How much does it cost to redo a concrete pool deck in Virginia?

What drives the price

Nobody can give you an honest Virginia price for a concrete pool deck without seeing it, and this page does not invent one: it found no dated Virginia source for a price per square foot, and figures from lead-selling sites are undated. What you can do is understand what moves a bid and make bidders compete on the same job.

The main drivers are area, scope, base and drainage, finish, access and the pool itself. Each is covered below.

Resurfacing or replacing

This is the biggest swing. Resurfacing renews the surface of a sound slab: Quikrete's resurfacer can be applied from a feather edge of 1/16 inch to 1/2 inch thick,^[3] so it is a thin layer on top of what you have. Material quantity is modest: one 40 lb bag covers approximately 16 square feet at a thickness of 1/4 inch, or approximately 65 square feet when applied at 1/16 inch.^[3] Labour for preparation, cleaning, patching and finishing usually dominates the bill.

Replacement adds demolition, hauling, new base, forms, concrete, finishing and cure time. It costs more, and it is the only real fix when the slab is sinking, heaving or draining toward the pool. Repairs to damaged concrete must be made before resurfacing can be initiated,^[3] so a deck needing many repairs can approach the cost of replacement. See whether to resurface or replace a pool deck for how to tell the difference.

The other cost drivers

• Area and shape. Square footage sets the base price. Curves, steps and many corners slow the work.
• Base, slope and drainage. Fixing the slope so water runs away from the pool takes more than finishing, and affects the pool as well.
• Joints and cracks. Saw-cut control joints, resealed expansion joints and crack repairs all add labour; the cheaper fix is described in how to fix cracks in a concrete pool deck.
• Finish. A broom finish, a textured or coloured finish, and a sealer each cost differently. Salt water environments, including salt water pool decks, are harsh on sealers,^[4] so ask what a bidder would use and how often it needs renewing.
• Access. A deck reachable only through a gate or past landscaping costs more to demolish, pour and haul.
• Excavation and utilities. Digging triggers a legal step: no person shall make or begin any excavation or demolition without first submitting a locate request to the notification center.^[5] A contractor normally handles this.
• Permits. They depend on your locality and the scope. Prince William County lists concrete (patio) slabs on grade that are not designed to support a future building addition among the work that does not need a building permit.^[6] Other counties and cities differ, and barrier or drainage changes can be treated differently. Licensed contractors should apply for and obtain all building permits, not the consumer.^[1]

How to compare bids

It is advisable to get at least three written bids or estimates using identical plans and specifications so you can compare prices and contractors.^[1] Do not automatically accept the lowest.^[1] Ask for itemised lines: demolition, base, concrete, finish, joints, sealer, haul-away, and permit. A bid that leaves one out will look cheap until a change order arrives.

Be sure all changes are in writing and are signed by you and your contractor.^[1]

Paying and protecting yourself

A good rule of thumb is an initial deposit of no more than 10% of the total price or $1,000, whichever is less.^[1] Be sure the contract provides for retention, a percentage of each payment or of the total job, ordinarily 10 percent, which you retain until the job is completed.^[1] Virginia law requires all licensed contractors to provide a written contract for residential work.^[1]

Check the licence class too. Class C contractors perform or manage work when the total value in a single contract or project is over $1,000 but less than $30,000, and Class B contractors when it is $30,000 or more but less than $150,000.^[2] If the work you are considering is valued at $1,000 or more, a valid Virginia Contractor's License is required for the license category in which the contractor is to work.^[1] By hiring a licensed contractor, you become eligible to receive monetary compensation from the Contractor Transaction Recovery Fund in case of improper or dishonest conduct.^[1]

Stop and call a pro if

• The deck has sunk, tilted or heaved. The price depends on what is under it, and that needs a contractor's assessment.
• Water runs toward the pool. Slope changes affect the pool, so get a pool contractor and a concrete contractor to agree on the plan.
• A bidder wants most of the money up front, will not put the scope in writing or cannot show a licence. Walk away.
• The work will involve digging. Make sure someone submits the locate request before the first shovel.
• A quote seems to be missing items. Ask for a breakdown before you compare totals.

Getting help in Virginia

Photograph the deck, measure it and write one specification, then let licensed contractors price it. More pool questions are collected under Pool and spa answers, and you can browse Virginia pool and spa pros.

When you are ready, describe the deck once and licensed local contractors quote it.