If you’ve ever owned a pool, you know how important maintenance is. To the joy of recreation and entertainment is added the duty of cleaning the water, servicing the pumps, and cleaning the pool deck. Fortunately, there are many ways to keep up with everyday life, but what about more long-term maintenance? One of the most important factors contributing to the beauty and safety of a pool is its environment, namely the pool deck, so it’s important to know the best maintenance practices to keep your pool area looking modern, fresh, and not out of date. Pool deck maintenance is important for the same reasons as sidewalks, patios, and other concrete surfaces: durability, appeal, and safety. Let’s take a look at the key ways you can care for your pool deck to extend its life, improve its visual appeal, and most importantly, keep your family and friends safe.
Clean Your Pool Deck Using a Pressure Wash
One of the obvious and simple, yet effective ways to extend the life of your pool deck is to keep it clean. Dirt, dust, and other debris that accumulates on the surface of the pool deck is an inevitable phenomenon. Additionally, damp environments can lead to algae and mold growth, making surfaces not only unattractive but also slippery and dangerous. Pressure washing is the easiest and most effective way to remove dirt, mold, and algae and is a relatively simple and inexpensive way to restore the appeal of a pool deck. A car wash is also a viable option and can be part of your annual or semi-annual maintenance plan.
To Protect A Concrete Around Pool Use A Sealant
Use a sealant to protect the concrete. While the use of a sealer is beneficial for all concrete surfaces, it is especially important for pool decks as they are more exposed to water and other chemical elements. Unprotected concrete is subject to contamination, surface damage, and physical changes. Nature can cause stains through moss, dust, leaves, or deeply embedded dirt. Regardless of the source of the stains, these unsightly stains have a significant impact on the appearance of your pool deck, so it’s important to protect it properly.
Repair Your Existing Cracks
Another key problem is when one or more areas of the pool deck’s concrete surface become damaged or separated. Freeze-thaw cycles cause and accelerate the decomposition of the pool deck surface, resulting in small cracks. Moisture is absorbed by concrete, and upon cooling it freezes and expands, destroying the porous walls of the concrete surface. When this damage occurs, the area exposed to future damage increases. In other words, the effects of freeze-thaw cycles get exponentially worse every year. Applying a concrete sealer goes hand-in-hand with pressure washing and should be part of your annual maintenance plan, whether you’re doing the project yourself or hiring a contractor to perform effective pool deck restoration work. Not only does this immediately improve the pool deck’s aesthetics, but it also helps protect and extend the life of the concrete by controlling water ingress and preventing damage. You can take advantage of the opportunity to take a sealant, with the help of which properties you can eliminate cracks and other damages, because during a certain period of operation and various, including difficult natural conditions, the surface of the pool wears out, small cracks can form on it. The same applies to other concrete surfaces. Cracks occur for a variety of reasons, and even small cracks can cause discomfort while relaxing, this leads to further cracking of the concrete, which in turn can cause a violation of the integrity of the pool.
There are also some reasons to consider rubber coating for concrete pool decks when you detect, for example, small cracks, because rubber pool deck is a way more lasting choice for affordable price. Most importantly, early repair of cracks can significantly affect the durability of concrete. Cracks in concrete are determined using special tools. Later, they are sanded to smooth the edges and filled with silicone mass to close them. After the base of the sealant hardens, moisture from rain and snow cannot penetrate the cracks under the concrete slab. The sealant is UV resistant and prevents any cracking common to other pool deck materials.
Level Any Sinking Concrete
Thorough cleaning, leveling, sealing, and regular pool deck maintenance can prevent further damage. A gap of 2-3 inches is not uncommon and can cause damage. Slippery wet surfaces, diving boards, ladders, arches, and the pool itself – fall hazards around the pool are additional hazards and can lead to tragedy if not taken care of. There are several ways to eliminate the risk of puddles, including surface leveling, demolition and replacement, and sealing. Extensive damage may require demolition and replacement, but repair before replacement often saves time and money and extends the life of the concrete. Leveling the surface is a real possibility to make your pool deck more durable and prevent the appearance of cracks or mechanical damage, as well as puddles.
How Often Should You Clean A Concrete Pool Deck?
Most pool decks should be cleaned on average every two years. They require painstaking cleaning to remove traces of mold, moss, and algae. Pool decks should be cleaned as needed to ensure a safe surface for your feet and a pleasant appearance. While this is a typical schedule for many properties, you may need to clean your pool deck more often for a variety of key reasons. For example, if your home is near a field, the edge of your pool may be covered in dust and other irritants every summer. Dust and other deposits accumulate on the surface, so they need to be cleaned more often than usual. Pools with heavy traffic usually require more frequent cleaning. Visitors bring a lot of dirt into the pool, so it should be cleaned once a year or once every six months. Regular cleaning of the pool deck keeps it in perfect condition and creates a pleasant atmosphere for you and your visitors. But aesthetic improvements are not the only reason for regular cleaning of the pool deck surface! One of the key reasons to keep your pool deck clean is because the wind blows dust, dirt, leaves, branches, and other debris into the pool. Not only will this make for an unpleasant swimming experience, but all the dirt will reduce the life of your pool’s filters and pumps. Additional maintenance will need to be performed more often. Mold, algae, and other dirt tend to stick to your feet. Pool edges are dangerous if they are wet or if cracks and other damage are not repaired. Therefore, the pool deck must be as clean, smooth, and free of algae and other deposits as possible. Mold and dust are uncomfortable for people with allergies and other diseases. Regular cleaning of the pool deck also eliminates unpleasant odors.