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Should You Seal Concrete Pool Deck

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How Often Should I Reseal My Concrete Pool Deck

How to Seal Concrete: Water, Salt & Stain Repellent Pool Deck

Most pool decks sealed with an acrylic sealer will need to be resealed every two to three years. Once the concrete is clean and dry, apply the sealer and allow to dry. Repeat. Two coats is always better than one with acrylic sealers. Most modified urethane, polyurea or polyurethane will require a light sanding before re-application so know what sealer youve used in the past before applying anything else. Check out our Concrete Pool Deck Ideas Gallery

Winters And Summers Create Additional Problems

Rain water and melting snow is a problem, especially when it runs into the concrete cracks and freezes. When water freezes, it expands, and this expansion creates tremendous pressure on the concrete resulting in damage and cracking. Over and over this process occurs in the winter and season after season it goes on, continually making things worse.

As the summer rolls around the concrete goes from cool to hot, sometimes so hot that you cant walk barefooted across the deck. This constant expansion and contraction of the concrete takes its toll and more damage occurs. If there are not proper control joints and expansion joints in the concrete deck, then the damage becomes more server.

How And When To Seal Your Concrete

The two most popular types of concrete sealers are silane-siloxane water repellent sealer and acrylic sealers. The finishes can range from flat to high gloss, and there are different tints available. You can even mix and match the sheen and tint. A very popular method is to use a glass on the trim work and a flat on your large walkway areas. It gives the same effect as using more gloss on the rim in your house.

You should reseal the concrete around a pool every 2-3 years on average. This varies based on climate, weather and sunlight. If you live in states like Arizona that see lots of strong direct sunlight then you may have to seal the concrete every year. But in milder climates every 2-3 years is generally fine.

Sealing the concrete around your pool is an important part of pool maintenance and should be done if you want to protect it from unwanted wear and tear.

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Best Sealer For A Pool Deck

While enormous cost can go into the installation and maintenance of the pool itself, the pool decks and patios are often overlooked, which can be a huge problem for homeowners.

It is important to properly seal the concrete surrounding the pool to ensure that mold, mildew, salt water and damage from UV rays do not deteriorate or damage the pool deck.

Pool decks are an important, if understated, aspect of your pool experience. If your pool patio is cracked and dirty, weeds will grow between pavers, leading to a very unpleasant visual fade. There can also be structural danger caused by damage that can be extremely costly to repair. Fortunately, there is a cost effective and relatively easy way to protect your concrete pool decks and patios, and that is to use a concrete sealer.

When it comes time to choose a concrete sealer there are a few factors to consider. Is your primary purpose for sealing to protect the pool deck from salt water and the related effects such as spalling, pitting and cracking? Or is your primary purpose decorative, to give the pool deck a nice glossy finish to enhance the colors and textures of the substrate?

Top Benefits Of Sealing Concrete After Pool Deck Resurfacing

MODE CONCRETE

There are many reasons why concrete contractors highly recommend sealing your concrete, here are the most notable ones:

  • A layer of sealer helps extend the lifespan of a concrete pool deck. This means you wont have to worry about having to replace or repair your deck in about a couple of years or more.
  • Sealers can make pool decks look more appealing. It has the ability to enhance the colors of a decoratively stained surface. It comes in a range of gloss levels, so you can also a bit of shine if desired.
  • Because it improves longevity and appearance, the value of the property increases, too. Anything that could make an owner happy definitely makes the entire property more valuable.
  • Compared to other types of pool decking materials or methods, this is definitely one of the most affordable and the easiest method of enhancing pool decks.
  • The sealer keeps the surface intact, decreasing the possibility of spalling, cracking, and flaking.
  • A sealed deck is less prone to staining. Food, drinks, and even pets can cause stains on a concrete surface. Stains are caused by pigments that enter the pores of the concrete. One reason why it cant be scrubbed off is that it is embedded past the surface.
  • Sealing is a lot more necessary in areas where moisture is always present. Water on concrete pool decks could make the surface slippery especially when mold and mildew develops. A sealed surface keeps mold and mildew from developing, enhancing slip-resistance and making the deck safer.

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Choosing The Best Concrete Sealer For Your Project

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Choosing the best Acrow-Richmond;concrete sealer;for your project can seem overwhelming and confusing. With many options on the market , its best to do your research to avoid any issues and;fully understand your project needs before hand.

Whether youre planning to seal your driveway, pool deck, or concrete basement floor, you need a reliable and long-lasting product;that may need to accommodate changes in temperature, seal cracks, and preserve concrete colour or detailing.

Why You Should Seal Stamped Concrete

Whether you’re having a beautiful new stamped concrete patio, walkway or pool deck poured or you already have one, it’s important that you protect your investment. The right sealer will keep your stamped concrete looking great for many years, or rejuvenate an existing stamped surface. Sealing a concrete can be compared to waxing your car, wearing sunscreen or spraying Scotchgard on your favorite shirt. A sealer will improve the appearance of stamped concrete, prevent fading caused by UV rays and protect it from stains and harmful chemicals.

Sealing after new concrete has cured and every few years for existing concrete is recommended. Stamped concrete that has been sealed will have a rich color and glossy sheen if desired. Sealers are available in many different gloss levels, ranging from no-gloss to high-gloss. A tinted sealer can even be used that will further enhance the concrete’s color. Additionally, a sealer will help prevent efflorescence, which is a white powdery residue that can build-up on the surface. Slip resistant sealers, which are especially useful around a pool, are also available, but may not be necessary since the concrete is already textured.

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Five Apply The Top Sealer For Best Results

Finally, it is recommended that you use the garden hose to water the concrete patios surface after a 10-day waiting period. Follow up by spraying on the top sealer. There is no reason to worry if you do not have a spray applicator. Simply pour the top sealer onto the damp surface and spread it with a brush. Apply a second coat before the first coat is completely dry and then give the concrete patio a minimum of 36 hours before people are allowed to walk all over it.

The Most Common Causes Of Concrete Decks To Crack

This Is The Best Concrete Sealer For Concrete Pool Decks, Driveways, And Patios.

Expansive soils. A large portion of the US has expansive soils and when expansive soils get wet, they expand. This soil expansion causes the concrete to crack. Then the cracks allow more moisture to penetrate into the soil, thus more expansion and more cracking.

Lack of proper expansion and control joints. We all know that concrete cracks, so therefor contractors place control joints and expansion joint in the concrete when it is first poured, to reduce the cracking.

Failure to seal cracks when they first occur. Like many things, if you do preventive maintenance or fix something when it first starts to happen, much less damage occurs. Therefore, it important that you seal any new cracks once or twice a year in order to minimalize future cracking.

Poor compaction. The soil around a pool seldom get compacted well because when the pool is first built the pool builder doesnt want to put a lot of compaction force on the soil around or near the pool. Secondly, since the soil isnt carrying a load like the house pad, contractors do not put as much emphases on getting a really good compaction job.

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Two Clean Remnants Of Paint Grease Or Oil Stains

In case the regular cleaning did not get rid of the old paint stains on your patio, you will have to resort to another method. First, try to blast the surface with sand or dry ice to remove this. If there are other stains possibly from some grease or oil on the patio that remains stubborn when you cleaned the surface, you may have to employ a different technique to get rid of it.

Get a bucket of water and add detergent to it. Pour this detergent mixture all over your patio and get a stiff brush to scrub out the grease and oil stains. In case this too does not work for you, try to use a grease solvent instead.

In case the grease stains has already penetrated the pores of the concrete, it will be even tougher to get rid of it. For such problems, you can try applying a small amount of muriatic acid to the surface. After you are done with this, rinse off all remnants of the soapy water, grease solvent, paint residue, or muriatic acid and allow the surface to dry.

Should I Try To Fix My Pool Deck Myself

Some concrete repairs can be done as a DIY, but it is highly recommended to hire a contractor for more complicated tasks. There are many patching and filling products available that make fixing small cracks easy for a homeowner to do themselves.

However, if the job requires you to do a full resurface, or use materials that need to be leveled, a professional contractor will be the best choice for your project. A contractor is more likely to complete the job on time, without error, and with a finished look youll enjoy for years to come.

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What Is The Best Sealer For A Salt Water Pool Deck

Solvent-based acrylic concrete sealers are the product of choice by our DC Pro contractors and DIYers. Acrylic concrete sealers seal and protect the deck surface from abrasion and salt water absorption.; Select a satin rather than high gloss sealer. High gloss acrylic sealers can create slip hazard when wet and are not appropriate for the pool deck.; Our ;Satin Finish Acrylic Sealer is the best choice for the typical rough finished outdoor concrete.; An anti-slip grit product can be added to an acrylic sealer to reduce slip hazards if desired.

For smoother concrete that has not been previously sealed, consider our Penetrating & Hardening Concrete Sealer. While this sealer provides no gloss whatsoever; it is a one-time sealer application that need not be repeated over the life of the concrete. Its also a highly salt resistant sealer that significantly reduces damage and discoloration caused by salt residues.

Types Of Concrete Sealers

MODE CONCRETE: Concrete Pool Deck Maintenance, Repair and ...

Before you begin, be aware that there are different types of concrete sealers. It helps to know the difference between an acrylic resin-based sealer, an epoxy or polyurethane sealer, and a penetrating sealer.;

The very best products will be available at professional concrete supply retailers. The inexpensive products offered at hardware stores and home centers tend to be intermediate-level sealers that provide adequate performance but will likely have a shorter lifespan than more expensive professional-grade sealers.;

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How To Fix Cracks In Your Concrete Pool Deck

If you need to fix a crack in your concrete, you can either patch or fill it.

In order to fill a crack, follow these steps:

  • Chisel out the crack to remove loose pieces of concrete
  • Clean the debris, including all dust and chips with a broom, shop vac or air compressor
  • Apply filler directly into cracks, checking periodically to see if it has settled
  • Allow the filler to cure over a 24-hour period
  • Seal the filled area for long-lasting results
  • Enhance Your Pool Deck With Color

    To give your concrete pool deck a new and updated look, epoxy sealers can also have color-enhancers. Plain, grey concrete can be dull. Give it a coat of color with the epoxy to liven it up.

    The standard, epoxy sealer will keep protecting a concrete pool deck for five or more years. However, color-enhancing sealers will typically only last 2 or 3 years; the shine and color-enhancement don’t last as long as the sealer. This is due to a variety of factors that influence the longevity of the coating: incorrect sealer application, frequency of cleaning and type of cleaning chemicals used, a residential versus a commercial pool, sun versus shade exposure, environmental conditions, and the volume of foot traffic. In harsh surroundings, adding a UV stabilizer will ensure better color longevity. There are also decorative flakes that can be added to give a speckled and more attractive look to the concrete pool deck surround for even more style.

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    How Often Should I Resurface My Pool Deck

    The best pool decks are durable, waterproof, rugged, and have anti-slip properties that allow those walking on them to have traction even when the deck itself is wet. Over time, this exposure to water will eventually wear away at a decks surface, causing it to crack and become unstable. This means its extremely important both for your deck and for your pool to make sure that your deck is regularly re-sealed so it can retain its waterproof qualities.

    But how often should you re-seal your deck? The answer isnt always straightforward as it depends on a number of different factors. Here are some of those factors and what they mean for the frequency with which you should resurface it.

    Is Radonseal Easy To Apply

    Concrete Paver sealing 2/3 – Driveway and Pool deck

    Yes, it’s very easy to apply.

    Your concrete pool deck must be dry to apply it. If it’s been raining, let the concrete dry out for 2 days.

    Make sure it’s not going to rain for 24 hours after you apply it and the air and surface temperatures are above 45 degrees during the application and for 3 days after.

    Your pool deck has to be clean from dirt, mold, and mildew. Pressure wash it to clean it if you have to.

    There also can’t be any other previous coatings, paint, or sealers on the concrete.

    For best results, use a PUMP UP SPRAYER like I do in the video. You can also use a paint roller if that’s easier for you to apply with.

    THE BASIC STEPS FOR APPLICATION ARE:

  • Lightly dampen the surface with water
  • Spray or roll on RadonSeal in a continuous wet film but don’t make puddles. If you do, just spread it out with a roller.
  • Apply a SECOND coat while the first one is still slightly damp. It’s ok to walk on if the first coat isn’t completely dry.
  • A 5 gallon pail of sealer will cover about 1000 square feet for 1 coat. So you’d need 10 gallons for 2 coats if you have a 1000 sq. ft. pool deck.

    Get RadonSeal Deep Penetrating Sealer Here.

    Will the sealer make my concrete pool deck slippery?

    After sealing your concrete pool deck with RadonSeal Deep Penetrating Sealer, it should not be slippery. However, if you’d like to add a non-slip additive, I would recommend using Foundation Armor’s Non Slip additive.

    All the supplies you will need

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    One Get Rid Of Dirt And Debris From The Surface

    The first step in the process involves cleaning the surface of your concrete patio in order to remove all the dirt, dust, and debris that may have collected over time. A stiff brush works well for this task but you may also choose the alternative of spraying the concrete with water to clean it. Keep in mind that if you choose the water cleaning method, you will have to wait for at least 24 hours to allow the surface to dry completely.

    Why Is This The Best Sealer For Pool Decks

    There’s a lot of reasons why I like this sealer so much.

    Here’s the most important one’s:

    • Protects outdoor concrete from freeze/thaw damage
    • Protects exterior concrete from road salt damage
    • Permanent sealer, you don’t have to keep re-sealing every year
    • Doesn’t peel, flake, or wear away
    • Slip-resistant – penetrates into the concrete to seal it
    • It makes the concrete denser and stronger, hardens the surface
    • Waterproofs the concrete – expands deep inside the pores
    • Helps reduce cracking

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    Tips For Sealing Around Salt Water Pools

    Salt water pools are all the rage these days for both residential and commercial installations. Without question salt water is an improvement over chlorine, but even salt can have an impact on sealed decorative concrete finishes over time.

    Once water splashed on the poolside concrete begins to evaporate, salt crystals form and adhere to the sealer surface. At the microscopic level, salt crystals are quite jagged in shape and begin to damage the sealer finish with repeated exposure. The question is what can be done to prevent the damage? Keep in mind that all our recommendations would also apply to chlorinated pools as well, especially the daily maintenance tips.

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