Concrete pool decks in Laguna Niguel CA - a finish that fits how you use the pool
Cracked, worn or too hot underfoot? We check the deck you have, then resurface or pour new so it holds up and feels right.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Expect a reply within 1 business day.
Should you resurface or replace a pool deck in Laguna Niguel?
A concrete pool deck in Laguna Niguel can often be resurfaced with a coating that covers the cracks and toughens the top, but only when the old concrete underneath is sound, so the first job is finding out what your deck can carry.
Most people call us when the deck around their pool has started to crack, sink in a corner or lose its finish, and they're not sure whether a coat over the top will do or the whole thing has to come out. The price turns on the deck's size, whether it can be resurfaced or needs a new pour, how much crack repair it needs and the sealer and color you pick. The schedule turns on whether the city has to review the work and how long new concrete needs to cure before your family is back on it. After I've seen the deck, the written quote gives you your own figure and spells out what it covers. We're based in Laguna Niguel and work in many cities around it across Orange County.
Does your pool deck need resurfacing or a new pour?
Cracks across a solid deck
A slab that's solid underneath with cracks on top is often a good candidate for resurfacing.
Sunken or lifted sections
When pieces have dropped or heaved, a coating won't stay put, so new concrete is the call.
Worn, chalky finish
A deck that soaks up splash water and looks dull usually needs cleaning and a fresh sealer.
Too hot for bare feet
Bare concrete in full sun gets hot underfoot, and the right color and coating can help.
How we build and resurface concrete pool decks
I start by looking hard at the deck you have, following the cracks, checking for hollow spots and seeing whether any section has moved, because the old concrete decides what will hold up. Then I lay out the sealer and color choices side by side, including how slick or warm each may feel underfoot, so you're choosing with your feet in mind and not just your eyes. If the deck is sound, we clean it, repair the cracks and put the resurfacing coat down. If it isn't, we break it out, dig down and pack the subgrade, which is the ground the slab sits on, and set rebar, the steel that keeps any crack in the slab tight. We pour early in the day so the top doesn't dry weak and dusty in the heat, cut control joints so the slab has a planned place to crack in a straight line, and give it a broom finish or other texture so wet feet have something to grip. Then we let it cure, which is the wait while the concrete gains strength before anyone uses it.
A pool deck rarely stands alone. If steps run from your back door down to the pool, we can redo them with concrete steps construction so they meet the new deck at the right height. If you'd like a pattern instead of a plain surface, stamped concrete works around pools too, and if a cabana or pool house is part of the plan, slab foundation building gives it a proper base.
Resurfacing over sound concrete
This suits a deck that's solid underneath but cracked or tired on top, because the coating covers the damage and you keep the good concrete you already paid for.
Tear out and pour new
This is the right call when sections have sunk, lifted or broken loose, since a coating laid over moving concrete just cracks again right along with it.
Lighter colors and textured finishes
These suit a deck that sits in full sun or gets a lot of bare feet, and we compare how each one feels hot and wet before you pick.
What happens after you call about your pool deck
Call us or send the form
Tell us what's going on with the deck and send a few photos if you have them. We'll set a time for me to come out and see it.
I look at the deck
I walk the deck with you, show you what I see in the cracks and the old concrete, and talk through whether I'd resurface or pour new and why.
You get a written quote
The quote spells out what's in it and what isn't, so you know exactly what you're paying for and can compare it fairly. If the city needs to see the job, we sort out that paperwork before the crew shows up.
We pour, then walk through
A lead hand runs the crew on site, and I'm there for the pour and the final walkthrough. I'll show you what's normal for new concrete, including the small cracks every slab gets in time, and how to care for it.
Base or finish on a new pool deck?
Put the money under the slab first.
When a budget gets tight, the base is the first thing people want to trim, because on day one it's buried and the finish is the part you see. But a deck sitting on dirt that was only raked level settles with that dirt, and the pretty surface cracks right along with it.
I'd rather keep the base right and pick a simpler finish. You can recoat or recolor a deck years from now without much fuss, but fixing what's underneath means tearing the whole thing out and starting over.
Examples of concrete work
Look through these examples of concrete work, from pool decks and patios to driveways and steps, to get a feel for the finishes and textures you like.
Get a written quote for your pool deck
Send the deck's rough square footage, a few photos of any cracks and whether your pool runs on salt. We reply within one business day to set up a free on-site estimate, with no obligation.
Why Laguna Niguel homeowners call Select Laguna Niguel Concrete for pool decks
The owner writes every estimate
I come out to every job, look at the deck myself and write the quote. You're talking to the person who'll be there for the pour, not a salesperson.
Work around lived-in homes
Most of our calls in Laguna Niguel and the cities around it come from homeowners replacing or adding to concrete they already have, often right up against a pool and garden. We set up to protect what's around the deck and keep a path open so your family can still get in and out.
In business since 2020
We've been at this for 6 years, and we're known for explaining a job in plain words before we start it. Concrete moves and cracks some no matter who pours it, and knowing that up front lets you judge the work fairly.
Fully licensed and insured
Fully licensed and insured, and satisfaction guaranteed. To talk about your deck, call (949) 312-6257 or send us the form.
Pool deck questions we hear
How much does a concrete pool deck cost per square foot in Laguna Niguel?
Installing a concrete pool deck across the US usually costs about $10.50 to $12 per square foot, and that's a national figure for a new install, not our price. Your own cost turns on the deck's size, whether it can be resurfaced or needs a new pour, and the finish you choose. The written quote after my visit lists what's included and what isn't.
Should I seal my concrete pool deck?
Sealing keeps water out of the concrete, but it can make the deck slicker, and people in the trade disagree on it. In one trade article, an expert prefers penetrating sealers for pool decks because they soak in, repel water and leave no film on top, while a pool builder in the same piece says sealing concrete around pools makes it more slippery. You're weighing water protection against grip, and I'll help you see both on your own deck.
How long does sealer last on a pool deck?
Acrylic sealers last about 1 to 3 years depending on the product, because they're made to wear away and be put back on. Plan on a fresh coat every so often as regular upkeep, the same as you'd plan on cleaning the pool. If you have a salt pool, one builder reports that salt system makers recommend hosing the deck down with fresh water after each use.
How do I keep my concrete pool deck from getting so hot?
Pick a lighter color, and ask about a coating made to stay cooler than bare concrete. One coating maker says its product lowers the surface temperature compared with bare concrete, by an amount that depends on the color, the air temperature, the time of day and how much direct sun the deck gets. On a deck that sits in full sun, color is the first thing we talk about.
Do I need a permit for pool deck work in Laguna Niguel?
The city's building office issues permits for work on structures in Laguna Niguel, and whether your deck needs one depends on what the job involves, so never assume it doesn't. When it does and we're the contractor, we pull the permit ourselves, as the Laguna Niguel section below explains.
Who is allowed to build or resurface a pool deck in California?
A contractor licensed by the Contractors State License Board, when labor and materials on the job total $500 or more, according to the board's licensing guide. The board's specialty list includes a concrete license, C-8. Contractors have to be licensed before they bid, so it's fair to ask every bidder for their license along with the bid.
Want a second look at your pool deck?
I come out, look at the deck with you and put together a written quote listing what's in it and what isn't.
Other work around the pool
Building a concrete pool deck in Laguna Niguel
In Laguna Niguel, the city's Building & Safety Division issues permits for and inspects new construction, renovations, alterations and remodels of structures, and before any grading or building starts, plans go to the city for review against its zoning, grading and building rules. That doesn't settle on its own whether your deck job needs a permit, so we find out at the start instead of guessing. When it does and we're the contractor, I pull the permit, handle the paperwork and plan the schedule around the city's review. If you'd like to read up first, the city posts handouts on pools and spas.
Most decks we see here wrap around pools in homes people already live in, with tight side yards, planted beds and pool equipment close to the slab. We plan the tear-out and the pour around all of that, the same way we do on jobs in Dana Point and Mission Viejo.