Pool deck pavers replace a cracked or tired concrete pool deck with a surface that drains, can be repaired piece by piece and frames the water cleanly. Cicarelli Contractors removes the old deck where needed, builds a drained base, lays pavers or stone around the pool and plans the coping and the deck together.
Pool deck pavers
A pool deck takes more abuse than most patios: splashing water, chlorine, bare feet and the constant temptation for water to run back toward the pool or under the deck. Pavers handle that well when they sit on a compacted base sloped away from the water, with joints that let small ground movement pass without cracking the surface.
The edge at the water, called the coping, sets the look of the whole deck. It is planned with the deck so heights, overhangs and drainage work together. For pool deck resurfacing, where an old concrete deck is sound and drains well, pavers can sometimes go over it; where it has heaved or cracked, it comes out first.
Pool decks connect to the rest of the yard, so we often build them with patios, walkways or turf around them. If the pool itself is going away instead, see our pool removal page.
Six Google reviews quoted word for word, from a concrete pool replaced with pavers to new paver yards. None is about a pool deck alone yet. Swipe or use the arrows.
Couldn’t be happier with how our yard turned out! We had Cicarelli remove an old concrete pool and install pavers around the new garden area. The whole process was smooth, and the crew was polite and professional.
Bernardo from Cicarelli contractors was great to work with. We had our vinyl pool and deck demoed and synthetic grass put in. They took care of all our needs. Thank you Bernardo
We are extremely happy with the job performed in my backyard. And my front yard It was done very fast and the quality of the job is excellent. Highly recommended because you have a great service at a reasonable price.
Just this past week, I hired Cicarelli Contractors to install a carport. Initially I wanted concrete but after speaking with Athalyson and being educated on pavers instead of regular concrete we decided to go with his recommendation. And to our surprise the pavers turned out to be the correct choice versus a concrete slab. The color that we chose really compliments the paint that’s on the house. Cicarelli did an incredible job. They followed the timeline to completion to a tee and each day they worked at my home they always cleaned up before they left for the day. We are so excited how everything turned out, our neighbors constantly come over to say how beautiful the pavers look. To my surprise they completed the work in one week. Not only did they have to prep the work they also had to remove 3 large trees and the existing fence and replace it with a new one. Still hard to believe they did all that work in a short period of time and at the end everything looks very professional.
We recently hired Cicarelli Contractors to remove our old, unused pool, and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results! From the start, their team was professional, punctual, and extremely knowledgeable. They walked us through the entire process, providing clear explanations and a fair estimate.
Athalyson did great work at my house and backyard. Very happy with the result. Highly recommend.
Our crews at work
We have not filmed a pool deck install yet. These clips show our crews breaking out pool concrete in Hillsborough and San Ramon, and a Vacaville yard rebuilt with pavers after its pool came out.
Watch On YouTubeOverlay or replace
Sometimes. It depends on the condition of the old deck and the heights around it. These are the signs for each route.
Removing the old concrete is handled by our concrete removal crew.
Pool deck step by step
Water decides the design: every step keeps it moving away from the pool and the house.
Start With A Free EstimateWe inspect the old deck, heights at the coping and doors, and drainage.
Sound decks get an overlay base; failed decks are broken out and hauled.
A compacted base is built with a fall away from the water.
The coping and edge restraints are set so the field cannot move.
Pavers are laid and cut around the pool, drains and equipment.
Joints are filled, the deck compacted where needed and cleaned.
Pricing
Pool decks are priced by area and by what the old deck and the pool edge need. These are the items we measure.
Breaking out and hauling a failed concrete deck, or preparing it for an overlay.
Replacing or matching the edge at the water adds cuts and careful setting.
Concrete pavers, Carvestone or natural stone differ in material and labor.
Slopes, deck drains and base depth around the pool.
Curves, steps, drains and equipment pads add labor.
Backyard pools reached only through side yards.
Our guide to the best pavers for a pool deck compares the options, or send photos for a written quote. Get a written quote
Rules to know
Replacing a pool deck with pavers is usually treated like a patio, but the pool brings a state rule. When a pool or spa at a single-family home is new or remodeled, California law requires at least two drowning prevention safety features. Ask your city whether your project counts as a remodel.
California requires a written contract for any home improvement job over $500, pool decks included, as the CSLB explains.
Pool deck answers
Pool pavers bring practical questions: whether they beat concrete, whether they can cover an old deck, what they cost and what rules apply around a pool. These answers come from how we build pool decks and from state and city rules.
A plain poured slab usually costs less up front. Pavers cost more to install but can be lifted and reset when the ground moves, a crack does not run across the whole deck, and the coping and patterns can be matched. Over the life of the deck, repairs often decide which is cheaper.
Our concrete vs pavers guide goes deeper on the trade-off.
A pool paver is a paver used on the deck around a pool, often with a textured or tumbled surface for bare feet and wet conditions. Coping pavers are the special pieces at the water's edge, usually with a rounded nose that overhangs the pool wall.
We choose the deck paver and the coping together so they match in color and height.
Without a bedding layer, pavers sit unevenly on the base, rock or wobble, and joints open up. The thin bedding layer lets each paver settle level and lock against its neighbors when the field is compacted. On a pool deck, a level surface also keeps water from collecting where people walk.
The bedding sits on a compacted base, never on bare soil.
It depends on the deck area, whether the old deck is removed or covered, the coping, the paver, the cuts around the pool and equipment, drainage and access. A simple rectangle around a small pool and a curved deck with new coping are very different jobs, so the reliable figure is an itemized estimate.
We list removal, base, coping and pavers as separate lines.
| Rule | Official source |
|---|---|
| New or remodeled pool or spa | At least 2 drowning prevention features (HSC 115922 summary) |
| Patios up to 30 in above grade | Exempt in San Rafael (city handout) |
| Zoning on exempt work | May still apply in Oakland and Berkeley (Oakland) |
| Gas, electrical, plumbing changes | Own permit in Berkeley (city page) |
Summarized from the official pages linked above.
Updated · By Athalyson Bernardo, Owner of Cicarelli Contractors · CSLB #1109419
FAQ
Send photos of the deck, the coping and the way into the yard, and we will reply with a written estimate. Our line is open Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, and the site FAQ covers more.
Call (650) 404-7049Textured or tumbled pavers give bare feet more grip than smooth surfaces, and a deck sloped away from the water keeps puddles from forming. Sealers can change how slick a surface feels, so if you plan to seal, choose one meant for pool decks. We go over the finish options at the estimate.
Every outdoor surface warms in direct sun, and darker colors get hotter than lighter ones. Choosing a light color is the simplest way to keep a pool deck more comfortable underfoot. We can bring samples so you can compare colors in your own yard.
Yes, and it is often the best time. The coping and the deck share heights and drainage, so planning them together gives a cleaner edge. If the existing coping is sound, we can also match the new deck to it.
Usually not for the deck itself. Work on the coping can require lowering the water level, and anything touching the pool shell is a different scope. We tell you at the estimate whether the water level needs to change.
A ground-level deck surface is often treated like a patio, but rules vary by city, and changes to equipment, gas, electrical or plumbing need their own permits. If your city treats the work as a pool remodel, state safety features apply. We check before quoting.
Call or text (650) 404-7049, Monday to Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm, or send photos of the deck and coping through the free estimate form. A written, itemized pool deck estimate follows within 24 hours of the photos or the site visit.
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