POOL EXCAVATION — GOLD COAST & BRISBANE

Pool excavation is one of our most frequently performed services on the Gold Coast. From tight side-access fibreglass digs in suburban Robina to full concrete pool excavations on rocky Tallai acreage, Sollid Solutions has the machines, the experience, and the people to get the hole right the first time.

We work directly with all the major Gold Coast pool builders and also direct for owner-builders. Our 1.7T mini excavators fit through 900mm side gates, and our 5T machines power through clay, sand, fill, and basalt rock. Most standard pool digs take 1–2 days; rock-affected sites can stretch to 4–6 days.

Soil type makes a huge difference to both timeline and cost. Sandy coastal soils around Burleigh, Palm Beach, Mermaid Waters and Broadbeach Waters dig fast — usually one day. Heavy clay around Mudgeeraba, Tallai and Bonogin is slower. Rocky ground in Worongary, Reedy Creek and the hinterland often requires hydraulic rock breaking on top of standard excavation.

Access width is the next biggest variable. A standard 1.7-tonne machine fits through 900mm side access — most Gold Coast blocks. If your side gate is narrower, you're looking at hand-digging, sub-hire of a 1.0T machine, or crane-in. Open-access blocks let us bring in larger gear and finish faster, which usually means a better price.

Spoil management matters more than most people think. An average pool dig produces 25–40 cubic metres of spoil — that's 4–7 tipper loads at $30–60/tonne tip fee plus haulage, usually around $2,000 for a typical pool. We quote cart-away as its own line, and if we can reuse spoil on your block (raised garden beds, levelling) you save on it. We always discuss spoil at the site visit so it's priced clearly in the quote.

Drainage and council considerations: most Gold Coast pool builds need silt control, sediment fencing, and clean stormwater management during construction. We set up the silt fencing and drainage protection before the dig begins. Council has clear rules around boundary setbacks, easements and earthworks notification — your pool builder usually handles approvals, and we work to those approved drawings.

Engineering considerations vary by pool type. Concrete pools require deeper, wider digs to fit the steel cage and shotcrete shell — typically 200–400mm beyond the finished pool dimensions. Fibreglass shells need precision excavation matching the manufacturer's template, with sand or crusher dust bedding. Plunge pools and spa shells are smaller but often go in tight courtyards where every centimetre matters.