In short
In Estepona we fill in or remove swimming pools, demolish terraces, outbuildings and garden walls, and clear the plot. With about 21 km of coastline and urbanizaciones spread from the beach up to the foothills of the Sierra Bermeja, jobs range from older villa pools on flat coastal plots to pools on steep terraces. In the old town, narrow streets mean small vehicles and hand work.
A long coastline with many different estates
Estepona has about 21 km of coastline, and its urbanizaciones line the coast and climb towards the mountains: Atalaya-Isdabe, Bel-Air, Cancelada, El Padrón, Bahía Dorada, El Velerín, Selwo, El Paraíso, Valle Romano, Benavista, Los Flamingos and Costa Natura, among others. Many of the older villas date from the first waves of foreign buyers, and their pools are now reaching the age at which owners decide between a full renovation and taking the pool out.
Typical requests in Estepona:
- an older pool replaced by a smaller one in another part of the garden, which means a complete pool demolition so the ground can be built on again;
- a pool in a holiday home that is no longer worth maintaining, turned into garden by a drained and compacted infill;
- walls, hedging frames and fences between plots on the golf estates, removed through our wall and fence removal service.
From the beach to the Sierra Bermeja: why the terrain matters
The municipal area includes mountainous terrain dominated by the Sierra Bermeja, which reaches 1,449 m at Los Reales. The higher estates sit on its foothills, where pools are usually set into terraces and access roads are steeper. Closer to the beach, plots are flatter and access is easier, but the water table can be closer to the surface on low-lying ground, which is one more reason to break the pool floor before backfilling.
The Monterroso river runs underground along the west of the town since it was culverted in 1973 – a reminder that watercourses in Estepona do not always show on the surface. If you are unsure how water moves across your plot, your técnico or a local builder who knows the area can advise before the infill is designed.
Old town houses and small patio pools
Estepona's old town keeps narrow streets and small one-storey houses, mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries. Pools there are rare, but patio plunge pools, raised planters and small outbuildings do appear in renovated houses. In those streets, a lorry may not get close to the door: the work is done with hand tools and electric breakers, and the material is taken out in bags or barrows to a small vehicle.
A skip or vehicle standing on the public road needs municipal authorisation, and the right procedure for the work (declaración responsable or licence) is confirmed with the Ayuntamiento de Estepona beforehand. Each ayuntamiento sets out its documents and timings in its own ordinance; your técnico handles it, and we work with their documentation.
Levelling, rubble and following it all from home
After a pool removal on a terraced plot, the ground needs to be shaped so that water runs away from the house and the terraces stay stable. We leave a compacted, basic level ready for paving, turf or a new pool, as part of groundworks and levelling after demolition. Rubble is sorted on site and delivered to an authorised facility, and you receive the receipts.
Most of our Estepona clients are not living in Spain full time. You can write to us in English, arrange access through your property manager or community, and follow each stage through photos. If the villa itself is being demolished, see villa demolition in Estepona on our sister site. To understand what moves the price, read what changes the cost of removing a pool.
Services
Pool removal and pool demolition on the Costa del Sol
Full or partial removal of concrete and block pools, including coping, pool beach and plant room, with sorted rubble and compacted backfill.
Pool fill in: turning an unwanted pool into solid garden
Break down the top of the shell, drain the floor and backfill in compacted layers – the pool disappears and the garden comes back.
Wall removal and fence removal for villa gardens
Garden walls, boundary fences, gate pillars and – after a técnico's assessment – retaining walls, removed down to the footings.
Groundworks and basic levelling after a demolition
Backfilling, compaction and basic levelling of the ground left by a demolished pool, terrace or outbuilding.
Frequently asked questions
Which parts of Estepona do you cover?
The whole municipality: the old town and the coastal and hillside urbanizaciones such as Cancelada, Bel-Air, El Padrón, Benavista, El Paraíso, Selwo and El Velerín.
I want a new pool in a different spot. Should the old one be filled in?
If the old spot will be built on or paved heavily, a complete demolition is better. If it becomes lawn or planting, a well-compacted infill is usually enough.
Is groundwater a problem near the beach?
On low-lying plots the ground can be wetter, so the pool floor is always opened before backfilling. Your técnico can advise if the plot is known to hold water.
Can you work in the narrow streets of the old town?
Yes. We use hand tools and electric breakers and move material in small loads to a vehicle that fits the street.
Do you work on the golf estates such as Valle Romano?
Yes, including golf and gated estates, where we follow the community's rules on access and working hours.
Who arranges the permit for a skip on the street?
The owner or their técnico applies to the ayuntamiento. We fit our dates to the authorisation.
Do you work with my architect or builder?
Yes. We work from your técnico's documentation and coordinate dates with your architect, builder or landscaper.
Do you clear land with only vegetation on it?
Pure vegetation clearing is not a standard service. Ask us and we will tell you whether we can help or who to contact.
How do you protect the rest of the garden?
We agree the machine route in advance, protect paving and paths where needed and keep the work area fenced off.
Is a health and safety study needed?
Every construction or demolition job has a safety and health study or a basic study, depending on its size, and the contractor prepares its own safety plan from it.