Concrete pool decks in Springfield IL - sure footing when wet and a sealed pool edge
Cracks along the coping, slick spots or a deck too hot to cross? We build and resurface decks that grip, drain and stay comfortable.
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What does a new concrete pool deck involve?
A concrete pool deck is the slab around your pool that meets the coping at the pool's edge. In Springfield, IL we build new decks and resurface worn ones so you have sure footing when wet, a surface that's easier on bare feet and a pool edge that holds up.
Most people call us when the deck has started cracking along the pool edge, settled into low spots that hold water, or turned rough, slick or too hot to cross. The price depends on the deck's size and shape, whether an old deck has to be broken out first, how much work the base needs and the finish and color you choose. The schedule turns mostly on demolition, the weather on pour day and the curing time before the deck can take foot traffic and furniture. The estimate is where you get your own figure, because I'd like you to know exactly what you're paying for before we start.
How we build a concrete pool deck
We start by looking at your pool, the coping and the ground around it, and at where water runs off now, because a deck should fall away from the pool so rain and splash water go to the lawn or a drain instead of carrying dirt and lawn chemicals back into the pool. Before anything is ordered, I go over grip and how hot each finish gets underfoot with you, so the color and texture you settle on is one you'll want to walk on barefoot. If there's an old deck, we break it out and haul it away, then dig down and pack the subgrade, the soil and gravel the slab rests on, since a base that's only raked level settles along with the dirt under it. We set forms for that slope, lay rebar, steel rod that keeps the slab tied together, and pour early in the day, because concrete finished in midday heat can end up with a weak, dusty top. Once the surface is finished, we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the slab a straight place to crack instead of a random one, and keep the concrete damp while it cures, which is the wait that lets it gain strength before you use it. Last, we seal the seam between the deck and the coping as its own detail, with a flexible sealant instead of concrete or grout, because that seam is where most pool deck trouble starts. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather trim the finish than the base, because nobody sees the base on the first day, but it decides whether the deck stays flat.
A pool deck often ties into other work around the yard. If the deck sits below a back door or patio, we can build concrete steps down to it in the same project so the heights and finish match. If you're adding a pool house or a pad for the pump and filter, our slab foundation building work gives it a level, solid base.
Building concrete pool decks in Springfield
In Springfield, the city's Building Division handles permit reviews and inspections, and whether a deck on its own needs a permit is a question for that office, so we check what it asks for at your address before any work is scheduled. When a permit applies, we take care of the paperwork for our work, and if the office needs something from you as the owner, we'll tell you early. If you're putting in a pool along with the deck, ask the Building Division for the city's notice on swimming pool installations.
On backyard jobs here, we often find older decks with mortar or grout packed into the seam at the coping, and side yards narrow enough that we plan how the concrete gets back to the pool well before pour day. We see the same on pool deck jobs in Chatham and Decatur, and we handle them the same way.
Pool deck finishes and details
Request an on-site pool deck estimate
We reply to every request within one business day to set a time for me to come out, look at your deck and write the estimate. It's free, done on site and comes with no obligation.
(217) 210-0810Pool deck questions from Springfield homeowners
How much does a concrete pool deck cost in Springfield, IL?
The cost of a concrete pool deck depends mostly on its size, whether an old deck has to come out first, the condition of the base and the finish you pick. A broom finish usually costs less than stamped concrete or exposed aggregate, and a base that needs digging out and rebuilding adds work you won't see but will be glad of later. The on-site estimate gives you your own figure.
What is the best way to get a pool deck that isn't slippery when wet?
A broom finish is the most common choice for grip, because the fine ridges it leaves give wet feet something to hold, and it's durable and lower in cost too. Exposed aggregate, where the top is washed back to show small stones, grips very well, though some people find it rough on bare feet. Stamped concrete looks striking but needs sealing from time to time, and the wrong sealer turns slick when wet, so we settle the sealer question before you choose it.
How hot does a concrete pool deck get in the summer sun?
Dark gray concrete in direct sun can reach 140 to 160°F, which is painful on bare feet. Light-colored concrete reflects sunlight instead, so a lighter color keeps the area around the pool more comfortable. A darker shade can look good on a sample and still be the part of the deck nobody wants to cross in July.
Should I resurface my pool deck or replace it?
Resurface when the slab is sound and only the top is worn, and replace when the deck has sunk, heaved or cracked through. One guide puts a polymer overlay, a thin coating bonded over the old concrete, at 5 to 10 more years of life for 20 to 30% of what replacement costs. An overlay follows whatever is under it, though, so if the base has failed, I'll tell you that rather than coat over it.
How often does the joint between a pool deck and the coping need care?
Once a year is a good habit. One coping maker advises checking that expansion joint every year and repairing or replacing the caulk when it cracks, pulls away or breaks down, and it says most of those caulks last five to ten years. A failed seal lets water get under the deck, so a quick look each spring is worth the few minutes.
What causes a concrete pool deck to crack at the pool edge?
Most pool deck cracking starts at the joint with the coping, because the deck moves with the air temperature while the pool shell moves with the water temperature. When that seam is filled with concrete, mortar or grout, neither side can move and something gives. It's also fair to ask any contractor whether the mix is air entrained, with tiny bubbles mixed in that give freezing water room to expand, since one concrete publication calls that a must for outdoor concrete where frost damage can occur.
Book your Springfield pool deck estimate
We answer (217) 210-0810 until 10 PM every day, so you can call after work, and if your city isn't listed here, just ask about your address.