The decking of your pool completes the style and look of your swimming area. No doubt, a pool in your backyard is always a good sight and a great spot to hang out with friends and family. But, your pool deck is where all the activities around swimming happen too.
Meaning that your pool deck should not just be attractive, it should also be reliable, safe, and structurally solid. However, a pool deck can begin to lose some of its functionality over time, necessitating resurfacing.
In this blog post, we will discuss what pool resurfacing is, what resurfacing options you have, how to resurface your pool, and what it might cost you.
What Is Pool Deck Resurfacing?
Pool deck resurfacing is the process of repairing damaged pool decks or altering their appearance for better aesthetics around your pool, increased grip, better strength, and sometimes a larger relaxation space in your swimming area.
It should be noted that a pool deck refers to the wider area around your pool and should be distinguished from a pool coping which is limited to some inches around the pool.
Resurfacing is an easy and cost-effective way to upgrade the appearance of your swimming area. When considering a pool deck resurfacing project, you should keep the following factors in mind:
Materials
Depending on what is most important to you, you will have to choose a specific material for your pool deck resurfacing. For example, if you're doing a concrete pool deck resurfacing, you have a choice between materials like polymers, epoxy, and fiberglass.
Theme
Another important thing to consider is the overall theme of your swimming area. If you have a specific theme already, any resurfacing project must necessarily follow the already established theme. And if you're bored of the old look, you can do a total renovation of your swimming area with a different theme.
Professional Services/DIY
Resurfacing can either be done by a professional pool building and renovation service or you can choose to do it yourself. If the damage to your current pool deck is minimal then you can DIY. The important thing is to ensure that you have the necessary materials and you comply with all necessary safety measures.
Style and Design
The flexibility of your pool deck to be redesigned or restructured for resurfacing is an important consideration as well. If the design of your pool deck does not fit into a certain style from scratch, it would be difficult to resurface it into that style.
Timing
You should always schedule your resurfacing projects to fit into off-swimming seasons. You want to make sure your pool is ready for summer. Your resurfacing project should not interfere with your ability to enjoy your pool.
Popular Resurfacing Options for Pool Decks
Resurfacing concrete pool deck can be done in any of the following ways:
Stamped Overlays
Stamped concrete overlays can be used to resurface a pool deck. They are made of polymer-modified cement-based materials. They are strong and can be applied in relatively thin coatings.
Painting and Epoxy Coating
This is a relatively cheaper way of resurfacing your pool deck. It involves covering your pool deck with a layer of concrete paint or epoxy sealer to cover up the cracks. The main disadvantage of this is that it might not last for a long time and you may not have the option of choosing designs.
Exposed Aggregate Pool Decks Resurfacing
Exposed aggregate pool decks can become painful paths to walk over time. Fortunately, they can be resurfaced using specially prepared pool deck coatings to give them a finer finish.
Pool Deck Knockdown Coatings
A pool deck is a type of textured topping that gives a stucco-like finish and can last for a very long time. This deck finishing is however not immune to wear and can be resurfaced using special coatings.
How to Resurface a Pool Deck?
Resurfacing a pool deck is a fairly easy task as long as you already have an idea of what you want to achieve from the available options. Following the steps discussed below will make resurfacing your pool deck a lot easier.
1. Schedule an Inspection
The first step in starting a deck resurfacing project is to schedule an inspection with a trusted service. A close observation of the pool area will allow them to have a clearer picture of what needs to be done. If it is impossible to have the service come over, you can consider an online consultation as an alternative. The important thing is that they get to see what needs to be done.
2. Discuss Designs and Options
Once the inspection is done, you can discuss what style options you have based on the current structure of your pool deck and the extent of the damage. You should also try to get a picture of the pros and cons of each option that you are offered and then make an informed decision.
3. Select Materials
Overlay materials are one of the important things that can cause a resurfaced deck to get damaged easily. Hence, you must choose materials that are not only beautiful but also durable enough to withstand pressure.
4. Calculate Cost
After inspection and proper consultation, your pool service will most likely offer you a quote that will show you how much the materials for your resurfacing would cost and the cost of labor as well.
5. Prepare and Repair
The next step is to prepare the area for resurfacing, Etch, grind, or shot blast the concrete surface to prepare it for the project. If your deck is not properly prepared, there is a likelihood that the cracks that necessitated the resurfacing in the first place will be back in no time at the exact same spot.
6. Clean and Prime
As an extension of the surface preparation, there should be a pressure wash of the surface to be worked on and then left to dry.
7. Mix Products
Mix the materials to be used for resurfacing, following the strictest instructions. You cannot manage materials and expect to achieve the same results. Use the desired quantities and buy the best products available in the market.
8. Apply Overlay
The next thing is to apply the overlay that you have already prepared as desired. The method of application will depend on the kind of material that you are using.
9. Cure and Seal
Apply a cure and seal product to prevent moisture from leaving the concrete. Once this is done bar any movements around the resurfaced deck to prevent damage and make sure that it is left to set for at least seven days.
How Much Does It Cost to Resurface a Pool Deck?
The costs of resurfacing a pool deck will vary depending on factors such as the materials used, the style and design of the pool deck, and the time allotted for the project. On average, however, pool deck resurfacing can cost between $6 - $10 per square foot.
This however will only cover minimal designs and adjustments. If you would prefer an installation of something more unique or customized around your pool, then you should be prepared to pay between $6 to $10.
Customers who prefer to have their designs uniquely made with additional features and premium materials will have to pay even more for this type of resurfacing costing about $10 to $15.
What will be considered a premium service will differ from vendor to vendor but anything that requires hand-staining, custom scoring, stone patterning, etc will fall into this category.
Additionally, you will need to factor in the costs of maintenance and the costs of materials that will be used in the resurfacing to get a clearer picture of what the entire project will cost.
BMWemple Pools - The Most Trusted Pool Builder and Maintenance in Oviedo, FL
Pool resurfacing projects are necessary from time to time to maintain a great ambiance around your pool area and to keep swimmers well-relaxed and safe from injuries. However, sometimes these projects make pool owners ramp up unnecessary costs for pool deck resurfacing over and over again.
The way a pool deck is resurfaced will determine how long it would last. Sometimes, a pool deck would need to be resurfaced every six months as the cracks will keep coming up.
A viable solution to this is to engage the services of a trusted and reliable pool builder such as BMWemple Pools. BMWemple Pools is an industry leader that has over the years developed unique techniques for concrete pool resurfacing that will not only stand the test of time, but will also make your swimming pool area as beautiful as possible.