Welcome to the Ultimate Guide on Pool Deck Coatings! Here at Encore Coatings, we know how many pool deck options can be considered for a remodeling project or a newly built pool. You’ve probably come across everything from flagstone to pavers, stamped concrete to exposed pebble finishes, and of course, specialty coatings. We hope this guide will address some of your questions and perhaps educate you on the best option to remediate any current concerns with your pool deck! Check our latest blog on pool deck ideas.
Depending on budget and what type of site, i.e. residential or commercial, most pool decks remain bare concrete after the pool construction is complete (Natural stone and pavers are very expensive and are typically found amongst the more luxurious swimming pools). Eventually, homeowners will usually treat their bare concrete pool deck with sealers, stains, and other “DIY” treatments throughout the years.
Although budget-friendly, these “lite” products usually last a year or two at best, putting the owner in a perpetual maintenance cycle. They are water thin and meant to penetrate the concrete (non-film forming). UV exposure is always the main cause of failure with these products. However, these penetrating products are always better than using ordinary house paint, which is never a good idea for around the pool as it creates a hot, slippery surface and simply doesn’t belong on concrete to begin with.
Other pool decks have concrete treatments installed immediately after the concrete is poured (typically cementitious knock-down toppings). These products are labor-intensive and require a skilled applicator, but offer some advantages including decorative textures and cooling capabilities for your pool.
Although less expensive than natural stone, tiles, and pavers, these products are always more expensive than the aforementioned “lite / DIY” products simply because they require skilled
labor. Additionally, these “knockdown” products often require freshly poured “green” concrete in order to bond and perform correctly.
*Depending on which knockdown system you’re considering, it may be out of the question if your concrete pool deck is more than 28 days old!
All this being said, knockdown coatings have been available to pool owners since the 1960’s and have become a standard when it comes to pool deck toppings. This is because they are relatively affordable and last a long time- *IF they are installed correctly. Many fail within the first year if application protocols are not followed.
COOL! by Encore Coatings is the first product of it’s kind which brings the long term performance of a correctly installed knockdown, but without the headache of a labor intensive installation. COOL! is easily applied as a coating for decks using standard paint tools, making it “DIY-capable” for the everyday homeowner. There is no doubt that COOL! is the best pool deck paint on the market.
Encore Coatings offers an easy to use system that begins with a highly effective cleaner (Triple Crown) for preparing the concrete. Triple Crown encourages the best possible bond between the concrete surface and the coating itself, so you can expect years of performance and longevity.
COOL! is also the best option for pool deck resurfacing for existing knockdown toppings that may need a makeover. This is a great feature, because as mentioned above, traditional paint and stains become hot and sometimes slippery- making them illogical for resurfacing any pool deck. However, homeowners with aged knockdown toppings are often left with no option but to paint or stain it, simply because a new knockdown installation would require a full demolition of the existing knockdown! This is very expensive, messy, and also requires a skilled contractor with grinding equipment and the know-how.
When searching for the best pool deck concrete coatings, you’ll find COOL! Is the most dynamic and offer the most value for the money. It does a great job on the following surfaces:
COOL! is a very unique product that has many features and benefits that aren’t found elsewhere in the industry. Compared to other pool deck products that are DIY- capable, COOL! is unmatched in the following:
COOL! is applied with three simple steps:
These are very brief application instructions, PLEASE watch this video below to educate and prepare yourself before beginning application. You’ll be glad you did!
Remember, ordinary paints never belong on a pool deck. Therefore, any repainting or patching should be carried out with the COOL! product itself.
Did you know COOL! can be also applied in decorative textures such as a “knockdown” finish and more? Additionally, due to unlimited color selection, COOL! is the most dynamic pool deck paint available when it comes to custom color combinations.
Painting a pool deck with cool paint can reduce heat buildup from the sun and provide a non-slip surface around your pool. However, choosing the appropriate product is key, for ordinary paints can make the surface even hotter. COOL! pool deck coating can be used to resurface concrete, filling in cracks up to 1/8”, while offering a cooler surface. The COOL! pool deck bundle includes everything you’ll need for the entire project.
It costs around $1-$1.60 per square foot to paint a pool deck. This includes all materials necessary to complete the job, including surface cleaner (for prep), cool deck coating, paint (to tint and activate the COOL! bucket), and clear sealer. Considering the superior service life of COOL!, it is the most affordable paint for your pool deck. The best part? It comes with a lifetime warranty for as long as you own your home.
Before painting a pool deck, you will want to first clean the deck’s surface. A concrete cleaner, such as Triple Crown, provides an easy and instant solution. Wait at least 24 hours after cleaning your concrete to let it dry before applying any pool deck paint or coatings.
The best paint for a concrete pool deck is actually not a paint at all. Instead of pool deck paint, use a cool concrete pool deck coating. COOL! deck coating lasts longer and reduces heat much better when compared to ordinary paint. It results in a cool pool deck with a durable, non-slip surface in any color you want!
The best way to make your concrete paint for cool deck non-slip is to use a professional pool deck coating. Coatings like COOL! are specifically engineered with the swimming pool environment in mind. COOL! Is safe and non-slip, but feels great on bare feet also.
While we can’t speak for all non-slip concrete paints, our COOL! pool deck coating is not only slip-resistant (and ADA compliant), but abrasion resistant and durable. COOL! Can take abuse from sliding pool furniture, dogs, and spilled beverages at the BBQ. There is no better balance between comfort and safety.
If you are looking to add traction to your concrete, a non-slip concrete paint is an easy fix. However, they are not always the most logical solution for pool decks. A concrete coating such as COOL! can be applied over bare concrete or existing Kool decks and other cement-based pool deck coatings to provide more traction and a comfortable cooling feature.
Painting a concrete pool deck is a great way to improve the look of your pool deck, but only if you choose the appropriate product. COOL! From Encore Coatings is an easy-to-use paint for pool deck. The application typically takes 2 days to complete, and you have an unlimited choice of colors to express your style. Buy COOL! concrete pool deck coating online or at a store near you.
When painting a cool deck, you can use coatings such as COOL! to resurface the existing, textured topping. Ordinary paints or stains will become hot afterwards, however Encore Coatings’ Cool deck coating stays cool, provides a non-slip texture, and can be tinted to any color of your choosing.
The best cool deck paints such as Encore Coatings COOL! use thermodynamics to their advantage by transferring heat into the soil below the pool deck. Other pool deck paints try to reflect heat away from pool decks which is not always effective. The COOL! technology can reduce heat buildup by up to 38%.
COOL! will, in fact, prevent moisture intrusion from the top side, but will allow the concrete to breathe from underneath, which is important.
Many customers refer to knockdown coatings as “Cool Decks,” simply because the product “KOOL Deck” has been around for so long and is the epitome of a knockdown finish. Yes, COOL! is the best option for resurfacing these old knockdowns without sacrificing any cooling capabilities.
Yes, but proper inspection should be done to ensure the existing paint is still well-adhered to the concrete below. Remember, COOL! is only as good as the surface it’s applied to, therefore loose or compromised material should be removed during the cleaning phase. This is “Coatings 101”!
Yes, COOL! can be applied to green or aged concrete.
As mentioned previously, cementitious knockdown toppings hit the scene in the 1960’s and was primarily known as “KoolDeck.” Since then, many other cementitious knockdown systems have come and gone, and many are still around! Although they can be found under many different trade names and each claim to have their own advantages, one thing remains the same: A cementitious formula that is labor intensive to install. Period. COOL! Is the first product of its kind to employ a “hybrid” technology that performs as well as cementitious acrylics, with the ease of application that comes with ordinary paint!
COOL! is a one of a kind product that was designed with user experience and satisfaction in mind. The pool deck is a brutal and demanding environment for any cooldeck coating; a peculiar application that requires many features from the coating itself, including:
Any product being considered for a pool deck needs to meet most, if not all of these requirements. If not, it will somehow disappoint you down the road. If you have more questions, we’re eager to help you here at Encore Coatings. Give us a call today and a dedicated representative will be happy to help you!
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