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Our pool demolition experts in Memphis, TN remove unwanted inground and above ground pools and spas. We break up concrete or fiberglass shells, remove equipment, and properly backfill and compact the area. The result is a stable, level yard that can be landscaped or built on with confidence.
Memphis Demolition Company provides professional pool demolition throughout Memphis, TN, Tennessee and the surrounding area. Our licensed, insured crew delivers safe, clean, on-time work with a free estimate before anything begins. Call (901) 716-8827 or request your free quote.
Pool Demolition in Memphis Done the Right Way
If you are tired of maintaining a pool or spa you no longer use, Memphis Demolition Company can remove it cleanly and safely so you can take back your yard. We handle swimming pool and spa demolition across Memphis and the surrounding suburbs, including older concrete pools in Midtown, vinyl liner pools in Cordova, and gunite or fiberglass pools in newer subdivisions in Collierville and Bartlett.
We start every project with a site visit, not a guess over the phone. We measure access, look at retaining walls and nearby structures, check for overhead power lines, and ask about any known utilities that may have been routed around the pool. Our estimator explains the difference between a partial removal and a full removal so you understand what will be under your grass or patio in 5 or 15 years.
Memphis soil holds water differently than harder clay markets, and older neighborhoods often have shallow utilities and aging drainage. That matters when you are filling a deep hole. We pay close attention to how water already drains across your property so your former pool area does not become a soggy low spot that kills grass or pushes water toward your foundation.
How Swimming Pool and Spa Demolition Actually Works
On demolition day we start by protecting your property. Memphis Demolition Company lays down plywood or ground protection mats where our skid steers and mini excavators will travel, covers nearby windows if needed, and fences off the work zone so kids and pets stay safe.
If the pool still has water, we pump it out and discharge it in a way that does not flood your neighbor or violate local drainage rules. For inground gunite or concrete pools, we chip off or remove any loose tile, coping, or raised features like waterfalls. Electrical to lights, pumps, and heaters is disconnected and capped by a licensed electrician. Gas lines that feed heaters are shut off at the meter, pressure tested when needed, and capped so they are safe for a home inspection later.
For a partial pool demolition, we break up the pool shell at the bottom and along the walls to create drainage holes. We typically remove at least the top 18 to 24 inches of the side walls around the perimeter so you can landscape or add a patio without concrete right under the surface. For a full removal, we excavate and haul away the entire shell, including floor and walls, along with rebar, mesh, and any fiberglass or vinyl components.
Spas are handled in a similar way. Attached spas that share a wall and plumbing with the pool are broken out with the rest of the shell so there is not a hard edge left behind. Stand alone concrete or fiberglass spas are either lifted out in one piece if access allows or broken up and removed section by section.
Backfilling, Compaction, and Future Use of the Space
The most important part of pool demolition is not the breaking, it is how the hole is filled. Memphis Demolition Company follows a structured backfill and compaction process so the area can be used for lawns, play sets, gardens, or even future structures, depending on which option you choose.
Once debris is removed or pushed to the bottom to an approved depth, we bring in clean fill. Typically this is a mix of compactable soil and small stone or crushed concrete that meets local standards for structural fill. We place it in lifts, usually 8 to 12 inches thick, and compact each layer with a plate compactor or a larger jumping jack or roller, depending on the size of the pool. This reduces the chance of future settling that can crack patios or leave low spots.
Near the surface we switch to better quality topsoil so turf or plants can take root. If you want sod, we grade the area slightly higher than surrounding ground because it will settle a bit after a season of rain. If you are thinking about building over the area in the future, such as a room addition or garage, we tell you up front whether a full removal with engineered backfill is the smarter option. In Memphis and Shelby County, most building departments and many structural engineers prefer or require full pool removal if you plan to put a load bearing foundation in that footprint.
We finish by fine grading the area so water sheds away from your home, not toward it. If we see existing drainage problems, such as downspouts dumping near the old pool, we can adjust grades or add simple swales to help keep the new yard area drier.
Permits, Regulations, and Typical Costs in Memphis
In Memphis and the surrounding Tennessee municipalities, pool demolition is not just a matter of showing up with an excavator. Most inground pool and spa removals require a permit through the City of Memphis or the relevant suburb, and some HOAs also require advance written approval. Memphis Demolition Company can handle the permitting for you, or we can provide the site plan and scope if you prefer to apply yourself.
Local rules generally require that the pool shell be perforated for drainage at the bottom, that utilities be safely terminated, and that the final grade not send additional storm water onto neighboring properties. Some parts of Shelby County sit in flood prone or low lying areas, so the inspector may pay extra attention to drainage and elevation. If your property is in a historic neighborhood or close to a utility easement, we may also coordinate with Memphis Light, Gas and Water to mark buried lines.
Costs for pool demolition in Memphis vary based on access, size, and whether you choose partial or full removal. A smaller vinyl liner pool with simple concrete decking and good access will usually fall at the lower end of the range because there is less concrete to break and haul. Large gunite pools with deep ends, attached spas, heavy reinforced decks, or existing structures built tight to the pool edge cost more because of the extra labor, equipment time, and disposal fees.
Other cost factors include distance to the nearest dump that accepts concrete, whether fencing must be temporarily removed and reinstalled to gain access, and any extra grading or drainage work you want done after the pool is gone. During your estimate, we break out these items so you can see what drives the number and choose what is truly important for how you plan to use the space.
What Memphis Homeowners Should Ask Before Hiring
Taking out a pool or spa is a permanent change to your property, so it pays to ask a few direct questions before you sign a contract. Memphis Demolition Company encourages you to ask these same questions of us and any other contractor.
First, clarify whether you are being quoted for a partial removal or a full removal, and have that written in the agreement. Ask how deep the contractor plans to remove the walls, what materials will be used for backfill, and whether compaction is included. If you might sell your home in the next few years, ask for a written description of the work and any photos. Buyers and home inspectors in Memphis increasingly ask for proof that a pool was properly removed and filled.
Second, ask about licensing, insurance, and who is actually doing the work. Some companies sub out pool demolition to the lowest bidder and never show up on site. Our crews are local, accustomed to Memphis soil conditions, and we supervise each job until final cleanup. We can also coordinate with your pool service company if equipment is being salvaged or resold.
Finally, discuss utilities and neighbors ahead of time. We call in utility locates before digging, and if truck traffic or noise will affect adjoining properties in tight Memphis lots, we can help you pick suitable working hours. At the end of the job, we walk the site with you, confirm debris is removed, gates are re secured, and talk about how to care for the new soil if you plan to seed or sod. Our goal is for your former pool or spa area to look and function like it was always just part of your yard, with no surprises later.
