Fibreglass Pool Removal
Fibreglass shells lifted or broken out and hauled away, leaving a clean, level base for your new backyard.
Learn more →Two ways to demolish a concrete pool
Concrete and gunite shells are demolished, not lifted — the choice is what happens to the rubble.
Full break-out. The shell, bond beam, steps and surrounding paving are broken up with a hydraulic breaker, and every tonne of rubble is loaded out and carted to a recycler, where clean concrete is crushed for road base. The hole is then backfilled with clean sand in compacted layers. Costs more, but leaves the land free of any buried structure — see full pool removal.
Partial collapse. The floor is punctured for drainage, the top 300 to 600 mm of the walls is broken down, and that rubble is placed in the deep end before sand backfill goes over it in layers. Cheaper and faster, with honest trade-offs on resale disclosure and building over the site — weigh them up on the partial pool removal page.
| Full break-out | Partial collapse | |
|---|---|---|
| Rubble | All carted off site | Most buried as base fill |
| Typical duration | 4–7 days | 2–4 days |
| Truck movements | More | Fewer |
| Land afterwards | Unrestricted, with compaction certificate | Buried shell, usually disclosed on sale |
Why concrete pools dominate Perth's older suburbs
If your home is in Duncraig, Karrinyup, Willetton, Rossmoyne or Dianella and the pool went in before about 1990, odds are it's concrete or gunite — that was the era's default build. Those shells are now 35 to 50 years old, and cracked beams, drummy render and dated interiors are common. Meanwhile the pool still demands pump power, chemicals and a compliant safety barrier whether anyone swims or not.
Perth's sandy ground helps on the way out: shells sit in free-draining sand rather than clay, so excavation edges stay clean, machines don't bog, and the same sand profile takes compacted backfill well. What happens to the hole afterwards is its own subject — covered on the pool backfill and compaction page.
Which option fits you?
- Selling within a few years, or might build over the spot — full break-out. No buried structure, nothing to disclose, and a compaction certificate available for future footings.
- Staying put and want lawn or garden at the lowest cost — partial collapse is usually compliant and thousands cheaper. Current ranges for both are in the Cost Guide.
- Pool is fibreglass, not concrete — different job entirely, usually lighter and quicker: see fibreglass pool removal.
Approvals and the fence
In many Perth council areas, demolishing a pool needs a demolition permit (form BA5 under the Building Act 2011 (WA)), and councils must be told once the pool is gone so it comes off the inspection register. One rule is constant everywhere: while the shell can still hold more than 300 mm of water, your safety barrier has to stay compliant. Details by council are on our Council Approvals page.
Enquiries are referred to independent local contractors; we ask the contractors we work with to hold the relevant WorkSafe WA licences and public liability cover — ask to see them. Call (08) 6171 3458 for a written quote.
More services
Explore our other services
Full Pool Removal
Complete removal of the pool shell, plumbing and surrounds down to clean fill, so no structure is left underground.
Learn more →Partial Pool Removal
The shell is punctured, sections removed and the hole backfilled in engineered layers — a lower-cost, council-compliant option.
Learn more →Spa Removal
In-ground spas taken out and the recess backfilled and compacted to match the surrounding yard.
Learn more →Pool Backfill & Compaction
Engineered backfill placed and compacted in layers so the reclaimed area stays stable for lawn, paving or a future build.
Learn more →
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to demolish a concrete pool?
A partial demolition — puncture, collapse, backfill — is typically 2 to 4 days for a standard 30,000 to 50,000 litre backyard pool. A full break-out with all rubble carted off site usually runs 4 to 7 days, driven mostly by how much concrete there is and how close a truck can get. Tight side access adds time because rubble has to be shifted in smaller loads.
How much concrete is actually in a backyard pool?
More than most owners expect. A typical 8 m x 4 m gunite pool holds roughly 20 to 40 tonnes of concrete once the shell, beam and surrounds are broken up. That tonnage is why cartage and tipping are a real share of a concrete pool quote, and why partial removal — which buries most of the rubble as base fill — comes in cheaper. Typical Perth price ranges are in our Cost Guide.
Will breaking up the pool damage my house or fences?
It shouldn't, if the job is planned. Hydraulic breakers on excavators transmit less vibration than most people fear, and the contractors quoting your job should walk the site first, note the distance to footings, retaining walls and neighbouring fences, and choose machine size accordingly. Ask how they'll protect paving and where the machine will track in and out — a good written scope covers both.
Free, no-obligation