Concrete pool decks in Bozeman MT - a deck built for wet feet and hard winters

Across the US, installing a concrete pool deck usually costs about $10.10 to $12.40 per square foot, which is a national figure for installation and not our price. For your own deck, my free on-site estimate gives you a written price and says what it covers.

The best finish for wet bare feet has enough texture to grip and doesn't get too hot in the sun, and very dark finishes are the ones that can turn uncomfortable underfoot. Broom, textured, exposed aggregate, coatings, overlays and decorative finishes all differ in grip and heat, so we'll go through how each would suit your pool.

Concrete can still crack, but a well-packed base and control joints cut on time mean fewer cracks, and the ones that come tend to follow the joints. When an old deck has cracked all over, the usual cause is joints cut late or skipped, or a base that was raked level instead of dug out and packed.

A well-built deck should, and the mix and the curing decide it, since the city rates weathering here as Severe. Air-entrained concrete, with tiny air bubbles mixed in, stands up better to soaking freezes and flakes less from ice melt, while poor curing can sharply weaken the top surface. Please ask me about both at the estimate.

Yes, a pool deck can be poured in cold weather if the fresh concrete is protected. Industry cold-weather guidance is to protect it below 40 degrees F until it reaches an early strength of 500 psi, so ask us how we'll do that. I'd rather move a pour date than rush one.

One maker's guide says film sealers need a fresh coat every 18 to 24 months, while penetrating sealers last three to five years but bring out color less. A pool engineering firm also counts keeping the joints sealed, and the seal where the coping meets the deck, as ongoing upkeep for the owner.

The city's Building Division is the office to ask, because its stand-alone permit list names fence and deck work and new pool construction but not concrete pool decks. You can reach it at (406) 582-2375 ext. 1 or building@bozemanmt.gov, and we check permit questions with the office covering your address and help with the paperwork when one's needed.