I’m Jean. I run K9 Junk & Hauling out of Cedar Park, and we’ve been demoing pools across the Austin metro since 2021. If you’re sitting on a tired backyard pool that’s costing you more in chemicals and repairs than it’s worth, this post is for you. I’m going to give you the real numbers, the real timeline, and what actually drives the price up or down. No fluff.
Most homeowners I talk to have heard wild ranges from $5,000 all the way to $40,000. Both are true depending on the job. By the end of this post you’ll know which bucket your pool falls into and what to expect when my crew shows up.
The Real Cost of Pool Demolition in Austin
Here’s what we’re charging in 2026 for the four most common pool jobs I get called on:
- Above-ground pool removal: starting at $1,500. Includes drain, tear-down, haul-off, and basic site cleanup.
- In-ground partial demo (deck removed, top 3-4 feet of shell broken in, fill, grade): $12,000 to $18,000.
- In-ground full demo (entire shell removed, hauled, clean backfill, rough grade): $20,000 to $28,000. Average is around $24,000.
- Pool deck only (concrete or pavers around an existing pool you’re keeping): $2,500 to $6,000.
Every quote I write includes the site walk, permit coordination with the city or county, the actual demo, all hauling, backfill, and rough grading. No surprise fees on day three. If something changes mid-job, we stop and talk before the meter runs.
What Drives the Price
Two pools that look the same from the street can cost $8,000 apart. Here’s why:
Pool type. Vinyl-liner pools are the cheapest to demo. Concrete and gunite are heavier, harder, and slower. Fiberglass shells we have to cut up. The material matters more than people think.
Size and depth. A 12,000-gallon plunge pool is a different animal than a 30,000-gallon diving pool. Deeper pools mean more backfill, which means more truckloads of clean dirt, which is a real cost.
Access. This is the one most homeowners don’t see coming. If my excavator can roll right into the backyard through a wide side gate, we’re golden. If we have to remove a section of fence, protect a sprinkler system, or use smaller equipment because the gate is 4 feet wide, the labor doubles.
Backfill needs. Some lots need engineered fill if you’re planning to build on the spot later. Standard fill plus compaction is included. Engineered structural fill is extra and I’ll tell you up front if your job needs it.
Older homes. Pre-1981 properties sometimes have asbestos in the deck coatings or pool plaster. If we suspect it, we test before we touch anything. That adds a few days and a testing fee, but it keeps you out of trouble with the city.
The Demo Process from Start to Finish
Every pool job I run follows the same four steps. No mystery.
Step 1: Free site walk. I come out, measure the pool, check access, look at where utilities run, ask what you want the yard to look like when we’re done. Takes about 30 minutes.
Step 2: Written quote within 48 hours. Flat number. Itemized so you can see what you’re paying for. I include the permit fee estimate and the timeline.
Step 3: Permits and demo. I pull the permits with the city or county. Once they’re approved, we drain, tear out the deck, break down the shell, and haul everything off. Most pools are gone in 2 to 4 days.
Step 4: Backfill and rough grade. Clean fill goes in, gets compacted in lifts, and we rough-grade the surface so it sheds water away from the house. Final grade for sod or landscaping is on you or your landscaper unless you want us to handle it.
Total timeline is usually 3 to 7 days from the day we break ground, depending on size and weather.
Permits and Inspection: What Most Homeowners Miss
Austin, Cedar Park, Leander, Liberty Hill, Pflugerville, Round Rock, and Williamson County all require a demolition permit for a pool. The fee is usually $80 to $250 depending on the jurisdiction. You also need a final inspection after backfill before the permit closes.
If you skip the permit and the city finds out later (they do, usually when you sell), you’re looking at fines plus the cost of digging it back up to prove it was filled correctly. I’ve seen it twice in the last year. Not worth it.
I pull every permit on every job. It’s included in my price.
How K9 Handles Pool Demolition
I’m not the cheapest quote you’ll get. I’m okay with that. Here’s what you get for the price:
- Fully insured crew with general liability and workers’ comp.
- We show up on the day we say we will.
- Written, itemized quote with no surprise add-ons.
- Permits pulled for you.
- Clean backfill, compacted in lifts, rough graded.
- I answer my own phone.
We cover the whole Austin metro. If you’re in Cedar Park, Liberty Hill, or anywhere from Georgetown down to Buda, my crew can be on-site. You can read more about our pool demolition service or our full demolition service line.
Ready for a real number on your pool? Call me at (737) 900-9626 or get a quote at https://k9junkandhauling.com/get-a-quote/. I’ll be at your house this week, measure the job, and have a written quote back to you in 48 hours.