Concrete pool decks in Lowell MA - a surface that grips under wet, bare feet
Slick spots or cracks at the pool edge? We pour decks built to drain away from the pool and grip when wet.
A pool deck is about footing first
A concrete pool deck is the slab around your pool, the one surface at your house people cross wet and barefoot. Most pool deck calls we get around Lowell start with a deck gone slick, cracked along the pool edge, or holding puddles because it was never sloped away from the pool and the house. If the deck runs to a back door, we can pour concrete steps in the same job.
We start under the deck, because the base and the slope decide how it lasts, then steer you to a finish and sealer that keep their grip when wet. Size, finish and how much old concrete comes out move the price, and weather and curing, the wait while concrete hardens, move the schedule. Your written estimate spells out what's included.
- Base dug out and packed, not raked
- Slope carries water away from the pool
- A finish that grips under wet feet
- Sealer chosen to keep its grip wet
- Joints cut so cracks follow straight lines
- A joint at the pool edge that can move
Picking a finish for wet feet
Finishes differ in grip, heat and looks, and around a pool, how a finish grips under wet, bare feet should decide it before color does.
Broom finish
- Underfoot when wet
- Fine ridges dragged in with a stiff broom give steady grip, wet or dry.
- Keep in mind
- Plain look, and a glossy sealer on top can make it slick.
Textured finish
- Underfoot when wet
- Texture or exposed aggregate, small stones showing at the top, grips well when wet.
- Keep in mind
- More finishing work than broom, with more looks to pick from.
Decorative or dark
- Underfoot when wet
- Grip depends on the texture and sealer, so it varies job to job.
- Keep in mind
- Very dark colors can get too hot for bare feet in sun.
How a pool deck job runs
Look and estimate
Call or write, and I come out myself to check the slope, the base and the pool edge, then send a written estimate showing what's included.
Permit and inspections
When the job needs a permit, we apply as the contractor and tell you which office is involved. Lowell's building inspectors handle the inspections that permit requires.
Base and forms
Our crew lead and finishers dig out and pack the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, then set forms that slope away from the pool.
Pour and joints
We pour, put on the finish you picked, cut control joints so cracks tend to follow lines we chose, and build the flexible joint at the pool edge.
Seal and walk-through
Once the deck has cured, we seal it with the sealer we agreed on, clean up, and walk the finished job with you before we call it done.
What to settle before we pour
Concrete is hard to undo once it sets, so these choices shape what goes into the estimate and how the deck holds up for years.
Base before finish
I'd trim the finish before the base, since a deck on raked, unpacked dirt settles with it. We dig out and pack it the way we do for a slab foundation.
Which sealer you're getting
Ask which sealer a quote includes, because one pool deck guide warns that standard glossy sealers make concrete slippery when wet and calls for non-slip additives or a penetrating sealer.
Air in the mix
Ask whether the mix is air-entrained before the pour. Air mixed into the concrete helps it stand up to freezing and thawing while soaked and limits the flaking ice melt can cause.
The joint at the pool edge
Decks most often give out where they meet the pool, since the deck moves with the air temperature and the pool with the water temperature. We build that joint so each moves freely.
Pool deck concrete, up close
Look for an even texture, joints cut in clean, straight lines and a deck that tips water away from the pool. Open any photo for a closer look.
Tell us about your deck
Send the deck's rough size, the finish you want and whether you're in the Downtown or Acre district. We reply within one business day to book a free, no-obligation estimate.
To talk now, call
(978) 441-3345Pool deck questions we hear
Another question? Call (978) 441-3345
What does a concrete pool deck cost near Lowell, MA?
A concrete pool deck in the Boston area usually costs about $11 to $27 per square foot installed. That's the area's going rate rather than our price, and your written estimate puts a figure on your own deck and lists what's included.
Which pool deck finish is safest when wet and barefoot?
Finishes differ in how well they grip wet, bare feet, so the safest deck pairs a textured finish with a sealer that doesn't leave a glossy film. At the estimate we go over finish and sealer together and steer you to a pair that keeps its grip when wet.
Who issues building permits in Lowell, MA?
Lowell's Development Services handles building permits, and small projects that need no special permit, variance or site plan review start there. If your house is in the Downtown or Acre district, plan on a review by the Lowell Historic Board too. Rules differ from city to city, so we check with the local office on every job.
Does my concrete contractor need to be registered in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts requires contractors working on an existing, owner-occupied home of one to four units to register as Home Improvement Contractors, though its list of work needing no registration includes ground level patios. The state also advises letting the registered contractor pull the permit, since an owner who applies may not qualify for Guaranty Fund compensation. We're licensed and fully insured.