Pool demolition · Peninsula & South Bay
Pool demolition, partial or full.
Break out the top and fill it in, or take the whole shell out down to the dirt. One licensed crew drains it, caps the utilities, breaks it out, hauls it on our own trucks and leaves the yard graded.
Two ways to do it
Partial or full.
Your call.
Both start the same way: drain the pool, cap the gas and electrical, break up the deck. The difference is how much of the shell comes out.
Partial demolition
Break out and fill in place
- The top of the pool walls is broken out and knocked into the shell.
- Drainage holes are punched through the floor so water can't collect.
- The shell is filled with the broken concrete and clean fill, then graded.
- Lower cost and less trucking, because most of the shell stays in the ground.
- Best for lawn, garden or patio. Not for building on later.
Full demolition
The whole shell comes out
- The entire concrete shell, rebar, coping and plumbing are broken out.
- Everything is loaded and hauled off on our own trucks.
- The hole is filled with clean fill and compacted in layers, then graded flat.
- Leaves ground you can build on, with an engineer's compaction report if your city asks for one.
- The cleanest answer when you sell: no old pool left in the ground.
Not sure which one you need? We'll tell you straight at the walk-through. See what changes the price in the pool removal cost guide.
Free on-site quote
Price your pool demolition
Leave a name, number and the address. We'll call you back to set up a walk-through, and we can quote it both ways.
How a pool demolition runs
Five steps.
One crew.
We walk you through the permit. Then the same crew runs the break-out, the haul-off and the backfill.
Walk the yard
Free on-site estimate. We look at the pool, machine access and where the gas and electrical run, and price it partial, full or both.
Permit
Most cities want a permit before a pool comes out. We handle permitted pool demolitions and walk you through what your city asks for.
Drain & cap
The pool is drained, and the gas and electrical to the pool and equipment are capped and removed.
Break out
Deck and coping first. Then the top of the walls (partial) or the whole shell and rebar (full), loaded onto our own trucks.
Fill & grade
Filled, compacted in layers and graded flat, ready for lawn, landscaping or the next build.
Watch the process
Our crew.
Our machines.
Every clip and photo on this page is from a real Mosso pool job, filmed by our crew.
- Mosso crew member breaking out the concrete deck beside a poolDeck firstBreaking out the concrete around the pool
Shell broken outOur excavator at the pool edge- Skid steer pushing broken concrete into a pile for loadingLoaded outBroken concrete pushed up for the trucks
- Compactor working fill into the hole where a pool wasFilled & compactedCompacting fill where the pool was
From the job sites
Shell out.
Yard back.
Tap any photo or clip to see it bigger.
Questions
Straight answers.
Something else? Call or text 650-880-5416, Mon–Sat, 7am–7pm.
- What is the difference between partial and full pool demolition?
A partial demolition breaks out the top of the pool walls, punches drainage holes through the floor, and fills the rest of the shell in place with the broken concrete and clean fill. A full demolition breaks out and hauls away the entire shell and rebar, then fills and compacts the hole. Partial costs less. Full leaves ground you can build on later.
- Which one should I choose?
If the area will only ever be lawn, garden or patio, partial is usually enough. If you might build there later (an ADU, an addition, a garage), or you want the cleanest story when you sell, choose full. We walk the yard and help you decide before you sign anything.
- Can I build where the pool was?
After a full demolition with the fill compacted in layers, usually yes. Your city may ask for an engineer's compaction report before it approves a structure on that spot, so tell us at the walk-through. After a partial demolition the old shell is still in the ground, so the area is normally not suitable for building on.
- Do I need a permit to demolish a pool?
In most cities, yes. San Jose requires a building permit before a pool or spa is removed, and Santa Clara requires a grading permit. Rules change from city to city, so we check yours and walk you through it.
- What happens to the water, gas and electrical?
The pool is drained first. Gas and electrical to the pool and equipment are capped and removed before the shell is touched.
- Do you remove spas and hot tubs too?
Yes. Attached spas come out with the pool, and we also remove stand-alone hot tubs and the decks around them.
- What does it cost, and how soon can you start?
It depends on the size of the pool, partial or full, access for machines and what your city requires, so we price it on site. Estimates are free. Our pool removal cost guide explains what changes the price. We can usually start within 48 hours of your go-ahead. On permitted work the start date follows the permit.
Reviews
Five stars, in their words.
Very fast job and clean work. This is what I call someone you can rely on. Anderson was very knowledgeable and stood behind his quote and completed his contract.
We've been using Mosso Demolition for over a year now… top-notch professional, efficient, and always friendly.
Mosso is great to work with. They are hard working… Will hire them again. And again.
Licensed, bonded & insured
Check us out. Literally.
Every number here is public record. Look up our license on the Contractors State License Board any time.
Verify on CSLB- License
- CSLB #1111834
- Class
- C-21 Building moving / demolition
- Liability
- $1,000,000 general liability
- Workers' comp
- State Compensation Insurance Fund
- Motor carrier
- USDOT #4124228
Where we work
Pool demolition near you.
Based in Foster City, with our own trucks running jobs across the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Each city page has notes on local permits. Not sure we cover your address? Call and ask.
Done with
the pool?
Text a few photos and we'll tell you what it takes.