Concrete Pool Surrounds

The area around a pool gets a mix of wet bare feet, running children, sun loungers, pool chemicals and summer heat. A concrete pool surround handles all of that and can be finished to suit your style, from textured exposed aggregate to sleek honed concrete. Rowville Concrete quotes pool surrounds for new and existing pools across Rowville, Endeavour Hills and the surrounding suburbs, working around your pool builder and fencing contractor.

What matters most in a pool surround

Grip when wet

Slip resistance is the first consideration. A smooth, steel-trowelled finish is not suited to wet, barefoot areas. Textured finishes, honed surfaces with appropriate treatment, and sealers with anti-slip additives are used to improve grip. The right combination depends on the look you want and how the area is used.

Comfort underfoot

Coarse textures can be rough on bare feet, so finer stone blends or honed finishes are often chosen for pool areas. Colour matters too. Darker surfaces can get hotter underfoot in full sun than lighter tones.

Drainage

Pool surrounds should fall away from the pool so rainwater and garden runoff don't wash debris and soil into the water, and so splash water drains away rather than pooling. Grated drains, garden bed edges or stormwater connections take the water away.

Coping and junctions

The surround usually meets the pool coping, a pool fence, garden beds and sometimes a deck or the house. Neat junctions, expansion joints where required and careful finishing around fence post positions all affect how the finished area looks and performs.

Pool surround finishes

• •Exposed aggregate. Textured and forgiving of dirt, with fine blends for comfort. See exposed aggregate concrete.
• •Honed concrete. A flat, contemporary surface showing stone cross-sections, treated for grip. See polished concrete.
• •Coloured concrete. Light or mid tones that complement coping and tiles.
• •Stamped textures. Stone-look or timber-look patterns. See stencil and stamped concrete.

A quality sealer helps protect the surface from pool chemicals, sunscreen and staining. Resealing is part of normal upkeep around pools. See concrete sealing.

Planning for pool equipment and access

The surround is also the working area for keeping the pool running. Think about a clear path to the filter and pump, room to take the pool cover on and off, and a spot where the cleaner or hose can be stored. Pads for equipment, taps and a hose point can be planned into the slab rather than added later.

Pool fencing

In Victoria, swimming pools and spas must have compliant safety barriers, and owners must register their pool or spa with their council. The fence layout affects the surround. Post positions and gate locations should be planned before the concrete is poured, particularly for glass fencing with core-drilled or spigot mounts. We coordinate with your fencing contractor so the slab suits the barrier system. Your council and building surveyor are the authorities on barrier compliance.

New pools and existing pools

With a new pool

The surround is poured once the pool shell, plumbing and coping are in place, and the pool builder usually sets the timing. We work to their program and the finished levels they provide.

Replacing an old surround

Older pool surrounds can crack, sink near the pool wall or pull away from the coping. Replacing the surround means careful break-out to avoid damaging the pool shell, coping and plumbing. If the concrete is sound but tired, cleaning and sealing or a resurfacing coating may be an option. See concrete resurfacing.

How we build a pool surround

1. 01Plan levels. We confirm levels with the pool builder, set falls away from the pool and plan drainage outlets.
2. 02Excavation and base. The area is prepared, taking care around pool plumbing and backfill.
3. 03Formwork and joints. Forms are set, and isolation joints are planned where the surround meets the coping and structures.
4. 04Reinforcement. Mesh is placed to suit the area.
5. 05Pour and finish. The concrete is placed and finished in your chosen surface.
6. 06Clean and seal. After curing, the surface is cleaned and sealed, with anti-slip additive where appropriate.

Steps, paths and entertaining areas

Pool areas often connect to a patio, steps from the house and paths to the pool gate or equipment. Carrying the same finish through creates a unified outdoor space. See concrete patios and concrete steps and stairs. On sloping blocks, such as parts of Endeavour Hills, a pool terrace may need retaining. See concrete sleeper retaining walls.

Where we quote

We quote pool surrounds across Rowville, Endeavour Hills, Lysterfield South, Glen Waverley, Wheelers Hill and the rest of our locations. See all outdoor work on the outdoor living hub.