Mesa Excavation Co. provides pool demolition and removal in Mesa, Arizona. We handle inground gunite and shotcrete pools, fiberglass shells, and vinyl liner pools. Full removal and partial fill-in options let you choose an approach around your plans for the backyard. Concrete deck removal, debris hauling, backfill, and grading complete the work.
Caliche beneath Mesa yards can make excavation around an older pool difficult. Cracked shells, failing plumbing, and recurring maintenance bills can also make keeping an unused pool hard to justify. We assess the shell, equipment access, and future use of the space before recommending a removal method. A free on-site estimate helps you compare demolition, hauling, and backfill costs.
Our work is licensed through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors and insured, and we handle the demolition permit. We coordinate utility locating before excavation and can typically arrange a yard assessment within the week.
Mesa Excavation Co. provides pool demolition and removal in Mesa and nearby Gilbert, Chandler, Tempe, Queen Creek, and Apache Junction.
Pool demolition combines shell removal with excavation, debris handling, and soil preparation. Concrete and reinforcing steel must be addressed before the remaining space can be filled and graded for its next use.
Partial removal breaks the top 18 to 24 inches of the shell, opens the floor for drainage, and backfills the remaining cavity. Full removal takes out the entire shell, decking, and rebar cage before engineered fill is placed from the bottom to finished grade.
Both approaches start with a property walk and utility locate. The choice changes equipment time, disposal volume, and the future uses of the reclaimed footprint, so plans for a patio slab, casita, or other structure belong in the first conversation.
A removal plan should address both the pool you have and the yard you want afterward. The right scope can bring these practical benefits:
Shell material determines how demolition starts; access, debris volume, and soil conditions shape the rest of the job. Our pool removal work covers the following demolition and restoration needs.
Many Mesa pools date from the 1970s through 1990s and have reinforced gunite or shotcrete shells. Excavator-mounted hydraulic hammers break the concrete before the debris is excavated. Full inground removal of an average 14,000 to 20,000 gallon pool runs 2 to 4 days, depending on access and shell condition.
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Fiberglass shells are cut into sections with a demolition saw and lifted out with the excavator. This can shorten the demolition phase, but the pieces do not crush down like gunite, so disposal volume remains an important part of the hauling plan.
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The liner comes out first, followed by demolition of the wall panels and footer. Most vinyl pool removals in Mesa finish the demolition phase in a single day before backfill begins.
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Older pool decks can involve more concrete than the shell itself. We include surrounding decking, coping, and an attached spa shell in the same mobilization, with the scope established during the property assessment.
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Concrete, rebar, and old plumbing are loaded into haul trucks for transport to disposal or recycling facilities in Maricopa County. Broken concrete is recycled into base material where possible, and hauling costs account for load volume and disposal distance.
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Clean fill dirt or approved rock goes into the excavated space in compacted lifts. Final site preparation and grading connect the reclaimed area to the existing drainage path so the finished yard does not direct runoff toward the house.
Request EstimateRemoval depth is only part of the decision. A backyard renovation, occupied commercial property, and time-sensitive sale each call for a scope and schedule that fit the property.
Partial removal is the lower-cost path when you want usable yard space and do not plan to build over the pool footprint. Part of the shell remains below the compacted fill.
Full removal takes out the shell and reinforcing steel rather than leaving them below the yard. It is the approach to discuss when a future structure, patio slab, or foundation load is planned over the pool location.
Residential work ranges from compact 1980s play pools to larger resort-style shells in Eastmark and the Signal Butte area. We evaluate each backyard around its shell, side-yard access, and intended use after removal.
Apartment communities, HOA properties, and hotels often have larger shells and more decking to remove. Occupied buildings require careful coordination around the people who continue using the property.
Tell us about a closing date or other firm deadline during the assessment. Time-sensitive scheduling depends on permit lead time, equipment availability, and the work required at the property.
Start with what will replace the pool, then compare shell condition, soil, access, and disposal needs. We explain how those details affect the method and estimate before equipment arrives.
We handle the demolition permit application through the City of Mesa Building Safety Division. Site plans, utility disconnect confirmation, and the drainage plan are coordinated with the work so permitting is part of the schedule.
Excavators with hydraulic hammer and thumb attachments handle reinforced shells, while skid steers help with tight side-yard access. Caliche and gate clearance are assessed before choosing the equipment for your yard.
Your free on-site estimate separates demolition, hauling, and backfill. We account for shell material, decking, access, and haul distance upfront so you can understand what changes the total.
The visible shell does not tell the whole story. Soil, underground lines, surrounding concrete, and drainage can all affect how an old pool comes out and how the reclaimed space performs.
Get a Free EstimateSignificant shell cracks, failing pool plumbing, and decking that has separated from the coping can make repeated renovation difficult to justify. We assess those conditions before discussing whether removal fits your plans.
A retained pool floor can hold water like a buried bowl if it has no drainage openings. Partial removal includes breaching that floor before backfill, while surface grading addresses runoff above it.
Gas, electric, and other underground lines need to be located before excavation starts. Utility locating and disconnect planning are part of preparation, with existing pool drains and plumbing checked during the site walk.
Dense caliche and narrow equipment routes can increase excavation time. Older lots in Dobson Ranch, Las Sendas, and Alta Mesa need an access and soil assessment before demolition equipment is mobilized.
Extensive decking increases the amount of concrete to break and haul. A covered patio built over part of the deck adds another demolition constraint, so that overlap belongs in the initial scope and estimate.
Loose backfill can settle and leave depressions in the reclaimed yard. Compacting in lifts and grading to the existing drainage path help address low spots that collect monsoon runoff from July through September.
The work moves from assessment and preparation through demolition, loadout, and compacted backfill. Each stage accounts for the chosen removal method and the property access established during the site walk.
We inspect shell material and depth, review the condition of the deck and coping, and identify equipment access through gates or side yards. We also check existing drains and discuss what you intend to do with the reclaimed footprint.
We arrange the Arizona 811 locate request at least two full business days before digging and prepare the demolition permit application with the site and drainage information. Utility disconnects and inspection timing are coordinated before demolition and backfill proceed.
Drain-down is coordinated to a sanitary sewer or permitted discharge point appropriate to the project. We protect the pump equipment area and stage equipment access before shell demolition begins.
Concrete shells are broken with hydraulic hammers, fiberglass is cut into sections, and vinyl liners are removed before wall and footer demolition. Rebar is handled for the chosen scope, and partial removals receive drainage openings through the retained floor.
Concrete, reinforcing steel, and old plumbing are loaded out for disposal or recycling. Trucks are staged for continuous loadout, with the haul plan based on material volume and the distance to the receiving facility.
Approved fill is placed and compacted in lifts, with engineered fill used for the full-removal scope. We finish the grade to match the existing drainage path and coordinate the final permit closeout.
Tell Mesa Excavation Co. about your pool material, backyard access, and plans for the space. We can walk the property, compare removal options, and break down the demolition, hauling, and backfill costs.
Compare removal costs, methods, timing, and preparation before deciding what comes next for your pool. These answers cover common questions about Mesa projects.
Discuss Your Pool RemovalPartial pool removal in Mesa generally runs $3,500 to $8,000. Full removal generally runs $7,000 to $17,000 or more, with the shell and decking removed and engineered fill brought to grade. Pool size, material, access, decking area, and disposal distance affect the final estimate.
Choose between partial removal with a retained lower shell and complete removal of the shell and rebar. The choice should follow your plans for the footprint, especially any future construction. We coordinate the site assessment, utilities, permit, drain-down, demolition, and compacted backfill as one project.
Plan for a City of Mesa demolition permit when removing or filling an inground pool. We handle the application and coordinate the site plan, utility disconnect information, and drainage documentation. Inspection requirements are addressed before backfill and final closeout.
Most residential jobs take 2 to 5 days from drain-down through backfill and grading. The work commonly includes one day for drain-down and preparation, one to three days for demolition and excavation, and a final day for backfill, compaction, and grading; the sequence varies by project. Permit lead time comes before that field-work schedule, and extensive decking or difficult access can extend the work.
A common recommendation is draining and refilling every 3 to 5 years to manage calcium hardness and total dissolved solids, with the actual need depending on water conditions. Mesa water can contribute to scaling on plaster as evaporation and refilling concentrate minerals. If you choose removal, drain-down becomes part of the demolition preparation instead of recurring pool maintenance.
Permanent plumbing or electrical connections can make permitting necessary for an above-ground pool removal. Simple portable pools without permanent connections may be treated differently. We check the setup during the assessment and confirm the requirements with the City of Mesa Building Safety Division.
Compare structural condition with the continuing cost of chemicals, water, equipment, and repairs. Significant cracking, failed plumbing, or separated decking can make ongoing renovation less attractive. We review those conditions with you so the decision reflects your pool and plans for the yard.
Straightforward Mesa residential pool removal permits typically take a few business days to about two weeks, depending on permit volume. Utility locating also needs lead time, so both items are included before equipment is mobilized. We coordinate their timing during project planning.
Older gunite and shotcrete shells typically run 4 to 6 inches thick, with rebar grids on 12 to 18 inch centers. That reinforcing steel must be addressed as the concrete is broken and removed. Shell thickness, condition, and equipment access help determine demolition time.
Discuss those plans before choosing a removal method. Full removal with engineered fill is the approach for a future patio slab, structure, or other foundation load over the footprint. Partial fill-in is suited to yard use where construction is not planned; the removal scope and fill requirements should match the future project.
We coordinate drain-down to the sanitary sewer or a permitted discharge point appropriate to the property. The discharge route is confirmed during preparation, rather than directing water onto neighboring property or into the street. The pump equipment area is protected before demolition begins.
Concrete, rebar, and old plumbing are hauled to disposal or recycling facilities in Maricopa County. Concrete can be crushed into base material where facilities accept it. Load volume and haul distance are included when estimating the removal work.
Yes, we handle pool removal for occupied apartment, HOA, and hotel properties. Scheduling accounts for resident access, parking, and noise ordinance hours, and the demolition area stays fenced and secured. Larger shells and extensive decking are considered when planning the work.