Concrete Pool Decks in Riverside CA - a deck with good grip for wet, bare feet
Cracked, sunken or slick concrete around your pool? We'll build a deck on solid ground that feels sure underfoot when it's wet.
- Licensed and insured.
- Free estimates at your property.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What does it take to build a concrete pool deck in Riverside?
A concrete pool deck is the flat concrete around your pool that we form, pour and finish, and a good one in Riverside sends water away from your house and gives wet, bare feet a surface they can trust.
Most people call us when the old deck has cracked, dropped at one corner or started sending water toward the house, or when a new pool needs concrete around it. The price moves with how big the deck is, whether old concrete has to come out, how much work the ground needs before we pour and which finish you pick. The schedule turns mostly on the permit question and on how much tear-out and base work your yard needs, and I write all of that into the estimate I leave you so you can see what you're paying for.
How we build concrete pool decks
Before any forms go in, I work out where the coping, the cap along the pool's edge, and the drains, skimmers and pipes sit, so the deck fits around them instead of the other way around. Then we dig down to the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, and pack a firm base, because a base that's only raked level settles right along with the dirt under it. We set the slope so water runs away from the house and toward the drains, not back into the pool, and we add rebar, steel that holds the slab together, where the job calls for it. We pour in the cooler part of the day because midday heat can leave a weak, dusty top. Then we finish the surface, cut control joints, grooves that give the slab a planned place to crack, while the concrete is still young, and let it cure, the wait that lets it harden before anyone uses it.
Pool work rarely stops at the deck. If the deck steps down to the lawn or up to the back door, we can pour concrete steps to match, and if you're adding a pool house nearby, slab foundation building is easiest to plan while we're already set up in the yard.
Broom finish
We drag a stiff broom across the wet concrete, which leaves fine lines that bare feet can grip. It suits families who want a plain, lighter deck that's easy to keep clean.
Exposed aggregate
We wash back the top layer so the small stones in the mix show through, giving a pebbly texture underfoot. It suits owners who want more color and texture than broom lines without giving up grip.
If your old deck is sinking, lifting or sending water toward the house, call rather than wait, since that usually starts in the ground underneath and tends to get worse.
What happens when you call us about a pool deck in Riverside?
I handle the estimate myself and run the crew on the job, so here's how it goes from your first call to the walk-through at the end.
Call or send the form
Call (951) 589-3080 or fill out the form, and we'll get back to you to set a day for me to come look. Tell us whether it's a new pool or an old deck coming out, since that changes what I look for.
I look at the site
I check the ground, the slope and where water goes now, and ask how you use the pool and who'll be on the deck. You get a written estimate that says what's in it, so you know what the price covers before you decide.
We settle permits and prep
Once you say go, we settle the permit question with the city before anything gets dug. Then we prep the ground and set the forms around everything we mapped at the estimate.
We pour and walk it
We pour and finish the deck, then walk it with you once it's done. I'll show you where the joints are and what to keep an eye on over the years.
Get a written estimate for your pool deck
Send the form and we'll get back to you within one business day to set a time. I come out, look at the site and leave you a free written estimate, with no obligation to go ahead.
(951) 589-3080Building concrete pool decks in Riverside: permits and ground
In Riverside, the city's building official issues permits, and the city requires one for most construction projects. Its list of work that doesn't need one names sidewalks and driveways but not pool decks, so we check with the City of Riverside before we start. When a permit is needed, we pull it ourselves or help you apply, since the city lets an owner, their agent or a licensed contractor apply for many permits.
Under the finish, the ground decides how a deck holds up. Soft spots, poorly packed fill, soggy areas and expansive soil, the kind that swells when it's wet and shrinks when it dries, can all lead to a deck that settles and cracks. If your property is in the Riverside-Corona Resource Conservation District, you can get free copies of the maps from its 1971 soil survey of western Riverside County, which show how much each soil swells and shrinks and how much weight it can carry. I look at the ground on every estimate, and where it's a real question mark, a soils engineer may need to weigh in before we pour. We're based in Riverside and plan the base the same way on jobs in Corona and Moreno Valley, along with many other cities in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, so if yours isn't listed, call and ask.
Pool deck questions we hear in Riverside
What is the best finish for a concrete pool deck with wet, bare feet?
Pick for grip first and heat second, because the deck will be wet and walked on barefoot. Broom, exposed aggregate, textured, coated and decorative finishes all differ in how well they grip and how hot they get, and very dark finishes can get uncomfortable in full sun. That's the order I use when I help you choose, so we'll talk about grip before we talk about color.
How long does a concrete pool deck last?
A broom or exposed aggregate deck can last 25 to 30 years or more, according to one finish guide, as long as it sits on a properly prepared base with good drainage. That condition is the whole point, and it's why we spend so much of the job on ground you'll never see.
How much does a concrete pool deck cost in Riverside?
There's no set price, because every deck is a different size and sits on different ground, so your number comes from the estimate. A plain broom finish usually costs less than exposed aggregate or a decorative system, and a simple shape costs less than one that curves around a lot of equipment. The first thing people want to trim is the base, since nobody sees it once the pour is done, and that's the one place I won't cut, because a sunken deck usually costs more to tear out and redo than the base would have.
Will a new concrete pool deck crack?
It can, and I'd rather tell you now than have you surprised later, because concrete shrinks as it dries and moves with the ground. The joints we cut give most of that movement a straight line to follow, so a fine crack running along a joint is normal. A crack that keeps widening, or one side sitting higher than the other, points to the ground underneath and is worth a call.
How do I take care of the expansion joint on my pool deck?
Check the expansion joint, the caulked gap that lets the concrete move, once a year and redo the caulk when it cracks, pulls away or starts breaking down. That's the advice in one coping maker's guide, which notes that most elastomeric, or rubbery, caulks last five to ten years, so plan on resealing it now and then.
Does a contractor building a pool deck in California need a license?
Yes, on any job of $1,000 or more, including pool construction or repair, California requires a contractor with a current, valid license in the right classification. You can check a contractor's license with the Contractors State License Board, and anyone pulling a permit in Riverside has to show a license the board can confirm and a current city business license. We're licensed and insured.
Other concrete work around your pool
Uneven ground between the house, yard and pool usually means a step or two, and poured steps give wet feet a steady, even rise.
An equipment shed or cabana beside the pool needs a slab built to carry its weight, and planning it with the deck keeps levels and drainage lined up.
Call about your pool deck today
Snap a few photos of the current deck and note where the drains, skimmers and pipes run before you call (951) 589-3080, so I show up already knowing what we're working around.