Full pool removal takes the entire shell out of the ground, walls, floor and rebar included, and rebuilds the excavation with compacted soil. Cicarelli Contractors handles the permit, the haul-off, the lifts of fill and the testing, so the spot can carry a patio, a deck or a future ADU.
In a complete pool demolition, nothing from the pool stays underground. The crew breaks the coping, walls and floor, pulls the rebar out with the concrete, and loads it onto trucks until the excavation is bare soil. Pool plumbing and equipment come out too, and the lines that stay are capped.
The hole is then rebuilt from the bottom up. Fill goes in thin lifts, each one compacted before the next, and where the city or a future foundation calls for it, a soils engineer tests the density as the layers rise. That record is what turns a former pool into ground a building department will let you build on.
Full removal costs more than leaving the shell, because of the hauling and the imported fill. It pays off when anything heavier than lawn may go on the spot, when a city such as Millbrae requires it under hardscape, or when you would rather sell a house with no buried concrete to explain.
Reviews From Full Pool Demolition Jobs
Six Google reviews from homeowners whose pools we demolished, quoted word for word. Swipe or use the arrows to read them.
JJim FrizzellPool demolition on a hillside
★★★★★
2025
I recently hired Cicarelli Contractors for demolition of my swimming pool. From our initial discussion to our final completion Athalyson and his crew were true professionals. Our pool is on a hill with limited access. His crew was able to get their equipment in place for the demolition and wheelbarrow fill dirt up hill. Some of those days had 90+ temps.
I was consistently impressed with the quality and professionalism of his crew. His crews seemed to always have a smile. The project was completed in a timely manner. His crew were consistently courteous and respectful of my property and maintained a clean work environment, restoring the site to its original condition.
I highly recommend Cicarelli Contractors for any construction needs. Their commitment to quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction is commendable.
I wouldn’t hesitate to hire Cicarelli again!
GGigi LimPool demolition
★★★★★
2025
I hired Cicarelli contractor for the demolition of my swimming pool. From the initial consultation through to the final walk through. I was consistently impressed with the quality of their service. Athalyson demonstrated exceptional responsiveness to my inquiries and concerns. The project was completed according to the agreed timeline. Any unforseen issues were addressed promptly and efficiently. The team exhibited a high degree of professionalism throughout the project. They were consistently courteous and respectful of my property. They diligently maintained a clean work environment, restoring the site to its original condition daily. Always on time.
I highly recommend Cicarelli contractors for any construction needs. Their commitment to quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction is commendable. Furthermore, he can give you a significant discount, making their services even more valuable.
BBelis EtemPool demolition
★★★★★
2025
Bernard completed our pool demolition job promptly and professionally. I was very pleased that he was able to start so quickly as I had a deadline to meet. I would recommend him. It was especially convenient for me that he was able to text me updates and send me photos along the way as I handled the job remotely. Thank you, Bernard!
DDeejConcrete pool removal & pavers
★★★★★
Dec 2025
Couldn’t be happier with how our yard turned out! We had Cicarelli remove an old concrete pool and install pavers around the new garden area. The whole process was smooth, and the crew was polite and professional.
BBay Cleaning CoPool removal
★★★★★
2024
We recently hired Cicarelli Contractors to remove our old, unused pool, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results! From the start, their team was professional, punctual, and extremely knowledgeable. They walked us through the entire process, providing clear explanations and a fair estimate.
AAndy LiPool demolition
★★★★★
2025
Cicarelli just completed our pool demolition job promptly and professionally. I was very pleased that he was able to start so quickly. And I would recommend him. It was very convenient for me that he was able to text me updates and send me photos along the way of the work done. Super for the great work completed!
Footage from Cicarelli pool demolitions in Fremont, San Ramon, Hillsborough and Vacaville, from the first wall coming down to an outdoor living space where a pool once was.
We ask what may go on the spot, so the fill spec and any engineer are set before the bid.
Step 02
Permit, 811, Engineer
The permit is filed, lines are marked, and a soils engineer is lined up where the city requires one.
Step 03
Drain and Strip
The pool is drained to the sewer, utilities are capped and the equipment and decking come off.
Step 04
Shell Out, Load by Load
Walls and floor are broken and every piece is trucked off site.
Step 05
Bare-Pit Inspection
The city sees the empty excavation before the first layer of fill goes in.
Step 06
Lifts, Tests, Final
Soil goes in lifts, each compacted and tested where required, and the permit is closed.
City rules
Full Removal Rules in Bay Area Cities
For full removal, cities focus on the fill: what material goes back, how thick each lift is, the compaction target and who certifies it. Several Bay Area cities want a licensed geotechnical or soils engineer's report at final, and some will not issue a new building permit over the area until then.
San Mateo has fill placed in 6 to 12 inch lifts compacted to 90 percent, and a California licensed geotechnical or soils engineer must report that the shell is fully gone, per its pool and spa demolition guide.
Millbrae requires the whole pool to come out wherever a structure, driveway, patio or deck will sit, as its demolition and removal requirements state.
Mountain View asks for a compaction report from a California licensed geotechnical or soils engineer at final inspection, along with capped gas, water and sewer lines, on its pool demolition page.
Before anything new is built over an old pool in Menlo Park, the demolition permit must be finaled with a geotechnical report showing 90 percent compaction, according to its permit submittal list.
San Jose treats a buildable pool site differently: a licensed engineer wet-stamps the demolition, drainage and compaction plan, and the backfill gets its own compaction report, per the city pool demolition page.
Full Pool Removal: Cost, Fill and Building Over It
Full pool removal is the choice for homeowners who want the spot back as real, buildable ground. The questions below are the ones that decide the budget and the paperwork, answered from published cost data and Bay Area city handouts.
How much does full pool removal cost?
Angi's cost guide, updated October 12, 2026, lists $4,000 to $16,000 for a full removal nationally, above the $2,500 to $10,000 it gives for a partial fill-in. Hauling every load, importing more fill and any soils engineer's testing explain most of the gap, and Bay Area access and city rules add to it.
We itemize demolition, trucking, fill, compaction, testing and the permit as separate lines, so you can see where the money goes. The pool demolition cost guide on our blog explains each one.
Can you build an ADU where a pool was removed?
Often, yes, once the pool is fully removed and the excavation is rebuilt with compacted, documented fill. The ADU engineer and the city will want to see how that fill was placed and tested. A partial removal with the shell still buried is a much harder starting point for a foundation.
Ask the ADU designer for the fill specification before backfill starts, because a foundation can call for a stricter target than the demolition permit. Our ADU on a former pool site guide goes step by step.
What is engineered fill after a pool removal?
It is backfill built to a specification instead of just dumped: an engineer names the material, the lift thickness and the density target, then tests the layers as they go in. The resulting compaction report is what a building department reads before it allows a structure where the pool was.
Not every full removal needs it. When the area will only ever be lawn, ordinary compacted fill may satisfy the city, and we tell you which one your permit calls for.
Do you remove the pool deck and equipment too?
Yes, when you want them gone. Concrete decking, coping, the pump, filter and heater, and the plumbing runs to the equipment pad can all come out in the same job, and the lines that remain are capped. A sound deck you plan to keep can also stay where it is.
Tell us at the estimate which pieces stay, so the scope and the haul-off are priced correctly.
Full removal next to other methods, national figures (Angi, updated October 12, 2026)
Item
Published range
Full removal
$4,000 to $16,000
Partial fill-in
$2,500 to $10,000
Most projects, any method
$5,000 to $8,000
Permits and inspections
About $200
National cost data from Angi, listed for comparison only and not a Cicarelli price.
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors · CSLB #1109419
FAQ
Full Pool Removal FAQ
Planning to Build Where the Pool Is?
Tell us what may go on the spot and send photos of the pool and the access; the estimate will cover the fill and any engineer your city requires. Calls are answered Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, and more answers are in the site FAQ.
What is the difference between full pool removal and pool demolition?
Pool demolition is the broad term for breaking a pool out. Full pool removal, or complete pool demolition, is the version where the whole shell leaves the site, floor included, and the hole is rebuilt with compacted fill. A partial demolition, by contrast, leaves the lower shell buried under the fill.
Do I need a soils engineer for a full pool removal?
It depends on the city and the future use. Mountain View and San Mateo ask for a licensed geotechnical or soils engineer's report at final, and San Jose requires engineering when the area is meant to be buildable. Where the spot will stay lawn, some cities accept compacted fill without a report.
Can a concrete patio go over a fully removed pool?
Yes, that is one of the main reasons to choose full removal. Once the excavation is filled in compacted lifts and passes inspection, it can carry pavers, a concrete patio or a deck, and with engineered fill, a structure your city approves. We build the patio too, so the base and the surface come from one contractor.
What happens to the concrete from a full pool demolition?
All of it leaves the property. The broken walls, floor and coping are loaded into trucks and hauled off, with the rebar coming out alongside. Because nothing goes back into the hole, the excavation is filled entirely with imported soil, compacted one layer at a time.
Is a full pool removal worth it if I may sell the house?
It often makes the conversation with buyers easier. With no shell underground and a finaled permit, plus a compaction report where the city required one, there is little for an inspector or lender to question. Whether it adds value depends on the house and the market, and no contractor can promise a number.
How do I get a full pool removal estimate?
Call or text (650) 404-7049, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or send photos through the free estimate form and tell us what may go on the spot later. We reply with a written, itemized estimate within 24 hours of the photos or the site visit, with fill and testing on their own lines.
