In our previous post, we talked about some of the improvements you can make to your pool deck. But let’s take that a little bit further and show you more tips on how you can improve your swimming pool deck this year.
You can go the total overhaul route and completely remove your deck. Replace the material you used to either concrete, ceramic, wooden or natural stone. This will be expensive but it will give you a lot of room for improvement.
But what if you do not have the budget for such a big project? How can you do this home renovation project without breaking the bank?
There are two ways to improve swimming pool decks without replacing the whole thing.
Work on the texture and color of the deck
Unless the original material is damaged or destroyed beyond repair, you do not have to replace the whole swimming pool deck. You can make changes like adding more texture or color.
Here are some tips based on the original material used.
Concrete pool deck
As one of the most popular materials to be used on decks, this has a lot of room for improvement. But one of the simplest that you can do is to put spray-on concrete coating. You can choose the color, texture or finish. This is a great way to give your swimming pool a new look without having to spend a lot of money. There are also options that will allow you to change the deck to resemble tiles or bricks.
Wooden pool deck
Wood is a great material to use because of the warmth that it brings to the outdoors. But it is also quite expensive to maintain. You need to make sure it is treated every now and then to ensure that it will not rot or decay. But apart from that, you can also add elements around the pool that are also made of wood. Like planters, benches, or even wooden storage. It will add texture to the overall landscape around the pool.
Natural stone pool deck
This material is one of the most expensive that you can use. It is naturally beautiful in terms of stone design. It is usually not advisable to touch the color of the stone – lest you destroy its natural beauty. However, you can make it shine. Opt to apply polish or a special finish that will not just make the stone’s beauty come out – but also to protect it from the constant splashing of the water.
Tile pool deck
If you used tiles on your swimming pool deck, you can opt to change just a portion of it – and not the whole thing. It will not be as expensive as replacing everything but it will still help improve the look of your swimming pool. Maybe just change the edges to add style. There are also deck tiles that can be placed on top of the existing ones – so you can make use of some layering.
Paver pool deck
This is usually one of the popular upgrades that swimming pool owners opt for. It is one of the most inexpensive upgrades that will still make your pool look better. Pavers can go as thin as 2 inches or thick as 4 inches. These can be laid on top of a concrete sub-deck. It is also very durable so there will be no need to replace it in the near future.
Exposed aggregate pool deck
This is also common among pool decks. This improvement uses pea-sized gravel aggregate and adds it in the mix that is spread on top of concrete. The whole thing is cured after being spread – usually with a retardant. This allows ⅛ inch of cream to be sprayed off the top – making the small stones appear beneath the surface.
Stampcrete pool deck
If you want to use this, you need to apply a new layer of concrete. After pouring, templates as applied to create patterns and designs. This is done in a stamp-like method. So you can apply colored concrete and then choose the pattern that you like. You can make any concrete look like bricks, tiles, or natural stones.
Work on resurfacing the pool deck
Apart from the color and texture of the swimming pool deck, you can also work on resurfacing it. This will help you create a new look without having to touch the whole material used on the deck. When done properly, this should not cost you a lot of money.
There are three ways for you to do this.
Paint
This is one of the easiest ways for you to do a makeover on your pool. You simply pressure wash the surface and use a cleaner to make sure that any grease or oil is removed. If there are cracks, you have to apply a patch and let it dry. Then you can apply the coating of paint. You can protect the color from staining or salt degradation by applying a sealer.
Stain
Some people want to protect their swimming pool decks from staining but you can also use it to give your pool a new look. It is an alternative to painting. It will fade over time but it is known to bond better to the material of the deck. This also comes in various colors so it should give you a lot of choices. Like painting, you also have to make sure the surface is clean and crack-free. To stain it, use a tank sprayer. You can also roll it on but the sprayer provides better results.
Spray-on coat
Finally, you can also use spray-on concrete coatings. This will result in high spots of the mixture on the surface that will be leveled with a trowel. There are decorative spray-on coats that you can use. Obviously, you have to clean the surface and take care of the cracks before spraying. Once spraying is done, you should also place a colored sealer on top. This protects the deck from moisture. To create patterns, you can tape portions of the deck and they spray over it.
As you can see, there are many ways to give your swimming pool deck an upgrade without spending too much. Just make sure you consider all your options and use high-quality materials. This way, you do not have to do this home improvement for a couple of years.
