Most pool decks in Port St. Lucie don't need to be replaced. They need to be resurfaced — the slab is fine, the surface is stained, hot, cracked hairline or peeling old paint — and resurfacing costs $4 to $12 per square foot depending on the finish, versus $12 to $20 to tear out and pour new. On a typical 600-square-foot deck that's $2,500 to $7,000 instead of $8,000 to $12,000. Here's how to tell which you need and what each option costs.
Resurfacing options and 2026 prices
| Option | Price / sq ft | 600 sq ft deck | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-deck acrylic (Kool Deck / spray texture) | $4 – $8 | $2,400 – $4,800 | Heat, stains, hairline cracks; classic Florida look |
| Knockdown texture overlay | $6 – $10 | $3,600 – $6,000 | Smoother modern look, still cool and slip-resistant |
| Stamped overlay (travertine, slate) | $8 – $14 | $4,800 – $8,400 | Stone look without demolition |
| Pavers over the existing slab | $12 – $18 | $7,200 – $10,800 | Real stone/paver look; raises the deck ~2 inches |
| Tear out and pour new (broom) | $12 – $16 | $7,200 – $9,600 | Broken, heaving or badly sunk decks |
| Tear out and pour new (stamped) | $16 – $24 | $9,600 – $14,400 | Full redesign |
Add $500 to $2,500 for foam lifting of sunk sections, $300 to $900 for coping and expansion-joint repair at the pool edge, and $1.50 to $3.00 per square foot to strip old deck paint.
Resurface, lift or replace?
Resurface
The slab is level within a quarter inch, cracks are hairline and not moving, and the problem is the surface. Ninety percent of the decks we see in St. Lucie West and Sandpiper Bay.
Lift first, then resurface
One or more sections have sunk — usually at the corner where the downspout dumps or where the pool was backfilled — and there's a lip. Polyurethane foam injection lifts the section back to level in a morning; then it's resurfaced with the rest.
Replace
The deck is heaving, cracked into small pieces, or hollow underneath from washout, or you want to change the shape. Then tear-out and a new reinforced pour is the honest answer — an overlay on a moving slab will crack in a year.
What makes a deck cooler
Color and texture. Light colors reflect; textured acrylic cool-deck systems have tiny air pockets that don't hold heat the way dense concrete or dark pavers do. A light knockdown or cool-deck surface runs 20 to 30 degrees cooler than a dark stamped one at 3 PM in August. We'll put samples in the sun for you.
Permits and HOAs
Resurfacing an existing deck doesn't need a City of Port St. Lucie permit; replacing or extending one does, and most HOAs — Tradition, St. Lucie West, PGA Village — want the finish and color approved. We handle both.
Common questions
How much does it cost to resurface a pool deck in Port St. Lucie?
$4 to $8 per square foot for a cool-deck acrylic on a sound deck, $6 to $12 for knockdown or stamped overlays — $2,500 to $7,000 for a typical 600-square-foot deck. Lifting sunk sections or repairing the coping is extra and quoted up front.
How long does a resurfaced pool deck last?
Ten to fifteen years for an acrylic cool-deck with a re-seal every few years; fifteen-plus for cementitious overlays. The prep — cleaning, profiling and crack repair — determines it.
Can you resurface a deck with cracks?
Hairline and non-moving cracks, yes — routed and filled first. Cracks that move or have a lip mean the slab is settling, and we lift it before overlaying or we replace it.
Do I have to drain the pool?
No. We protect the water and the coping; the deck is done with the pool full.
Is a paver deck better than resurfacing?
It's the most expensive option and raises the deck about two inches, which can create a step at the door and the coping. It's the right choice when you want real pavers; for cost and cooling, a light knockdown overlay wins.
Related: Pool decks & resurfacing · Repair & leveling · Stamped concrete · Why concrete sinks