Concrete Pool Decks in Duluth MN - a surface that grips wet feet and holds up to winter
Deck cracked, slick when wet or flaking after winter? We pour a new one with grip for bare feet and joints planned around your pool.
I look at every job myself
I come out to look at every pool deck myself, and I work alongside our crew on the pour. The person who measured your yard and read the pool builder's plan is standing there when the concrete goes in.
Pouring concrete for homeowners since 2017
I learned concrete by pouring small slabs and walks, then on job sites, and started this business in 2017. I still spend the most time on the parts you won't see, the ground under the slab and the plan before the pour.
Licensed and fully insured on every job
We're licensed and fully insured, and I'll answer any question about either while you're comparing bids. When you're ready, call (218) 241-4178 or use the form on this page to set up a visit.
Concrete pool decks in Duluth, MN
A concrete pool deck is the slab around your pool, built so water drains away from your house without running dirty back into the pool. We pour new pool decks for Duluth homeowners whose old deck is cracked, slick, sinking or flaking.
The price moves with the size of the deck, how much old concrete has to come out, how much base work the ground needs and the finish you pick. A plain broom finish costs less than exposed aggregate or a decorative surface, and every skimmer, drain and step we form around adds labor. After I see the site, you'll get your own figure in writing.
The schedule turns on the permit, the weather and the pool builder's plans. We look into the permit up front and take care of the application when we're the ones doing the work. Concrete shouldn't go on frozen ground, so a fall job can slide to spring, and I'd rather tell you to wait than pour into the cold. The new deck also needs time to cure, the slow hardening that gives it strength, before it takes traffic.
Pool decks and the concrete around them
Joints that follow the pool plan
Your deck and the pool shell can move differently, so we follow the pool designer's details for where the deck stays separate from the pool and where joints go, instead of tying the two together with rebar, the steel bars inside a slab. Before we set forms, I get the builder's plan and check that coping, skimmers, drains, pipes and the equipment pad all line up. Control joints, the shallow cuts that give a slab a planned place to crack, go where that plan puts them.
A packed base that drains away
The base is the first thing people want to cut and the last thing I will. Nobody sees the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, but a deck poured over dirt that was only raked level settles right along with it. We dig out topsoil and soft spots, pack the fill and slope it so water runs away from your house. Frost goes deep here, with the city's deck rules putting it at 60 inches for decks on footings, and loose, wet ground moves when it freezes.
Steps and pads that tie in
Most pool decks meet a back door or a slope, so the job often includes steps down to the deck. We form those with the deck so the height and finish match, and our concrete steps construction page covers how we build them. The pump and filter need a flat, solid pad too, which is the same dig, pack and pour as our slab foundation building work. Planning it all at once beats cutting into new concrete later.
Get a written estimate for your pool deck
We'll get back to you within one business day to set up a visit, and there's no pressure to book. I'll walk the deck with you, then send a free written estimate that lists what's included.
(218) 241-4178How a pool deck job goes with us
Call or send a message
Call (218) 241-4178 or use the form, and we'll set a time to come out. If you have the pool size, the finish you like and the pool builder's joint details, keep them handy for the visit.
I walk the site with you
I look at the old deck, the ground, the drains and where water runs, and ask what you want from the space. Then I send a written estimate that lists what's included, so nothing is left to guess.
Permits, prep, pour and care
Once you say go, we line up any permits and a pour date, prep the base, then place and finish the concrete. You get care steps for the first season so the new deck gets a fair start.
Pool deck questions from Duluth homeowners
What's the best finish for a pool deck with wet feet?
Pick the finish with the best grip, because a pool deck gets walked wet and barefoot. Broom, textured, exposed aggregate, coatings, overlays and decorative finishes all differ in traction and in how hot they get, and very dark finishes can turn uncomfortable in the sun. A broom finish, fine ridges dragged into the wet concrete, is the plain choice for grip.
How does a concrete pool deck hold up in Duluth winters?
It holds up best when the concrete is air-entrained, mixed with tiny air bubbles that help it resist freezing and thawing while soaked and cut down on flaking from ice melt, so it's the mix to ask for on a deck that stays wet. A sealer can help keep water and salt out, but it won't fix a weak surface or make up for a poor mix or poor curing.
Do I need a permit for a pool deck in Duluth?
Plan on asking the City of Duluth, because pool decks aren't on its list of work that skips a permit. The city requires building permits to build or change a structure, and that list names sidewalks, driveways and low decks instead. Even work on the list still has to meet city code. I'll go over where your job stands at the estimate.
Does a pool deck contractor need a license in Minnesota?
Yes, if they handle more than one special skill for you, such as grading and concrete. Minnesota's licensing rules call for a residential building contractor or residential remodeler license when the work is for the owner of a one to four unit home, while a contractor doing only concrete needs none. Ask each bidder which license they hold.