How to Prepare Your Yard for Pool Removal in Scottsdale

Demo day moves fast. Our crews arrive at 7AM, machinery is staged within the hour, and the first concrete is broken by mid-morning. Homeowners who aren't prepared lose hours — and sometimes days — of progress. This is the exact checklist we send every client 72 hours before we show up.

72 Hours Before: Permits & Notifications

• 📋 Confirm Blue Stakes is scheduled. Arizona 811 (Blue Stakes) must be called at least 3 business days before any excavation. We handle this — but confirm it's done. Excavating without it is illegal and dangerous.
• 🏘️ Notify your HOA. Many Scottsdale HOAs (Gainey Ranch, DC Ranch, McCormick Ranch) require written notice before exterior construction. Failure to notify can result in fines or stop-work orders.
• 📬 Give neighbors a heads-up. Concrete breaking is loud. A simple note to adjacent neighbors goes a long way and reduces complaint calls during the project.

Day Before: Access & Clearance

• 🚧 Measure your gate opening. Our standard excavators require a minimum 7-foot clearance. If your side gate is narrower, alert us in advance so we can dispatch a micro-loader — this avoids a same-day equipment switch that burns hours.
• 🌵 Mark any plants you want to protect. Flag cacti, mature desert plants, or any landscaping within 10 feet of the pool edge. We'll work around them — but only if we know they matter to you.
• 🚗 Clear your driveway by 6:45AM. Our concrete haul trucks are 40-foot tractor-trailers. They need a full driveway depth to load without blocking the street.

Demo Day: What to Expect

• 🐕 Secure all pets indoors. Machinery noise is distressing to animals. Gates will be open intermittently throughout the day — we cannot be responsible for pets during active demolition.
• 💧 Shut off pool equipment the night before. Turn off the pump, heater, and automation system. If there's water remaining in the pool, we'll drain it compliant with Maricopa County water diversion codes before breaking begins.
• 🏠 You don't need to be home — but be reachable by phone. Our project manager will call for any unexpected site conditions (caliche pockets, unmarked utility lines) that require your sign-off before proceeding.