Pool Decks in Tempe, AZ

Pool decks in Tempe take more abuse than any other slab on the lot. They sit in full sun through summers that average above 103 degrees from June through August, they stay wet for months, and they are surrounded by splash-out, irrigated planters and soil that moves. Rosie on the House specifically names pool decks among the concrete that suffers when Arizona clay swells and shrinks. On older Tempe lots, decks that have been in place for decades tend to show it: lifted sections at the coping, cracks running out from the corners, and textured coatings worn down to bare concrete.

Replace, resurface or repair?

How the deck has failed decides the fix:

• Worn or stained coating on sound concrete: resurfacing with a new textured or stamped overlay.
• A few hairline cracks: crack repair and a fresh coating.
• Sections lifted or sunk, wide cracks, crumbling: tear out and replace those sections or the whole deck.
• Pool remodel underway: the best time to replace the deck, since the coping and tile are being redone anyway.

HomeGuide notes that cracks wider than about a quarter inch often point to movement underneath that will come through any overlay.

What goes into a new deck

We remove the old deck, check and compact the ground, and set forms so the surface slopes away from the pool toward drains or planting areas. Water should never run back into the pool carrying dirt and fertilizer, and it should never sit against the house. Joints are cut on a close grid, and the joint between the deck and the coping is kept flexible so the two can move separately.

Keeping it cool

Fixr's pool deck guide notes that dark materials absorb heat and become very hot to the touch, while light, heat-reflective surfaces stay cooler. The common choices around a Tempe pool are:

• Cool-deck style coatings: a light, textured topping applied over new or existing concrete.
• Light broom or salt finish: simple and slip-resistant.
• Stamped concrete in light colors: a stone or flagstone look with texture underfoot.
• Exposed aggregate: textured and grippy, though darker stones absorb more heat.

Get a Free Estimate

Working around a pool

Pool deck work comes with extra care. We protect the water and the plaster from dust and splatter, coordinate with your pool builder or remodeler on coping and tile, and plan where the concrete truck or pump will reach the backyard, since most Tempe lots have a block wall and a side gate. In summer the pour starts at first light.

After it is done

Keep the deck clean and rinse off pool chemicals that splash out. Reseal or recoat decorative finishes on schedule. Keep planters and sprinklers from soaking the deck edges, and watch for any section that starts to lift, since catching it early keeps a small repair from turning into a big one.