If you have a pool deck then it’s almost certain that you’ve gotten a lot of use out of it. It’s easy to lose sight of the damage your deck’s accrued over years of fun and adventure. Thankfully, resurfacing can repair damage and even make your deck look better than it did on day one. And you’re about to discover that the process can be easier and more affordable than you’d ever expect.
When it becomes time to update areas of your pool it can be the ideal opportunity to add extra features to update the space. Adding extras like a hot tub, fire pit or changing the color of your pool can revitilize your outdoor space. Viking Capital can help finance any of these projects, just get in touch with us and we can do a free consultation to discuss your options.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Material for Your Pool Deck
There are several options available for deck resurfacing. And they can feel a little overwhelming at first. But you can narrow things down by breaking the project up into a few individual elements. Think about the following factors when considering how you want to resurface your deck.
Square Footage of the Area to be Covered
The size of your project is going to have a heavy influence on both cost and timeframe.
A partial resurfacing is the ideal solution for anyone who wants to get the job done as quickly and inexpensively as possible. However, that’s not always an option. Minor cracks or discoloration can typically be taken care of with partial resurfacing. At the same time, care will need to be taken to ensure the resurfaced area matches its surroundings.
However, full resurfacing can offer consistent repair and maintenance for the structure as a whole. The upfront cost is higher than a partial resurfacing. But it’s important to keep in mind that full resurfacing can also help prevent the need for continual partial resurfacing projects. On top of that, you can easily calculate monthly payments through Viking Capital to fund the renovation. This makes it easier to take care of the job in the most efficient way possible right from the start.
Variety of Colors Available
Resurfacing is a great way to consider the role of color in your setup. Your deck is, in many ways, a frame for your pool. It helps set the mood and theme. If you’ve gone with pool options that work with color such as a black bottom pool then you can often enhance it with your deck’s colors. Resurfacing can let your deck catch up with your pool’s color scheme.
Durability and Maintenance Requirements
Durability and maintenance are also important points to consider. Resurfacing keeps your pool deck healthy. But at the same time, the impact of various factors can change how events play out. For example, a partial resurfacing can weather differently than the surroundings. This might lead to a greater need for maintenance in the future. However, this isn’t a firm inevitability. Rather, it’s something that should be considered, planned for, and discussed before the resurfacing.
Ability to Withstand Heavy Foot Traffic and Weathering Conditions
Resurfacing gives you the chance to add new protective features that can protect against the environment. For example, if you’re in an area with heavy sun exposure then you might want to go with a cool deck coating to protect against UV-related discoloration.
Types of Pool Deck Resurfacing
The first thing to consider when talking about pool deck renovation is the deck’s material. The material your pool deck is made from determines both the type of long-term damage it might sustain and how to recover from it. There are a lot of options for building materials, but wood and concrete are the most popular. It’s also easy to extrapolate from them into inorganic and organic building materials. Various materials will usually share traits based on that larger categorization. For example, concrete and limestone are often similar when it comes to potential wear and tear.
For Concrete
Concrete decks are more resistant to damage from your feet or furniture. But at the same time, that sturdiness also works against it. Concrete weighs so much that it can suffer damage if the underlying foundation shifts. This often happens over time for a variety of reasons. Burrowing animals can displace enough soil to change your deck’s balance, water tables can shift, and weather will always be able to do more than you suspect. Meanwhile, resurfacing for concrete tends to focus on coatings or a concrete overlay.
For Wooden Decks
Wooden decks tend to have more intrinsic flexibility than concrete. But their organic nature also means that they’re more susceptible to environmental damage. As such resurfacing tends to focus on protecting the deck from those elements. This includes using sealants and paints that can protect the wood from both solar damage and moisture. Sanding can usually take care of any existing damage to maintain a uniformly healthy look.
Installation Process
The installation process begins, essentially, right here. As you read this you’re planning, considering, and thinking out the process of resurfacing. This is the planning phase where you consider what you want from the resurfacing process. Next, the physical work will begin by prepping your deck area. This involves clearing debris and minor work like filling cracks. Following that comes the actual resurfacing. This part will vary depending on the exact type of resurfacing being done. But the typical duration is between two to five days.
The resurfacing is followed by a period where it’s allowed to settle. Again, different resurfacing materials will have different timeframes. But you can generally expect this to last from between a couple of days to a week. Finally, any additional flourishes will be completed. This typically involves sealing surfaces. But it might also involve decorative or secondary elements.
You should expect the process to take a week or two in total. But keep in mind that this is when things are going smoothly.
Bad weather or the typical interruptions that seep into people’s lives can add additional speed bumps.
Maintenance and Longevity
You shouldn’t need to repeat this process very often but different situations will change your timeframe. As a rule of thumb, resurfacing is generally only needed every decade or so. But there are several factors which influence how often it should be done.
Materials are one of the most important factors. It’s a good idea to plan on resurfacing both concrete and wooden decks once per decade. But wood can generally go a little longer than concrete. You might be able to wait as long as two decades with a wooden pool deck if it’s properly prepared and cared for. While the maximum for concrete is about fifteen years.
However, those timeframes are dependent on proper care. There are a few pointers that apply to all types of material. In particular, it’s important to do regular inspections of your deck. No matter what material the deck is made of there’s going to be potential for damage. And the earlier you catch that damage the easier it’ll be to fix.
Cracks are the most common form of damage seen in concrete decks. As previously mentioned, the earth underneath your deck can shift around for various reasons. This process can result in cracks appearing without warning. When shifting surfaces cause cracks they can also escalate at a rapid pace. The reason your concrete deck is architecturally sound comes down to weight distribution. Shifting ground, and cracks in the concrete, lower that stability. The more it happens the faster damage will accrue. Cracks also offer space for organic contaminants to grow and do their own damage.
Wooden decks, constructed from organic rather than inorganic material, face the same issues as other organic materials. This includes issues like water damage, mold, rot, and general decay. On top of that wood is especially susceptible to discoloration from the sun. You likely see the potential problems given that a pool is by nature an environment filled with water and sunlight. However, remember how long wooden decks can go without any major resurfacing.
Wood is incredibly durable if it’s properly cared for. The real key is to just keep up with inspections and maintenance. Use stain or paint that can block UV rays. Deal with standing water and modify the location as needed to stop it from happening too often. And make sure to fully deal with mold and mildew. Improperly cleaned spots can grow back from even a small amount of residue.
Conclusion
Wear and tear are an inevitability that impacts most elements of your home. But as you’ve seen, that doesn’t mean you’re powerless. Keeping your pool deck looking great is just a matter of being attentive and having a resurfacing plan.
