Ironset Boston Concrete Construction
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Concrete pool decks in Boston MA - a deck that's safe to walk on when it's wet

Old deck slick when wet, cracked at the edges or holding puddles? We pour a new concrete deck planned for grip and drainage first.

Request an estimate(617) 226-2081
Concrete pool deck with pale stone coping surrounds a blue swimming pool beneath a black screened enclosure.
  • Licensed and fully insured.
  • Free estimates at your property.
  • We respond within 1 business day.

Pool deck finishes we pour in Boston

  • Broom finish pool deck

    A broom finish is a light brushed texture dragged across the wet concrete so bare feet get grip. It's the plain, dependable choice for most decks.

  • Exposed aggregate pool deck

    We wash the top film off so the small stones in the mix show, which gives a pebbly feel underfoot and suits owners who want texture with some color.

What goes into a new concrete pool deck in Boston?

A concrete pool deck is the slab around your pool, and a good one in Boston gives wet, bare feet something to grip and carries water away from the house without washing dirt back into the pool.

Most calls start with an old deck that's cracked, sunk at the pool edge, holding puddles or gone slick, or a new pool that needs a deck, sometimes running into a concrete patio, and the first thing I want to know is why the old one failed. The price turns mostly on the deck's size, the finish you pick, how much old concrete comes out and how much base and drain work the ground needs. The schedule turns on any permit, the weather and curing, the wait while new concrete hardens and gains strength before you put it to use. If the budget gets tight, I'd rather keep the finish simple than skimp on the base, because nobody sees the base on day one and it's what keeps the deck from sinking later. Your own number comes from the written quote I give you at the estimate.

A pool deck job from the base up

I pick the finish for grip when it's wet first and looks second, and we plan the drains, skimmers and joints along the pool side with you before any forms go in.

  • Dig out and pack the base

    We dig to firm subgrade, the ground the slab sits on, and pack the base in layers, since a raked-flat base settles.

  • Forms, slope and drains

    We set the forms so water runs away from the house and toward the drains, not back over the edge into the pool.

  • Steps, pads and pool houses

    We form any concrete steps down to the deck alongside it, and a pool house or shed can go on a proper slab foundation.

  • Pour and finish for grip

    We pour early, out of the midday heat that leaves a weak, dusty top, then broom or texture the surface for grip.

  • Joints and curing

    We cut control joints, grooves that give the slab a tidy place to crack, while the concrete is fresh, then let it cure.

Why people around Boston call Ironset

I care most about the parts of a deck you won't see once it's poured, the base, the drainage and the prep, because they decide how it holds up. We're known for awkward jobs, and I'd rather explain a tricky problem plainly than hand you a quick number.

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  • I write the estimate myself

    I look at your deck and write the estimate myself, then work alongside our crew while they form, pour and finish it, so the person who quoted it is on the job.

  • Licensed and fully insured on every job

    We're licensed and fully insured, and I'm glad to show you the paperwork when I come out to look at your pool and deck.

  • Years spent fixing failed slabs

    I spent years patching steps, walks and slabs on Boston rentals before starting this business in 2023, so I plan around the mistakes that made them fail.

What happens when you call about a pool deck in Boston?

Every deck starts with your pool, your yard and what's gone wrong there before, so I plan the job around how you use the space and where the water goes, not around a standard layout.

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or call (617) 226-2081

  1. You get in touch

    Call (617) 226-2081 or send the form, tell us a little about your pool and deck, and we'll get back to you to set up a visit.

  2. I look at the site

    I come out, check the pool edge, drains and slope, and ask what's failed before, since old cracks and puddles usually point to the cause.

  3. Your written quote

    Your quote shows the base and drains, not just the finish. Then we line up any permit, pour, and I walk the deck with you at the end.

A curved concrete sidewalk with dark edging winds through a landscaped yard beside a house.

Get a quote for your pool deck, drains and steps

Tell us how big the deck is and the finish you like, and have a few photos of the pool area handy. We reply within one business day, then I come out for a free estimate with no obligation.

(617) 226-2081

Pool deck questions we hear

What does a concrete pool deck cost in Boston?

Installing a concrete pool deck in Boston usually costs about $11 to $27 per square foot, and that's the going rate around the city for the work, not a quote from us. Where your deck lands depends mostly on the finish, how much old concrete has to come out and how much base and drain work sits under it. Call (617) 226-2081 or email hi@bostonconcreteconstruction.com to set up a look.

What is the best way to choose a finish for a wet concrete pool deck?

Compare finishes by grip first, because a pool deck is wet and barefoot most of the time it's used, and broom, textured, exposed aggregate, coated, overlaid and decorative surfaces all give different traction. They also run at different temperatures, and very dark finishes can get uncomfortable to cross in the sun. Bring photos of finishes you like and we'll talk through how each one feels wet and hot.

What causes freeze damage on a concrete pool deck?

Water soaked into the concrete freezes and expands, and over repeated freezes that can break up the surface. Air entrainment, tiny evenly spread air bubbles mixed into the concrete, gives that freezing water room and relieves the pressure, and it's a key protection wherever a deck faces freezing. Ask any contractor you're considering, us included, whether the mix for your deck has it.

Does my pool deck contractor need to be registered in Massachusetts?

Yes, if you live in the house and it has one to four units, because Massachusetts requires contractors who bid on or do work on an existing, owner-occupied home like that to register as Home Improvement Contractors. If an unregistered contractor's work goes wrong, you can still file a complaint, but you can't use the state's arbitration or its Guaranty Fund. The rule doesn't apply to homeowners doing the work on their own home.

How do I maintain the joint between my pool and the concrete deck?

Check the caulked expansion joint, the flexible seal between the pool edge and the deck, once a year, and repair or replace the caulk when it cracks, pulls away or breaks down, as one pool coping maker's guide advises. The same guide says most of those caulks last five to ten years, so resealing is normal upkeep, not a sign the deck failed.

Can I use deicer on a new concrete pool deck?

Not right away, because fresh outdoor concrete has to cure, hardening and gaining strength, before it faces hard freezes or deicing chemicals. A surface that looks hard isn't ready yet, so if your deck goes in late in the season, ask us when it's safe to start.

Building concrete pool decks in Boston

Boston's Inspectional Services issues a Short-Form Permit for minor repairs or replacements that leave a home's structure and use unchanged, and a Long-Form permit for major alterations. Whether your deck needs one, and which, comes down to the job, so we check with the city instead of guessing and help line up any permit before digging starts. If you'd like to ask yourself, the city asks unsure owners to call 617-635-5300 or email isd@boston.gov.

We're based in Boston and work across the city and the cities around it, and a lot of the decks we're called to are older slabs patched more than once, sinking at the pool edge or pitched back toward the house. We see the same tired decks on jobs in Brookline and Newton, and we fix them the same way, from the base up.