Concrete Pool Decks in Juneau AK - sure footing when wet, built for freeze and thaw

The cost depends mostly on the deck's size, whether an old deck has to be broken out first, how much base and drainage work the yard needs, and which finish you pick. Decorative finishes and coatings cost more than a plain broom finish, the fine ridges dragged across wet concrete for grip. I price each of those separately on the written estimate, so you can see where the money goes.

The best finish is the one that grips under wet bare feet, and that should outrank looks when you choose. Broom, textured, exposed aggregate, coatings, overlays and decorative finishes all differ in grip and in how hot they get in the sun, so we'll walk you through them on site. If stamped concrete near a pool turns slick, a topical sealer, a clear coat on top, is often to blame rather than the texture.

Start with a mix that has entrained air, tiny bubbles mixed in that help concrete survive freezing while it's soaked and limit flaking from ice melt, and ask about it before the pour. That matters here because older weather records for Juneau averaged 53 freeze-thaw cycles a year. De-icing salt is linked to the most common frost damage, surface flaking, so ask us how to clear ice from a new deck before you reach for the bag.

Usually it's the deck pushing on the pool's edge because there's no flexible mastic joint, a rubbery seal that gives as the concrete grows and shrinks with the temperature. Without it, the deck often loosens coping and tile and can crack the tile at the waterline. We put that joint in and tell you what it needs from you each year.

One sealer maker puts resealing anywhere from every three years to every 15, depending on how much foot traffic the deck gets and what shape the concrete is in. One coping maker advises checking the deck-to-coping joint every year and redoing the caulk when it cracks, pulls away or wears, and says most of those caulks last five to ten years. It's a quick look once a year, and it's a lot easier than resetting tile.

You apply through the City and Borough of Juneau Permit Center, which takes new applications only through its Civic Access portal. When a job needs a city permit, we file the application and book the inspections through our own Civic Access account, and if it isn't clear whether your deck needs one, we ask the Permit Center before we start. You can also reach the Permit Center yourself at permits@juneau.gov or (907) 586-0770.