect it to be a constant presence in your yard during the removal process. Most of the dirt and debris will be contained in bins and removed as quickly as possible to help avoid ruining your yard.
What Will Happen To My Yard?
Rest assured that contractors know how much most homeowners take care of their yards and will do everything possible to ensure its integrity throughout the process. However, some change to your yard is inevitable. Large trucks are used to carry materials, dirt, and other equipment in and out of your yard, meaning that the path they take to get to your pool may become worn down. Staging areas as big as 20 by 20 feet for these materials may also flatten the grass. Consider factoring the cost of new grass into your budget before undergoing a pool removal if you’re concerned about your yard’s appearance.
Do I Save Money By Filling In My Own Pool?
Filling in a hole can’t be that difficult, can it? In reality, there’s more to a pool removal than simply adding dirt to the pool. The entire structure must be broken apart and in some cases removed before the dirt is added and compacted with special equipment. Filling in a pool yourself therefore requires you to rent expensive equipment to complete the job. Due to lack of experience, you may need the equipment for a longer period of time or accidentally cause damage that requires more money to fix. It’s therefore often smarter to hire an experienced contractor who offers a fair price instead.
Can You Provide Me With Some References?
A good pool removal contractor will be happy to provide you with a list of former customers that can be contacted as a reference. This is particularly helpful if the contractor doesn’t have many online reviews yet. By getting references, you can be sure that your potential contractor has a history of excellence. If a contractor isn’t willing to provide references, you may want to consider hiring a different company. When calling references, be sure to ask about both the highs and lows of their removal experience to give yourself a better understanding of what to expect from this contractor.
What Kind Of Warranty Do You Offer?
A good workmanship warranty will cover problems like leaks, settlement, or movement. The industry-standard warranty length is one year, but many contractors choose to extend their warranties to account for concerns that may arise after several freeze and thaw cycles. Ask your potential contractors for information about their warranty’s specific terms and why they offer warranties of that length.You may find that a contractor offering a shorter warranty has a history of little to no warranty claims made, so don’t immediately discount shorter terms if you feel confident about other aspects of their work.
What Is Your Process Like?
When asking a pool removal contractor what their process entails, you’ll want as detailed an answer as possible. Instead of hearing that they make an inspection appointment and then get to work after, look for contractors that explain exactly what that inspection entails, how long it will take, and how soon after the inspection they’ll begin work. A contractor who is forthcoming about the finer details of their removal process is not only someone who is aware and respectful of your time, it also indicates that they truly understand the process from beginning to end and will pay careful attention to detail throughout.
Speak To A Professional Pool Removal Contractor
Speak with Dirt Connections for more information about pool removals and to schedule your free pool removal consultation. Dirt Connections has a long history of excellence within the Northern Virginia area thanks to its years of experience in home improvement and construction. The firm’s contractors can help homeowners choose the right type of pool removal for their needs and complete projects in a timely and professional manner to help you enjoy your new yard as quickly as possible. Dirt Connections can also provide various residential and commercial construction services, free fill dirt deliveries, and dump truck hauling.
