Pool Decks in Gilbert, AZ

Pool Decks get more abuse than any other concrete in a Gilbert backyard. They sit in full sun, get splashed with chlorinated water every day, take bare feet at 100-plus degrees, and are surrounded by planters and irrigation. When a deck cracks, gets slick or burns your feet, the pool gets used less.

Common problems on older decks

• Hairline and map cracking across the deck surface
• Gaps at the coping, where the deck meets the pool edge, letting water get under the slab
• Sunken sections next to planters or where backfill around the pool settled
• Worn or peeling coatings with bare spots and rough patches
• Water that sits instead of running to drains or the yard

Many of these come from what is underneath. Soil around a pool shell is backfill, and if it was not compacted well or gets wet from leaks and irrigation, the deck above it can drop. That is why we look at drainage and the coping joint first, not just the surface.

New deck, resurface or repair?

• Repair and level when the deck is mostly sound but a few panels have dropped or cracked
• Resurface when the slab is solid but the top is worn, stained or rough
• Replace when the deck is broken up, badly sunken, or slopes toward the house or pool

HomeGuide's resurfacing guide notes that resurfacing suits minor flaking and cracks narrower than about a quarter inch. Wider cracks, crumbling or an overlay that would need to be more than 2 inches thick mean replacement is the honest answer.

Keeping the surface cooler

Across the Phoenix area, Wikipedia counts an average of 111 days a year at or above 100 degrees. A pool deck that gets too hot to walk on is a real problem here. Options that help:

• Cool-deck style coatings, which HomeGuide describes as a non-slip coating that lowers surface temperature
• Light colors instead of dark stains
• Textured finishes like a knockdown spray texture, which also add grip
• Shade over part of the deck

No concrete stays cool in direct July sun, but the difference between a light, textured coating and a dark, smooth slab is easy to feel.

Get a Free Estimate

Safety and drainage

Wet concrete gets slippery. We use textured finishes and, where a sealer is applied, a grit additive. The deck should slope away from the pool so dirty water does not run into it, and away from the house, toward deck drains or landscaping. We also keep the joint between deck and coping sealed with flexible sealant, since that is a common spot for water to get under the slab.

Working around a pool

Deck work near an open pool takes care. We protect the water and the finish from concrete washout and debris, keep equipment off the coping, and coordinate with your pool service if the water level or equipment needs attention. If the pool itself needs replastering or tile work, schedule it so the deck is done last or protected.