Last updated October 16, 2026
Val Vista Lakes hardscape has its own rules. This is a 1980s lake community off Greenfield and Baseline in Gilbert, so most homes already have a pool and an aging original deck, the lots back up to water or mature landscaping, and every exterior change runs through the community association's design review. We have worked these Gilbert yards since 2012 and build with those three realities in mind.
What hardscape works best for Val Vista Lakes homes?
Val Vista Lakes was built out mostly in the late 1980s and 1990s, so the yards here are established: mature trees, original concrete, and in most cases a pool poured with the house. That shapes the work. Rather than starting from bare dirt, the common Val Vista Lakes project is upgrading what is already there, a tired pool deck, a cracked back patio, or a dated courtyard entry. Light travertine and paver patios are the most requested finishes, because they read as a premium update against the community's green, water-forward setting and stay walkable in July where the old gray slab bakes. On the larger interior lots we also build outdoor kitchens, fire features and retaining walls, all set on a compacted aggregate base so caliche soil and monsoon movement do not crack the new work.
Can you resurface the pool deck around my existing pool?
Yes, and a resurface is the most common pool-deck job we do in Val Vista Lakes. Many of these decks are the original 1980s or 1990s concrete, and if the slab is still structurally sound we can lay light travertine or pavers right over it, or trowel on a cool-deck coating, without a full tear-out. Where the old slab is cracked or heaved off a poor base, we rebuild on compacted aggregate so the new surface stays flat. To be clear about what we do: Solterra builds the hardscape, the deck, coping and surround, around your existing pool. We do not build, install or remodel pools themselves. Here is how the common deck paths compare, as directional planning numbers rather than quotes.
| Deck option | What it is | Directional installed cost | Typical lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-deck coating | Troweled overlay on sound concrete | About 4 to 9 dollars per sq ft | Several years, recoatable |
| Pavers over concrete | Light pavers laid over the old slab | About 15 to 30 dollars per sq ft | 25 years or more |
| Travertine deck | Natural stone set on a compacted base | About 20 to 35 dollars per sq ft | 25 years or more |
How does the Val Vista Lakes HOA affect a hardscape project?
Every exterior change in Val Vista Lakes goes through the community association's architectural review before work can start, and the lake setting makes that stricter than an average Gilbert subdivision. Anything visible from the water, a shared greenbelt or the street usually needs material and color samples submitted and approved first. We build to that process: we help pick travertine and paver tones that read as neutral and premium, the finishes most Valley boards approve without friction, and we provide the layout and material details you need for the submittal. Planning for review up front keeps a project from stalling, which matters on a lakefront lot where your deck and walls sit in full view of neighbors across the water.
What should lakefront lots in Val Vista Lakes watch for?
Lakefront lots carry details an interior lot does not. Grading has to carry monsoon runoff cleanly so water does not sheet toward the house or scour the bank down to the water. Caliche soil sheds water instead of soaking it in, so we build positive drainage, add channel or deck drains where needed, and pitch coping slightly so storm water runs off rather than pooling at the pool edge. Where a lot steps down toward the lake we set retaining walls on a proper footing to hold the grade. This is Zone 9b desert, so we pair the hardscape with low-water, heat-tolerant planting that keeps the lake-community look without fighting the climate.