How Professionals Resurface a Pool Deck

People who have pools on their property generally know how to care for them, but what about pool decks? The deck is every bit as important as the pool itself, and it needs to be kept in good condition for safety and aesthetic reasons. Consider pool deck resurfacing, so that guests at your next backyard party know that they can walk safely along a pool deck when they want to go swimming, or to sit back and relax.

Pool deck resurfacing is just as important as keeping any home improvement looking its best. Some homeowners may try to do this themselves, but it is always best to let the experts such as those at Allied Outdoor Solutions handle a project like this. It’s much safer than doing it yourself, and you can be sure that the job will be done the right way. With that being said, here’s what’s usually happens when a professional resurfaces a pool deck.

Choosing a Resurfacing Overlay

The first step of resurfacing a pool deck is choosing what kind of concrete overlay will be used. This decision will be made by the homeowner with input from a professional, but the right surface should have a non-skid element and be made from materials that will resist the chemicals commonly used in a pool. It should also look good, but safety and functionality should come first.

Preparation

The pool and the existing deck surface should be prepared before the resurfacing job really begins. The deck should be cleaned thoroughly, and any cracks or divots should be repaired with a concrete resurfacer as long as these cracks and divots are only superficial. If there are cracks that go all the way through, the concrete itself may need to be completely replaced. To protect the pool system from the materials used during the resurfacing process, the pool is usually covered if not drained completely.

Applying Pool Deck Coating

The pool deck coating is applied evenly to the existing concrete slab using the standard array of cement sculpting tools. The coating compound should be flat and spread thinly, and no marks should be made in the compound unless the homeowner wants to stamp patterns into the coating. If there is to be patterns stamped into the coating, it should be made as the contractor is working. This cannot be done once the coating is applied since it will involve walking on wet concrete.

Allowing the New Concrete to Dry

Finally, the new concrete surface should be given enough time to dry out. The amount of time needed will depend on the type of concrete used and the size of the deck. In most cases, the optimal temperature for resurfacing a concrete deck and allowing it to dry is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

Resurfacing a concrete deck usually takes the better part of a day, and the drying process can last an additional 24 hours. Resurfacing a pool deck may take a bit longer if the contractor decides that the pool itself needs to be drained first. However, the end result will be well worth the wait. A pool deck that has been resurfaced by a professional will look pristine once the job is done and the concrete is allowed to dry.