Replacing a cracked, sinking deck
When an old deck has cracked across or sunk at the edges, we break it out and haul it away, then look at what failed underneath before anything new goes down.
Concrete pool decks in Somerville MA - a surface that grips when wet and drains well
Deck slick when wet, cracked or holding puddles? We pour one that grips under bare feet and sends water away from the pool.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free quotes on site.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What a concrete pool deck has to handle
A concrete pool deck in Somerville is the slab around your pool, and because people cross it wet and barefoot, we build it for grip and drainage first and looks second.
Most calls start with an old deck that's slippery when wet, cracked, sunk at the edges or holding puddles. Before I price anything, I look at what caused it, because a new deck poured over the same problem usually ends up the same way.
The price moves with the size of the deck, whether old concrete has to come out, the finish you pick and how easy it is to get the crew and the concrete into your yard. The schedule turns on the city's sign-off, the weather around pour day and the curing time before the deck can be used, and your own figure comes from the estimate, after I've measured and talked it through with you. I check with the city's building office early, before we settle the plan.
One person from start to finish
I've run this business since 2013, and I come out to look at your deck myself and stay on the job through the work, so you always know who to ask.
The plan explained before we pour
Concrete is hard to undo, so I walk you through the grade, the finish and where the water goes before the truck shows up, and you agree to a plan you understand.
A clean yard and calm neighbors
Pool yards on city lots sit close to the people next door, so our crew keeps the mess contained and leaves the site cleaner than we found it.
How our crew builds a pool deck
Around a pool, grip and water come ahead of looks, so we start with the ground and the grade, not the finish. Our crew digs out the old base and packs a firm subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, because a deck poured on raked dirt settles and cracks along with it. Then we set the forms so the surface tips gently away from the pool and the house, toward the yard or a deck drain, which keeps rain and splash from carrying dirt back into the water.
If the budget gets tight, I'd rather keep the base and give up a fancier finish, because you can redo a surface later but you can't fix what's under a slab without breaking it out. We help you pick a finish that holds up under wet bare feet, then plan pour day around Somerville's work hours, weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. We start early so the finishing is done before the midday heat, which can leave a weak, dusty top.
As soon as the slab can take it, we cut control joints, shallow grooves that give the concrete a planned place to crack instead of a random one. Then it cures, staying damp and undisturbed while it gains strength, before anyone walks on it. If the deck meets a back door or a slope, we can build concrete steps in the same plan so the heights line up, and a pad for a pool house or shed is slab foundation work we handle too.
Pool deck jobs we take on
A deck for a new pool
With a new pool, we work out the deck's slope and any drains with you before the forms go up, since that's far easier than fixing water problems after the pour.
A deck that holds puddles
Water sitting on a deck, or running back toward the pool or the house, means the slope is off. A new slab lets us tip the surface the right way.
Pool yards on tight lots
Many yards around here are small, with fences and neighbors close by, so we plan how the concrete and the crew get back there well before pour day.
Get a free on-site estimate for your deck
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I come out, measure, talk it through with you and then send the estimate, with no obligation to book.
Your deck's rough size
Have a rough size in square feet ready, even a guess from pacing it off, because the size is the first thing that moves the price.
Whether you own and live there
Tell us if you own and live in a 1 or 2 family home, since that affects whether you can get the city permit yourself.
Where the water sits now
Mention where puddles form or where water runs off today, because that's the first thing I look at when planning the grade of the new deck.
Concrete finishes and layouts to look at
Example photos of broom, textured and decorative concrete finishes and deck layouts we can talk through when choosing what goes around your pool.
Pool deck questions we hear in Somerville
Straight answers to what Somerville homeowners ask most about pool deck finishes, winter wear, cost, permits and hiring a contractor.
What is the safest finish for a concrete pool deck?
The safest finish is the one that grips best when it's wet, because slip resistance matters most on a wet deck. Broom, textured, exposed aggregate, coatings, overlays and decorative finishes differ in how much grip they give and how hot they get, and very dark finishes can get uncomfortable in sun. We'll go through the choices with you on site.
How do I keep a concrete pool deck from breaking down in winter?
Ask for air-entrained concrete, which has tiny air bubbles built into the mix on purpose, because it holds up better through freezing and thawing when soaked and resists the flaking ice melt causes. In some situations a sealer can cut how much water and salt soak in, but it can't fix a weak surface or the wrong mix, so the mix and curing come first.
What does a concrete pool deck cost near Somerville?
A concrete pool deck in the Boston area usually costs about $11 to $27 per square foot. Where yours lands depends mostly on the finish you choose, whether an old deck has to be torn out, whether you need deck drains and how easy the yard is to reach. Your own number comes from the estimate, after I've measured and we've talked it through.
Can I get the permit for a pool deck in Somerville myself?
Yes, if you own and live in a 1 or 2 family home in Somerville, you may get the building permit yourself. The city issues permits for all interior and exterior work, and its list of exceptions names painting, tiling and flooring, not pool decks. Call the city's Inspectional Services Division at 617-625-6600 ext. 5600 to meet with a building inspector about your deck.
What should I check before hiring a pool deck contractor in Massachusetts?
Check that they're registered as a Home Improvement Contractor, because the state requires it for work on an existing, owner-occupied home with one to four units. For work estimated at $1,000 or more, the state's rules also call for a written contract with certain required provisions. Our crew is fully licensed and insured.
Other concrete work near the pool
Plan your pool deck before swim season
Call (617) 284-0921 or send the form, so there's time to check with the city and pick a pour date before you want to swim.