Cracked or Sinking Pool Deck in Metairie: Repair or Replace

Written by Big Easy Pool Designs

Should You Repair or Replace a Cracked Pool Deck in Metairie?

Quick Answer: It depends on what’s under the crack. If your cracked pool deck in Metairie is still level and meets the coping cleanly, a repair or resurface is usually a reasonable fix. If sections have sunk or pulled away from the pool, the base underneath has moved, and a new surface laid over a moving base won’t last. The first job is figuring out which situation you have.

We look at the whole surround before recommending anything, because a deck that failed for a reason will fail again if the reason stays in place.

Why Do Pool Decks in Metairie Crack and Sink?

Metairie sits on soft delta ground, and that ground moves. A NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory study, published in May 2016 and based on radar data from June 2009 to July 2012, found notable subsidence in Metairie. Across the region, the study identified groundwater pumping and dewatering as the primary contributors.

A pool deck is a large, flat slab, which makes it one of the first places that movement shows. Our post on pool decking materials for Louisiana heat and humidity explains how different surfaces handle ground movement, so we won’t repeat that rundown here.

Water can speed the problem up. Runoff that collects along one edge, or a leaking pipe under the slab, can soften or wash out the base. The groundwater side of the story is covered in our guide to building a pool on a high water table.

How Can You Tell a Surface Crack From a Base Problem?

Walk the deck after a good rain and look for these signs of movement:

• A raised edge or step between two slab sections that someone could trip on.
• A gap opening between the deck and the coping, or coping stones that rock.
• Puddles forming in spots that used to drain.
• Slabs that tilt toward the house or toward the pool.
• Cracks that have visibly widened over a season.

Thin cracks on a slab that’s otherwise level and draining are often shrinkage or surface wear. Those are the good news cases.

What Should You Track Before You Call?

A little record keeping makes an assessment faster and more accurate. Photograph each crack with a coin or tape measure beside it for scale, then take the same photos again a few weeks later so you can see whether anything has grown. After a heavy rain, note where water stands on the deck and how long it takes to clear. If the pool level has been dropping, write that down too. These notes help separate old, stable cracks from active movement, and they give whoever inspects the deck a head start.

When Is a Repair or Resurface Enough?

On a stable slab, cracks can be cleaned out and repaired, and a worn or stained surface can be coated or overlaid for a fresh look. This is the lower-cost route, and on the right deck it holds up well.

The catch is that a coating follows whatever the slab does. If the base is still settling, new cracks will reappear in the new surface. That’s why we check for movement before quoting a resurface, and why we’ll tell you when a coating would just be cosmetic cover for a structural issue.

Can a Sunken Slab Be Lifted Instead?

Slab lifting raises a sunken section by pumping material underneath it. It can level a section without tearing it out. Next to a pool, though, the work sits right on top of plumbing lines and close to the shell, so the crew needs to know where those lines run before injecting anything.

Lifting also doesn’t fix the reason a slab sank. If a leak or poor drainage washed out the base, the slab can drop again. Rule those out first. If the pool has been losing water, our guide to telling a leak from evaporation is a good place to start.

When Does the Deck Need to Come Out?

Replacement makes sense when several sections have moved or the deck sheds water toward the house. It’s also the practical choice when plumbing under the slab needs repair anyway. The same logic applies when the pool itself is due for work. Draining once and doing the interior and tile alongside the deck avoids a second shutdown later, as our post on pool remodeling in Metairie and Kenner explains.

A replacement lets the crew rebuild the base properly and set the slope so water moves away from both the pool and the house. It costs more up front, and our breakdown of what drives pool renovation cost shows how deck work fits into a larger budget.

What Else Comes Up When a Pool Deck Is Replaced?

Bonding

The concrete around a pool can be part of the pool’s electrical bonding system. When a deck comes out, that system has to be accounted for, and electrical work belongs with a licensed electrician.

Permits

Ask the permit office that covers your Metairie address whether deck replacement near a pool needs a permit before any demolition starts. We handle the parish permits for the projects we build.

Digging

If base repair involves excavation, Louisiana’s dig law requires notice to the regional notification center at least 48 hours ahead, not counting weekends and holidays, so utility lines get marked.

Barrier and Gates

New flatwork can change the grade at a fence or gate. Check that gates still close and latch on their own afterward. Our post on pool permits and barrier rules covers what barriers need to do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can new concrete be poured over the old deck?

Sometimes, on a slab that’s stable and has room for the added height at doors and coping. Over a moving base, the new layer inherits the old problems.

Is a crack near the coping a sign of a pool leak?

Not always, but it’s worth checking. Movement at the coping can come from settling, and a leak nearby can cause settling.

Will pavers stop my deck from cracking?

Pavers tolerate small movement better than a solid slab because individual units can be reset. They still need a well-built base.

Can I wait on a deck that’s only slightly uneven?

You can monitor it, but a raised edge is a trip hazard around wet feet. Fix those spots even if the full job waits.

Get the Deck Looked At

We’ll check the slab and the drainage around it, then tell you whether a repair will hold or the base needs rebuilding, with the scope and price in writing.

We handle pool remodeling in Metairie, pool renovation in Metairie, and the rest of our Metairie service area. Request a deck assessment or call (504) 688-4066.