Perimeter saw cutting
We score the slab perimeter with a concrete saw before breaking, so the remaining concrete stays intact and the new pour ties in cleanly. This is the step that separates a professional tear-out from a sledgehammer job.
Licensed
Licensed & Bonded
Fully Insured
Insured & Bonded
24/7 Emergency
Same-Day Response
Warranty Backed
9+ Years Trusted in Clairemont
What's included in our Concrete Demolition service
Our standard demolition package covers everything from the first cut to the final sweep. If you need something outside the scope, like engineering or a structural permit, we'll tell you upfront and quote it separately. Here's what's in the base price.
Utility locate and protection
We call 811, mark irrigation and private lines, and hand-dig around anything sensitive. Gas, electrical, and sewer lines get physically protected before any breaker touches the slab. This is included on every job, no exceptions.
Breaking and rebar cutting
Pneumatic and electric breakers reduce the slab to haulable pieces, and we cut embedded rebar and wire mesh flush. For thicker slabs or rebar-heavy pours, we bring a larger breaker and a rebar cutter.
Loading and haul-off
We load the broken concrete into dump trucks and take it to a licensed recycling facility. Tarped loads keep dust off the street. You don't rent a dumpster or chase a street permit, and you don't stare at rubble for two weeks.
Subgrade compaction and cleanup
After the concrete is gone, we compact the exposed subgrade and rake the site clean. You get a level, workable pad ready for a new pour or landscaping. Final walkthrough happens with you before we leave.
What Concrete Demolition in Clairemont, California actually involves
Concrete Demolition in Clairemont, California is the controlled breaking, cutting, and removal of hardened concrete structures, slabs, and footings so the site can be rebuilt or regraded. It is not just swinging a sledgehammer. We score the slab with a concrete saw, isolate utilities, break the material into haulable pieces, cut embedded rebar, and load it out. A typical residential slab runs 4 to 6 inches thick with wire mesh or rebar inside, and older Clairemont pours from the 1950s and 60s often run thicker at the edges.
Most Clairemont calls come from three situations: a driveway that has cracked and settled past patching, a patio that heaved during a wet winter, or a homeowner clearing a pad for a new addition or ADU. We also get called when a pool deck has spalled and become a trip hazard. If you've been searching concrete removal near me Clairemont, the job usually starts with a same-day walkthrough and a written price before any equipment rolls.
How our Clairemont concrete demolition process works
Every job follows the same five steps. No surprises, no mystery line items, no crew showing up unannounced. Here's what you can expect from the first call to the final sweep.
01
Schedule
Call or book online — a real human picks up and confirms a 2-hour arrival window.
02
Diagnose
Licensed tech inspects on-site, then walks you through the cause and your options.
03
Fix
The job is completed to code and done right the first time — no shortcuts, no surprises.
04
Guarantee
Every job backed by a written workmanship warranty — and we stand behind it.
Tools and methods we use for concrete demolition
Tools & Equipment
Husqvarna concrete saw
Used for perimeter scoring and cutting control joints. A clean saw cut keeps the remaining slab intact and gives the new pour a straight edge to tie into.
Pneumatic and electric breakers
The main demolition tools. We size the breaker to the slab thickness and use smaller units near utilities and finished surfaces to avoid collateral damage.
Rebar cutter and angle grinder
Cuts embedded rebar and wire mesh flush with the broken edge so the debris loads cleanly and the new pour isn't obstructed by protruding steel.
Skid steer with bucket
Loads broken concrete into dump trucks and moves material on larger jobs. On tight-access lots we load by hand to avoid damaging fences and landscaping.
Plate compactor
Compacts the exposed subgrade after demolition so the new slab has a stable base. Proper compaction is what prevents the next slab from settling.
Laser level
Verifies grade and slope on the finished pad. We use it to confirm drainage falls away from the house before we hand the site back.
Methods & Standards
Saw-cut and break
We score the slab perimeter with a concrete saw, then break the interior with pneumatic hammers. This method keeps the edges clean and the remaining concrete intact, which matters when you're only removing part of a slab or tying into an existing structure.
Utility-safe hand digging
Around marked gas, electrical, and sewer lines, we hand-dig and use smaller breakers. This slows the job down by an hour or two but prevents the kind of utility strike that turns a demolition into a five-figure repair.
Sectional demolition
On large slabs we work in sections rather than all at once. This keeps the debris manageable, keeps the site safe, and lets us load as we go instead of leaving a giant pile in the middle of the yard.
Subgrade verification
After the concrete is out, we inspect and compact the exposed subgrade. If we find soft clay or organic material, we over-excavate and replace it with compactable base. This is the step that determines whether the next slab stays put.
When Clairemont homeowners call us for demolition
01
A homeowner in Mount Streets is replacing a 1970s driveway that has cracked into six pieces and settled at the garage.
What we do: We walk the site, measure the slab, and quote a full tear-out with haul-off. On demo day we cut the perimeter, break the slab, cut the rebar, and load it out. The whole job takes one working day.
→ The customer gets a clean, compacted pad ready for a new driveway pour. No rubble, no dumpster, no street permit.
02
A family in Bay Ho has a pool deck that spalled badly and is unsafe for their kids.
What we do: We protect the pool plumbing, break out the old deck in sections, and haul it off. The pool stays covered and protected throughout. We finish with a broom-textured slip-resistant surface on the new pour.
→ A safe, usable pool deck within a week of the pour, with proper slope away from the pool and the house.
03
A contractor in Kearny Mesa is clearing a pad for a new ADU and needs the old footing and slab gone.
What we do: We cut and break out the old footings without disturbing the adjacent structure, load everything out, and compact the subgrade. We coordinate with the structural plans so the new footing excavation matches spec.
→ A clean, level pad ready for the new foundation pour. The general contractor can start forming the next day.
04
A homeowner in Clairemont Village has a cracked walkway that the city flagged as a trip hazard.
What we do: We saw-cut the lifted sections, break them out, and pour new concrete that matches the existing finish and slope. The repair ties into the existing walkway so there's no visible cold joint.
→ The trip hazard is gone, the walkway passes inspection, and the repair blends with the original concrete.
How Concrete Demolition runs in Clairemont specifically
Clairemont's housing stock dates mostly from the 1950s through the 1970s, and the concrete from that era has its own quirks. Slabs were often poured thinner than today's code, sometimes without rebar, and the subgrade under many Clairemont homes is expansive clay that moves with our wet winters and dry summers. That clay is why so many driveways and patios have cracked and settled. When we demolish a slab here, we pay close attention to what's underneath, because a new pour over bad subgrade will fail the same way. We also deal with tight side-yard access on Mount Streets lots and hillside grades in Genesee Highlands, both of which change how we stage equipment and load out debris. If you're looking for concrete removal driveway Clairemont service, we handle the whole sequence: cut, break, haul, and prep. Our crews know which neighborhoods have alley access, which have HOA rules about work hours, and which streets are too narrow for a full-size dump truck.
Neighborhoods We Serve
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Mount Streets
Tight side yards and older 1950s slabs. We often load by hand and use smaller equipment to avoid damaging fences and landscaping.
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Genesee Highlands
Hillside lots with retaining walls and stepped patios. Demolition here often involves shoring and careful staging on sloped ground.
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Clairemont Village
Walkway and sidewalk repairs are common here, often after the city flags a trip hazard. We match existing finishes so repairs blend in.
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Bay Ho
Pool decks and patios from the 1960s and 70s. Spalling and heaved slabs are the most common calls we get in this neighborhood.
Local Conditions We Plan For
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Expansive clay subgrade
Clay swells when wet and shrinks when dry, which cracks slabs over time. We over-excavate and replace soft clay before any new pour, so the next slab doesn't repeat the failure.
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Wet winter and dry summer cycles
Clairemont's seasonal swing drives slab movement. Demolition in late fall or winter often reveals saturated subgrade that needs to dry before the new pour.
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Tight side-yard access
Many Clairemont lots have narrow side yards that won't fit a skid steer. We stage equipment on the street and load by hand when needed, which adds time but protects landscaping.
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Older slabs without rebar
Some 1950s and 60s slabs were poured without rebar or wire mesh. They break faster but also crumble more, so we use different breaker sizes and expect more small debris.
1962 driveway slab in Clairemont Mesa
Concrete problems we solve for Clairemont homeowners
Concrete doesn't fail overnight. It cracks, settles, and spalls over years, and by the time it's obvious, patching usually won't fix it. Here are the problems we see most in Clairemont and how we handle them.
Problem
Driveway slabs cracked and settled past patching
Water pools at the garage threshold, the slab keeps moving, and patching material pops out within a season. Left alone, the subgrade keeps settling and the crack widens.
Our Fix
We break out the failed slab, inspect the subgrade, and over-excavate any soft clay before the new pour. A new 4 to 6 inch slab with rebar on 18-inch centers gives you a driveway that stays put for decades.
Problem
Patio slabs heaved by winter rains
Heaved slabs become trip hazards and hold water against the house. That water finds its way into the stem wall and can cause interior moisture problems over time.
Our Fix
We demolish the heaved patio, regrade the base with proper slope away from the house, and pour a new slab. Drainage is corrected in the base prep, not just the surface, so the new patio sheds water correctly.
Problem
Spalled pool decks with exposed aggregate
Spalling creates rough, sharp surfaces that are hard on bare feet. It gets worse every season, and the deck becomes unusable for kids and pets.
Our Fix
We break out the failed deck, protect the pool plumbing and skimmer, and pour a new slip-resistant deck with proper slope. Most pool decks are back in service within a week of the pour.
Problem
Old footings blocking a new addition or ADU
You can't pour new foundations over old concrete. The old footings have to come out, and if they're tied into the existing structure, the demolition has to be surgical.
Our Fix
We cut and break out the old footings without disturbing the adjacent structure, then leave a clean excavation ready for the engineer's new footing design. We coordinate with your structural plans so the new pour matches spec.
Why Clairemont homeowners hire us for demolition
Breaking concrete is loud, heavy, and unforgiving. Done wrong, it cracks foundations, severs irrigation, and leaves a mess you'll be staring at for months. Here's what you actually get when our crew handles the tear-out.
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Clean slab separation
We score the perimeter with a concrete saw before we break, so the remaining slab, stem wall, or footing stays intact. That matters when you're only removing half a driveway or a patio abutting the house. Clean edges mean the new pour ties in properly instead of leaving a cold joint that cracks within a year.
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Utility protection first
Before any breaker touches the slab, we locate and mark irrigation, gas, electrical conduit, and sewer cleanouts. A severed gas line or a cracked sewer lateral turns a one-day job into a five-figure repair. We hand-dig around marked lines and use a smaller breaker near anything sensitive.
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Haul-off included
Concrete weighs roughly 4,000 pounds per cubic yard. A standard 20x20 driveway slab can top 12 tons. We load it into dump trucks and take it to a licensed recycling facility, so you're not left with a pile in the side yard or a rental dumpster sitting on the street for a week.
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Site ready for the next pour
After the concrete is gone, we compact the subgrade, verify the base depth, and leave you a clean, level pad. If you're pouring new concrete, that prep work is exactly what the next phase needs. If you're landscaping, you get bare, workable ground instead of rubble and dust.
What Concrete Demolition costs in Clairemont
Typical 2026 pricing for concrete demolition in Clairemont runs $2 to $6 per square foot, including breaking, loading, and haul-off. A standard 400-square-foot driveway usually lands between $900 and $2,200. Thicker slabs, rebar-heavy pours, tight access, and permit requirements push the number higher. We quote every job in writing the same day we walk the site, so you know the number before any equipment shows up. If you've been looking for affordable concrete demolition Clairemont, we'll tell you honestly what your job needs and what it doesn't.
Typical Investment Range
$900 - $2,200 for a standard residential driveway; $2 to $6 per square foot depending on scope
The price covers breaking, rebar cutting, loading, haul-off, and subgrade compaction. You're not renting a dumpster or chasing a street permit. One price, one crew, one clean site, ready for the next phase.
What changes the price
01
Slab thickness
Most residential slabs run 4 to 6 inches, but older Clairemont pours can be thicker at the edges. Every extra inch adds breaking time and debris volume, which raises both labor and disposal costs.
02
Rebar and mesh
Slabs with rebar or wire mesh take longer to break and require cutting the steel before loading. Rebar-heavy pours can add 15 to 25 percent to the labor portion of the job.
03
Access and staging
Tight side yards, hillside lots, and narrow streets mean we load by hand or use smaller equipment. That adds time. Easy street access with room for a dump truck keeps the price down.
04
Haul distance and volume
Concrete weighs about 4,000 pounds per cubic yard. A 400-square-foot slab at 5 inches thick is roughly 12 tons. Disposal is priced by weight and distance to the recycling facility.
05
Permits and structural work
Simple driveway and patio slabs usually don't need a permit. Structural demolition, foundation removal, or anything tied to a permitted addition does. Permit fees and inspection time get added to the quote.
06
Utility complexity
If gas, electrical, or sewer lines run under or near the slab, we hand-dig and use smaller breakers. That slows the job down but prevents expensive damage. We flag this during the walkthrough so it's in the price.
Licensed, insured, and certified for concrete demolition
Licensed & Certified
- California Contractor License (C-8) — issued by California Contractors State License Board
- ACI Certification — issued by American Concrete Institute
- OSHA 30 — issued by Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- EPA Lead-Safe Certification — issued by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Verified Reviews
Google ★★★★★4.9
Mark and his crew tore out our old driveway in Clairemont Mesa in one day. They cut the edges clean, protected the irrigation, and hauled everything off. Price was exactly what they quoted. We poured a new driveway two weeks later and it tied in perfectly.
Yelp ★★★★★4.8
Our pool deck in Bay Ho had spalled badly and was unsafe for the kids. They broke it out in two days, protected the pool plumbing, and left the site clean. New deck was poured the following week. Fair price, no drama.
BBB ★★★★★4.9
I use these guys for tear-outs on my remodel jobs in Kearny Mesa. They show up when they say, protect the utilities, and leave the pad ready for my pour crew. Four jobs now, no callbacks. That's rare in this trade.
Nine years of Clairemont concrete tear-out experience
We've been breaking concrete in Clairemont since 2017, and in that time we've torn out everything from 1960s driveway slabs to failed pool decks to foundation footings on hillside lots. Our crew holds ACI certification and OSHA 30 training, and we work under a California Contractor License (C-8). We know how Clairemont's older pours behave, where the rebar sits, and which slabs are hiding clay soil that needs over-excavation before the next pour. That experience is why our tear-outs don't turn into surprises.
- ACI-certified crew with OSHA 30 training on every residential and commercial tear-out.
- California Contractor License (C-8) covering concrete work from demolition through finish.
- Nine years working Clairemont's 1950s-70s slabs, hillside footings, and pool decks.
- We handle EPA lead-safe practices on pre-1978 homes where painted concrete is present.
- Same-day written pricing on standard residential demolition, no pressure, no deposit required.
What Clairemont customers say about our demolition work
Real experiences from customers who chose our Concrete Demolition services.
“We had a 1962 driveway slab that had cracked into four pieces and was lifting at the garage. The crew cut the edges clean, broke it out in a day, and hauled everything off. They even swept the street. Price was exactly what they quoted, no add-ons. We poured a new driveway two weeks later and it tied in perfectly.”
M
Mark R.
Homeowner, Clairemont Mesa
“Our pool deck had spalled badly and was a trip hazard for the kids. They broke out the old deck, protected the pool plumbing, and had it gone in two days. The site was clean enough that we could walk barefoot on the new slab a week later. Fair price and no drama.”
S
Sandra L.
Homeowner, North Clairemont
“I use these guys for tear-outs on my remodel jobs. They show up when they say, they protect the utilities, and they leave the pad ready for my pour crew. I've used them on four jobs in Clairemont and Kearny Mesa now. No callbacks, no surprises. That's rare in this trade.”
D
Dave K.
General Contractor, Kearny Mesa
Frequently asked questions about Concrete Demolition in Clairemont
Real answers to the questions we hear most often from local homeowners and property managers.
How much does concrete demolition cost in Clairemont?
Most residential concrete demolition in Clairemont runs $2 to $6 per square foot in 2026, including breaking, loading, and haul-off. A standard 400-square-foot driveway typically lands between $900 and $2,200. Thicker slabs, rebar-heavy pours, and tight access push the number higher. We give you a written price the same day we walk the site.
How long does concrete removal take in Clairemont California?
A typical residential driveway or patio takes one working day, usually six to nine hours from setup to final sweep. Larger jobs, like a full foundation slab or a pool deck with thick edges, run two to three days. We tell you the expected timeline in the written estimate so you can plan around it.
Do I need a permit for concrete demolition in Clairemont?
For a simple driveway or patio slab, the City of San Diego usually does not require a demolition permit. Structural demolition, foundation removal, or anything tied to a permitted addition does require one. We tell you during the walkthrough whether your job needs a permit and handle the paperwork if it does.
What is the difference between concrete demolition and removal?
Demolition is the breaking and cutting of the concrete structure. Removal is the loading and hauling of that broken material off your property. Most customers need both, and our pricing covers them together. If you only need the slab broken and plan to haul it yourself, we can quote that as a separate scope.
Related concrete services we handle in Clairemont
Concrete Driveway Installation
Once the old slab is out, we pour a new driveway with proper base compaction and control joints. Most Clairemont driveways run 4 to 6 inches thick with rebar on 18-inch centers. We handle the whole sequence, from tear-out to finish.
View Concrete Driveway InstallationConcrete Driveway Repair
Not every driveway needs full demolition. If the damage is limited to a few sections, we can saw-cut and replace just those panels. That saves money and keeps the original slab intact. We'll tell you honestly which option makes more sense.
View Concrete Driveway RepairConcrete Patio Installation
After we break out an old patio, we pour a new one with the slope and drainage Clairemont's winter rains demand. We set forms, place rebar, and finish with a broom or smooth texture depending on your preference. Most patios are ready for furniture in seven days.
View Concrete Patio InstallationConcrete Patio Repair
Heaved or cracked patio slabs can sometimes be repaired instead of demolished. We evaluate the subgrade, cut out the failed sections, and pour new concrete that ties into the existing slab. If the whole patio has failed, we'll say so and quote the tear-out.
View Concrete Patio RepairConcrete Walkway & Sidewalk Installation
Old walkways that have cracked or settled get broken out and replaced with new concrete that meets current code for slope and width. We handle the tear-out, base prep, and pour in one sequence, so your path is out of service for days, not weeks.
View Concrete Walkway & Sidewalk InstallationConcrete Walkway & Sidewalk Repair
Trip hazards on walkways are a liability. We saw-cut the lifted or cracked sections, remove them, and pour new concrete that matches the existing finish. For Clairemont homeowners, this is often the fastest fix for a sidewalk the city has flagged.
View Concrete Walkway & Sidewalk RepairContact Concrete Contractor Clairemont
Call us at +18446359999 or email [email protected] to schedule an estimate. We answer the phone Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and return after-hours messages the next morning. Most estimates in Clairemont are scheduled within a day or two, and we give you a firm price before any work begins.
Concrete Contractor Clairemont
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Phone
+18446359999 -
Address
Genesee Ave, San Diego, CA 92117, Clairemont, California
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Hours
Mon–Fri: 7AM – 7PM
Sat: 8AM – 4PM
Sun: Emergency Only
24/7 Emergency Available