I have the two quotes now: for the pool deck replacement with stamped concrete, Company 1 will charge $5,800. Company 2 won't do it without replacing the coping and liner, so the cost for deck, liner and coping would be $14,600. The alternative they offer is to saw around the pool, about a foot out from the coping, and mortar stones on top of that area (that way they don't need to jackhammer near the coping) -- they would then tear out the rest of the deck and replace it with stamped concrete up to the level of the stones. The whole thing would end up being about two inches higher than the surrounding area. This would cost $11,300.

Company 1 says they haven't damaged a liner in 12 years, during which time they've replaced about 30 or 40 decks. They estimate that the coping gets damaged in about one-third of the jobs. Company 2 specializes in pool rehabs and says that there's no way the job can be done without replacing the coping and liner. I'm not sure who to believe.