Concrete Pool Decks in Owatonna MN - a deck that grips wet feet and handles winter
Slick or cracked concrete around your pool? We pour a deck that sheds water and feels sure under wet, bare feet.
- Fully licensed and insured.
- Free on-site estimates.
- Replies within 1 business day.
What should a concrete pool deck in Owatonna be built to handle?
A concrete pool deck is the poured slab around your pool that people cross wet and barefoot, and in Owatonna we build it to keep its grip, protect the pool's edge and get through freeze and thaw.
You're probably here because a new pool is going in, or because the old deck has gone slick, tipped or cracked along the pool edge. The price mostly follows how big the deck is, how much digging and base work the yard needs, the finish you choose and how many drains and pipes run underneath. The schedule turns on your pool installer, the permit, the weather and curing, which is the wait while fresh concrete gains strength before it takes chairs and foot traffic. When I come out to look, the estimate gives you the number for your own deck.
How do you know your pool deck needs work?
Sections sinking or tipping
If one part of the deck sits lower than the next or leans toward the house, the dirt under it has usually settled. Every winter you wait, more water gets underneath and the drop grows, and a raised edge is easy to stub a bare toe on.
Cracks along the pool edge
A crack or open gap where the deck meets the pool's rim usually means the two are moving against each other. Left alone, that movement can start working on the pool's own edge, and that repair costs more than the deck does.
Slick or flaking surface
A top that's worn smooth turns slippery the moment it's wet, and flaking or pitting means the surface is breaking down. Both get worse with each freeze and thaw, and slick concrete next to a pool is a fall waiting to happen.
How we build a concrete pool deck, from base to broom
On a pool deck, how it feels under wet, bare feet matters more to me than shine, so we steer you toward a finish that's safe and comfortable. Before any forms go in, I sit down with your pool installer to work out the drains, skimmers and pipes, and we plan the joint at the pool edge. One coping maker warns that a deck shifting with heat, settling and frost can crack the coping stones along the pool's rim and the concrete beam under them, so we leave a gap there and fill it with flexible sealant. Then we dig out and pack the subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, set the slope so water runs off, form the edges and lay rebar, the steel that holds the slab together. After the pour we give it a broom finish, fine ridges dragged across the top so feet have something to grip, and cut control joints on time, shallow cuts that give the slab a straight line we picked to crack along instead of wherever it wants. If the budget gets tight, folks want to trim the base because nobody sees it on day one, but I'd rather you pick a plainer finish, because a nice top on dirt that was only raked level settles right along with it. See why I fuss over that part?
Most pools sit a few feet below a back door or patio, so we often pour concrete steps in the same plan so the heights and slopes meet cleanly. If a pool house or equipment shed is part of the project, we can pour a slab foundation for it while the crew and forms are already in your yard.
A deck for a new pool
This suits you if the pool is still going in, because we can plan drains, pipes and the edge joint with your installer before anything gets buried. It's the easiest time to get the slope and the layout right where you want them.
Tearing out and replacing a deck
This suits a deck that's sunk, tipped or flaking, since patching rarely fixes a base that's already moved. We break out the old slab carefully near the pool edge and rebuild from the subgrade up.
Get a free on-site estimate for your pool deck
Send the form and we'll reply within one business day to set a time. I'll come out, look at your pool and yard, and write up your estimate, with no pressure to book.
(507) 599-0098- Based in
- Owatonna, MN 55060
- Hours
- Mon–Fri: 7 AM–11 PM, Sat–Sun: 6 AM–10 PM
What happens when you call us about a pool deck in Owatonna?
Here's how it goes from your first call to the walk-through on your finished deck, so you know who you'll talk to and what you'll have in hand.
Call or send the form
You call (507) 599-0098 or fill out the form, and we get back to you to pick a time. Let us know if the pool is new or already in, since that changes what we plan for.
I come out and look
I walk the spot with you, ask how you'll use the deck and talk through your options. You get a written estimate that spells out the prep, the reinforcement and the finish, so you know exactly what you're paying for.
Settle the permit and date
We work out the permit side and a pour date together. The date usually lines up with your pool installer's schedule and the weather.
We pour, then walk through
I'm on site with our crew from forming to finishing. Before we leave, I go over how to care for the new concrete while it cures and after.
Why Owatonna homeowners call Truegrade Owatonna Concrete for pool decks
I write every estimate myself
I come out to look at the job and write the estimate, and our crew does the work with me on site. The person who planned your slope and edge joint with you is the one watching them get built.
In business since 2017
I got my start hauling forms and running the wheelbarrow on a small crew, and stayed until I'd learned every step of a pour. That's why I care most about the part you can't see once the pour is done.
Licensed and insured, ask every bidder
We're fully licensed and insured. In Minnesota, anyone contracting directly with you on a one to four unit home for more than one special skill needs a state residential building contractor or remodeler license, so it's fair to ask everyone you're comparing about theirs.
Our work is backed by our satisfaction guarantee. When you're ready, send us a note about your pool or call (507) 599-0098, and I'll come take a look.
Pool decks, steps and pool-house slabs in Owatonna
The City of Owatonna requires a zoning permit for pools under 5,000 gallons and detached decks under 30 inches, and a building permit above those limits or for decks attached to the house. How that fits a concrete deck around your pool depends on the pool's size and whether the deck connects to the house, so we check with the city early and, when a permit is needed, help with the paperwork and plan the work around the inspections. For a zoning permit, the city has you find your property irons, the metal markers at your lot corners, so the project sits the right distance from the property line, and if you can't find yours, the city points you to its list of local land surveyors. The city also lists Gopher State One Call, 1-800-252-1166, as the call to make before you dig, and we don't break ground until that's done.
Around Owatonna we mostly get called for decks going in with new backyard pools, and for older decks that have flaked or tipped after years of winters. We meet the same calls on jobs in Faribault and Waseca, and the fix usually starts below the surface.
Questions about concrete pool decks in Owatonna
What is the best concrete finish for a pool deck so wet feet don't slip?
A textured finish like a broom finish or exposed aggregate usually gives the surest grip, and on a deck that's wet and walked barefoot, grip should win over looks. Broom, textured, exposed aggregate, coated, overlay and decorative finishes all differ in how they grip and how hot they get, and very dark finishes can get uncomfortable in full sun. Bring up any finish you've seen and I'll tell you how it'll feel underfoot.
How does a concrete pool deck hold up to Minnesota winters and deicers?
It holds up best when the concrete is air entrained, mixed to a target share of tiny air bubbles, and then floated and broomed instead of hard troweled. Troweling the top smooth works that air back out, which leads to blistering, peeling layers and scaling, the flaking you see on older decks. That's why outdoor concrete here should get a broomed surface.
How much does a concrete pool deck cost in Owatonna?
Across the US, installing a concrete pool deck usually runs about $10.10 to $12.40 per square foot, so treat that as a starting point, not our price. Tear-out of an old deck or a fancier finish can push your job away from that. Your own figure comes from the estimate once I've seen the spot.
How do I know if my concrete pool deck needs to be resealed?
Drip a little water on the deck, and if it spreads out instead of beading up, that spot is due for resealing. One sealer maker suggests this test, since beading water shows the deck is still sealed. Try it in a few places, especially where people walk the most.
How often should a concrete pool deck be resealed?
Staff at one sealer maker say it can range from every three years to every 15 years. Where your deck lands depends on the weather, how the last job went, the product used, how much traffic it gets and the shape the concrete is in. The water test above is the easiest way to tell when it's time.
What causes water to pool on a concrete pool deck?
Usually the slab was poured too flat or has settled, so water sits instead of running off. A pool deck should drain water away from the house and other buildings without sending dirty runoff into the pool, so before we pour we check where the water will go and set the slope to match.
Related concrete work around your pool
When the pool sits below a back door or patio, poured steps with even heights and a gritty finish make the trip down safer with wet feet.
A pool house, changing shed or equipment building needs a flat, well-drained slab under it, and pouring it alongside the deck keeps grades working together.
Service areas for our pool deck work
Truegrade Owatonna Concrete is based in Owatonna, Minnesota, and pours pool decks in the cities around it, including Lakeville and Albert Lea. The 10 cities below each have their own page, and we work in others nearby too.
Owatonna, MN
Set up a look at your pool deck
Call (507) 599-0098 or send the form with your pool's size in gallons and where your property irons are, since those two answers get the permit question moving.