ServicesPool Decks
Concrete Pool Decks in Placentia
We tear out tired pool decks and pour new concrete that drains away from the water, grips under wet feet and stays easier to walk on in summer. Before we start, we walk you through the finish choices so you know what each one means.
What a Good Pool Deck Has to Do
A pool deck takes more abuse than most concrete at your home. It gets splashed, soaked with chlorinated water, baked by the sun and walked on barefoot. So it needs three things a driveway does not: a surface that is not slick when wet, a slope that sends water away from the pool, and a finish that does not burn your feet.
Most decks we replace failed on one of those. Water pooled near the coping. The broom finish wore smooth. Or the old slab settled and pulled away from the pool edge. A new deck is the right call when the slab itself is the problem, not just the surface.
We keep it simple. You tell us how you use the yard. We show you the finish options, what they cost relative to each other, and how each one holds up around water.
What the Job Includes
- Careful tear-out
- We break out the old deck in sections and haul it away. The pool gets covered first so dust and chips stay out of the water and the filter.
- Slope and drainage
- We set the grade so water runs away from the pool, usually a gentle fall you will not notice walking. Where the yard is flat, we can add a channel drain to carry water off.
- Steel and base
- We compact the base and lay rebar so the slab holds together if the ground moves a little.
- Joint at the coping
- Concrete grows and shrinks with heat. We leave a joint between the deck and the pool coping and fill it with flexible sealant, so the deck does not push against the pool.
- Your choice of finish
- Broom finish, salt finish, stamped concrete or a cool-deck topping. Each has trade-offs in grip, heat and upkeep, and we explain them before you decide.
- Cleanup
- We clear forms and leftover material and rinse the area. The pool cover comes off last.
Signs It's Time for a New Pool Deck
Water sits near the pool
Puddles along the coping mean the slope is wrong. That water can get under the slab and the pool shell over time.
The deck has sunk or tilted
If one section dropped or tipped toward the pool, the ground under it moved. Patching the top will not fix that.
A gap at the coping
A wide crack where the deck meets the pool edge lets water in behind the coping. It is worth a look before it gets bigger.
Slick or too hot to stand on
An old finish can wear smooth, or a dark surface can get painful in the summer sun. Both are good reasons to pick a new finish.
Cracks spreading across sections
A few hairline cracks are normal. Cracks that keep growing, or edges that lift and catch toes, point to a slab near the end of its life.
How a Pool Deck Job Runs
- 1
Walk the yard together
We look at the deck, the coping, the drainage and how we will get equipment in. You get a written estimate with each part listed so nothing is a surprise later.
- 2
Protect, then tear out
We cover the pool, protect the equipment pad and break out the old concrete. Most decks come out in a day.
- 3
Form, grade and set steel
We build forms, set the slope away from the water and lay rebar. Before the pour, you can walk it with us and see where water will run.
- 4
Pour and finish
We place the concrete, cut control joints and apply the finish you picked. Salt finish and stamped work happen while the concrete is still soft, so timing on this day matters.
- 5
Cure and seal
You can walk on it after a day or two. Furniture and grills wait about a week. If your finish calls for sealer, we tell you when it goes on.
What Moves the Price
Every pool deck is priced from the yard in front of us, so we will not quote a number sight unseen. These are the things that move it up or down. We go over each one in the estimate so you can see where the money goes.
- Size and shape
- More square feet means more concrete and labor. Curves around a freeform pool take more forming time than straight runs.
- Removing the old deck
- Thick slabs, heavy rebar or old tile on top all add time and haul-off.
- Finish choice
- A broom finish is the simplest. Salt finish adds a step. Stamped concrete and cool-deck toppings take more labor and material.
- Drainage work
- A deck that only needs the right slope costs less than one that needs channel drains run to a safe outlet.
- Access to the backyard
- A narrow side yard can mean wheelbarrows or a concrete pump instead of a truck chute. That changes the crew time on pour day.
Pool Deck Questions We Get
Something not covered here? (714) 942-4542
Do I have to drain my pool?
Usually no. We cover the water and keep debris out during tear-out and the pour. If the coping itself has to come off, we talk about that during the walk-through, since it can change the plan.
Which finish is least slippery?
A salt finish and a cool-deck topping both grip well under wet feet. A broom finish grips too, but it can feel rough on bare skin. Smooth troweled concrete is the one to avoid around a pool.
Which finish stays cooler in the sun?
Lighter colors stay cooler than dark ones, and that matters more than the texture. Cool-deck toppings are made for bare feet. If you want stamped concrete, a light color and a sealer without high gloss keep it more comfortable.
Can you pour new concrete over my old deck?
We do not recommend it around a pool. It raises the deck height against the coping and doors, and any problem in the old slab comes up through the new one. Tearing out and starting fresh is the cleaner answer.
How soon can we swim?
Once the pool cover comes off and the water is clear, you can swim. Just keep wet traffic and pool toys off fresh concrete for the first couple of days, and wait about a week before setting furniture down.
Do you do the rest of the backyard too?
Yes. Many people pair a new pool deck with a patio, walkways and sidewalks, or a full concrete backyard so the finish and color match. We can plan it as one job.
Ready to Look at Your Pool Deck?
Tell us what is bothering you about the deck now and how you use the yard. We will set a time to come out, look at it with you and explain your options.