Pool Decks in Corona, CA

Pool decks are the concrete that works in the hardest conditions on the property. It is wet, it gets bare-foot traffic, it is often in full sun, and it sits next to a pool shell that must not be undermined. With Corona's average highs of 92 and 93 degrees in July and August, a record high of 118, and about 3,265 hours of sunshine a year, a good pool deck has to do three things: drain correctly, stay slip-resistant when wet, and stay cool enough to walk on.

Common pool deck problems

• Cracks, especially at the joint between the deck and the coping.
• Sections that have sunk or tilted toward the pool, sending dirty water into it.
• Worn, peeling or stained cool-deck coatings.
• Surfaces that get too hot or too slippery.
• Trip edges where panels have shifted.

With most Corona homes built between the 1980s and 2000s, many backyard pool decks are likely decades old, and age shows first at the coping joint and in the coating.

Replace or resurface?

If the slab is structurally sound, with only surface wear, small cracks or a tired coating, resurfacing is the economical choice. HomeGuide lists basic resurfacing at about $3 to $6 per square foot and decorative resurfacing at $6 to $12. If panels have sunk, cracks are wide and moving, or the slab slopes toward the pool, the concrete needs to come out. HomeGuide puts full pool deck replacement, including removal, at $30 to $55 per square foot. We tell you which category your deck falls in after we inspect it.

Drainage and the coping joint

A deck should slope away from the pool so rinse water, sprinkler overspray and storm water do not carry dirt into it. Between the deck and the coping there should be a flexible expansion joint, sealed with a sealant made for pools, so the deck and the pool shell can move independently. When that joint fails, water gets behind the coping and under the deck. Replacing it is one of the most useful small repairs on an older pool.

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Finishes for heat and traction

• Cool-deck style coatings: a textured, light-colored acrylic coating. HomeGuide prices this type of cool-deck coating at about $4 to $6 per square foot and notes it helps lower surface temperatures.
• Light broom or salt finish: plain concrete with texture for grip.
• Stamped concrete: stone or wood-plank patterns in light colors, sealed with a slip-resistant additive.
• Exposed aggregate: stones at the surface for grip and a natural look.

Dark colors and smooth finishes are a poor match for an unshaded deck in Corona. We help you pick a finish that looks good and stays comfortable.

Working around your pool

We protect the pool and the plaster during demolition and pouring, keep debris out of the water, and work around skimmers, deck drains, lights and equipment lines. If you are also replastering or replacing coping, we coordinate the order so the deck and coping meet cleanly.

Pool deck care

Rinse the deck regularly, keep the expansion joint sealed, and reseal or recoat on schedule. HomeGuide lists sealing at about $1 to $3 per square foot. Watch for cracks that open and for any section that starts to tip toward the water.