Concrete pool decks in Sierra Madre CA - a cool deck that drains away from the pool
Old deck cracked, hot underfoot or pooling water toward the pool? We build a new one that drains right and protects the pool edge.
What goes into building a new concrete pool deck?
A concrete pool deck is the flat concrete that runs around your pool, and we build them in Sierra Madre so water runs away from the pool and the house, the deck doesn't push on the pool edge, and the surface stays comfortable under bare feet.
Most people call when the old deck has cracked near the pool edge, a corner has sunk, or water sits in puddles instead of running off, and sometimes it's just too hot to walk on in summer. The price mostly moves with the size of the deck, whether old concrete has to come out first, how easy it is to get into the backyard, and the finish you pick, since a plain broom finish costs less than stamped or colored work. The schedule turns on the weather, the curing time before you can use it, and whether the city needs a permit, which we look into before anything starts. I'll give you your own figure once I've seen the pool and the yard and written the estimate.
How we build a concrete pool deck
Before anyone picks up a shovel, we plan the joint between the deck and the pool coping, the cap along the pool's edge, so the deck can move without pushing on it. We also work out where the water will run, sending it away from the pool to planting beds or a drain so it doesn't wash lawn chemicals and debris in, and I'll help you pick a color that's easy on bare feet. Then our crew breaks out the old deck, digs down to the subgrade, which is the soil the slab rests on, and packs the base in layers so it holds up instead of settling with the dirt. We set the forms with the slope built in, lay rebar, the steel that holds the slab together if it cracks, and pour. After that comes a broom finish, fine lines swept across the top so wet feet have grip, then control joints, cuts that give the slab a straight line to crack along instead of wandering across the middle, and then the cure, the wait while the concrete gains strength before you use it. If money gets tight, I'd rather you go plainer on the finish than cut corners on the base, because the base is buried on day one and it's what decides how the deck holds up for years.
A new deck often brings other work with it. If the back door or the lawn sits higher than the pool, we can build concrete steps at the same time so the levels meet cleanly and there's no awkward lip to trip on. And if a pool house or cabana is part of the plan, we pour its slab foundation with the same care for the base and drainage.
Why Sierra Madre homeowners call Cornerstone Sierra Madre Concrete for pool decks
I write every estimate myself
I come out myself to look at your pool and yard and write the estimate, and our crew does the work with me on site running it. The person who planned the joint at your coping is the one watching it get built.
Licensed in California, fully insured
We're fully licensed and insured, which matters here because Sierra Madre issues building permits only to a state licensed contractor or the property owner. If your deck needs one, it can go in our name instead of yours.
Pours timed inside Sierra Madre hours
The city's posted construction hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays and holidays, and we plan the pour for the early, cooler end of that window. Concrete finished in midday heat can end up with a weak, dusty top, and that's the surface you'll be walking on barefoot.
The work explained as we go
I started this business in Sierra Madre in 2020 after years on crews around the San Gabriel Valley, and we're best known for explaining the job while we do it. You'll know what's under your deck and how to look after it, which makes you a better judge of any contractor, us included.
On a pool deck, the parts that count most are the ones you can't see once it's poured, like the base, the slope and the joint at the coping. If you'd like me to take a look at yours, send us a message or call (626) 828-0332.
Get a free on-site estimate for your pool deck
We reply within one business day, and the estimate comes with no obligation. Once you send the form, I'll set a time to come out, look at your pool and yard myself and write the estimate there. If you can, include the rough deck size, any finish ideas and a few photos of the pool edge.
Concrete pool decks and finishes
Questions to ask before a concrete pool deck
How much does a concrete pool deck cost in the Los Angeles area?
A concrete pool deck in the Los Angeles area usually costs about $4.50 to $10 per square foot, and that's the going range around here, not a quote from us. Where yours lands comes down to the things I mentioned up top, like size, tear-out, access and finish. I'll write your own figure when I come out and see the pool.
Do I need a permit for a new pool deck in Sierra Madre?
The city's posted list doesn't settle it, because Building & Safety names projects like wall coverings, partition walls and fences there but not pool decks, so we check what your job needs before anything starts. The city's Public Works Department also issues grading permits for drainage and for pools, and those applications go to City Hall in person or by email. When a permit applies, we handle the application as the licensed contractor and walk you through each step.
What is the best color for a concrete pool deck in full sun?
A light color, because light concrete reflects sunlight while dark gray concrete in direct sun can get painful on bare feet. If your deck catches sun most of the day, that's worth more than matching the house trim.
Is stamped concrete a good idea around a pool?
It can be, if you're ready to reseal it now and then, because stamped concrete needs periodic sealing and the wrong sealer turns dangerously slick when it's wet. If you go stamped, plan for the resealing and ask whoever builds it which sealer they're putting on, us included.
How often does the caulk between a pool deck and the coping need redoing?
One maker's guide says to check that joint every year and repair the caulk when it cracks, pulls away or wears down, and most caulks of this kind last five to ten years. The same guide says that without a gap and flexible sealant there, deck movement can push on the coping and crack it, so it's worth keeping up. I'll point out what a healthy joint looks like so you can spot when yours needs work.
How do I keep a new pool deck from cracking like the old one?
Start with the base, because two decks of the same thickness can hold up very differently on a well-packed, even base than over loose fill. A thicker slab adds stiffness, but it can't make up for every support or drainage problem, so ask any contractor how they'll prepare the ground before you ask about the finish.
Work that often goes with a pool deck
- Concrete steps construction
Wet feet and a drop from the patio to the deck are a bad mix, and solid concrete steps with grip give everyone a safer way down to the water.
- Slab foundation building
If you're adding a pool house, cabana or shed near the deck, it needs its own slab foundation, sized and poured to carry the walls and roof above it.