Before & After: Demolition Projects in San Diego
Every great renovation starts with demolition done right. At Demo Diego, we take pride in delivering clean, precise, and safe demolition across San Diego and the surrounding communities. Below, we walk through the types of projects we handle and what the process looks like from start to finish.
Demolition is much more than swinging a sledgehammer. Professional demolition requires careful planning, proper permitting, hazardous material assessments, utility disconnections, and precise execution to ensure the safety of workers, neighboring properties, and future construction. Our team brings years of experience and the right equipment to every job, whether it is a small bathroom tearout in San Diego County or a large commercial demolition in downtown San Diego.
The following sections showcase the range of demolition services we provide throughout San Diego County. For each project type, we describe our typical approach, what clients can expect, and the kind of transformation that professional demolition makes possible.
Residential Demolition Projects
Residential demolition is our bread and butter. San Diego homeowners come to us when they need to tear down an aging home to make way for a new custom build, remove an unpermitted addition, or clear a lot for redevelopment. Whether the property is a mid-century ranch in La Jolla or a hillside cottage in Rancho Santa Fe, we approach each project with the same level of care and professionalism.
Our residential demolition process begins with a thorough on-site assessment where we evaluate the structure, identify hazardous materials, note utility connections, and assess site access for equipment. We then handle all necessary permits with the City of San Diego or the relevant jurisdiction. Once approvals are in hand, we disconnect utilities, perform any required abatement, and execute the demolition with precision.
After the structure comes down, we haul away all debris, recycling as much material as possible. The site is left clean, level, and ready for the next phase of construction. Many of our clients have told us that the transformation from an old, deteriorating structure to a clean slate is one of the most satisfying parts of their building journey.
We have completed full residential demolitions in neighborhoods across San Diego County, including Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, and many more. Each project is unique, but our commitment to quality and safety remains constant.
Commercial Demolition Projects
Commercial demolition requires a different level of planning and coordination compared to residential work. Our commercial projects range from small retail tenant improvements to large-scale building teardowns. We work closely with property owners, general contractors, and architects to ensure that demolition is completed on schedule and within budget.
One common commercial project type is interior strip-out work for tenant turnover. When a new business moves into a commercial space, the previous tenant's build-out often needs to be completely removed. This includes partition walls, drop ceilings, flooring, electrical and plumbing fixtures, cabinetry, and HVAC modifications. We perform these strip-outs efficiently, leaving the space as a blank canvas for the new build-out.
For full commercial building demolitions, we manage every aspect of the process: environmental surveys, asbestos and lead abatement, permit acquisition, utility termination, structural demolition, debris removal, and site grading. Our team is experienced with steel-frame buildings, concrete tilt-up structures, masonry, and wood-frame commercial properties.
We have completed commercial demolition projects in business districts throughout San Diego, Solana Beach, and Vista. From small storefronts to multi-building complexes, we bring the expertise needed to handle any commercial demolition challenge.
Kitchen & Bathroom Demolition Projects
Kitchen and bathroom remodels are among the most popular home improvement projects in San Diego, and they all begin with demolition. Our interior demolition team specializes in the careful removal of cabinets, countertops, tile, flooring, fixtures, and sometimes walls to create the open layouts that San Diego homeowners love.
Kitchen demolition typically involves removing upper and lower cabinets, countertops (granite, quartz, laminate, or butcher block), backsplash tile, flooring, appliances, and sometimes load-bearing or non-load-bearing walls. Our team takes special care to protect adjacent areas of the home from dust and debris. We lay down protective floor coverings, seal doorways with plastic sheeting, and use dust containment measures to minimize disruption to your daily life.
Bathroom demolition follows a similar process but with additional considerations for plumbing. We remove vanities, toilets, bathtubs, shower enclosures, tile (both floor and wall), and sometimes reconfigure plumbing rough-ins for the new layout. Bathrooms in older San Diego homes may have cast iron drain lines or galvanized supply pipes that also need to be addressed during the demolition phase.
The transformation from a dated kitchen or bathroom to a gutted space ready for a fresh design is dramatic. Our clients in Encinitas, San Marcos, and throughout the county consistently tell us that seeing the old space stripped down gives them excitement for what is to come. Visit our Demolition Services page to learn more about our interior demo capabilities.
Pool Demolition Projects
Not every San Diego homeowner wants a pool. Whether the pool is aging and costly to maintain, taking up valuable yard space, or posing a safety concern for young children, pool removal is a common request we receive. Demo Diego offers both partial pool fill-in and full pool removal services to fit different budgets and goals.
In a partial pool fill-in, we break the top two to three feet of the pool shell, punch holes in the bottom for drainage, and then backfill the cavity with a mix of clean fill dirt and gravel. This approach is more affordable and faster, typically completed in two to three days. It is a practical option for homeowners who want to reclaim yard space but do not plan to build structures over the former pool area.
Full pool removal involves excavating and removing the entire pool structure—shell, plumbing, decking, and all. The hole is then backfilled and compacted in engineered layers. This method is more expensive and takes longer (three to five days), but it leaves no trace of the pool below grade and is required if you plan to build over the area in the future.
We have removed pools of every size and material throughout San Diego County, from small fiberglass spas in Temecula to large concrete in-ground pools in Del Mar. No matter the type, we handle the entire process from permit to final grading.
Concrete Demolition & Removal Projects
Concrete demolition is one of our most frequently requested services. San Diego properties often have old driveways, patios, walkways, retaining walls, slabs, and foundations that need to be removed as part of a renovation, landscaping project, or new construction. Concrete removal requires specialized equipment—including hydraulic breakers, skid steers, and excavators—to efficiently break up and haul away heavy material.
The process typically begins with saw-cutting the perimeter of the area to be removed, creating clean edges where the new work will tie in. We then use hydraulic breakers to fracture the concrete into manageable pieces, which are loaded into trucks for recycling. Most concrete we remove is recycled into aggregate for road base and other construction uses, keeping it out of San Diego landfills.
Reinforced concrete (containing rebar or wire mesh) takes additional time and effort to remove because the steel reinforcement must be cut during the breaking process. Thicker slabs and foundations also require more powerful equipment and longer work times. Despite these variables, our team is experienced in handling all types of concrete removal efficiently and safely.
Whether you need a 200 sq ft patio removed in San Marcos or a 2,000 sq ft commercial slab broken out in San Diego, Demo Diego has the equipment and expertise to get it done right.
Why San Diego Trusts Demo Diego
Licensed & Insured
We carry full general liability insurance and workers' compensation coverage. Our California contractor's license is always current and in good standing with the CSLB. You can trust that your property and our crew are protected on every job.
Clean & Safe Work
We take dust control, debris containment, and jobsite safety seriously. Our crews follow OSHA guidelines and use proper protective equipment. We leave every site clean, organized, and ready for the next phase of your project.
Eco-Friendly Disposal
We recycle concrete, metal, wood, and other materials whenever possible. Our commitment to responsible disposal means less waste in San Diego landfills and a smaller environmental footprint for your project.
Ready to Start Your Demolition Project?
Whether you need a full structure teardown, interior gut, pool removal, or concrete demolition anywhere in San Diego County, Demo Diego is here to help. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation estimate.
Call 760-860-8080Learn more about our Demolition Services or visit our homepage for an overview of everything we offer.