Cool Decking for Pool Decks in Orange County

Step out of the pool on a July afternoon and plain concrete can be hot enough to make you hop. Cool decking is how most Orange County pool decks deal with that. Here’s what it is, what it does well, where it falls short, and what to ask before you resurface.

What cool decking is

Cool decking is a thin cement-based overlay, troweled or sprayed over concrete and finished with a light, lacy texture. “Kool Deck” is the best-known brand name, and a lot of people use it for the whole category. It goes on new concrete, or over an existing pool deck as long as the slab underneath is sound.

Why it stays cooler

Two things do the work. The light color reflects sunlight instead of soaking it up, and the texture leaves less solid surface touching your feet. It won’t feel like grass, but it’s a lot more comfortable than bare concrete or dark pavers in full sun.

Picking a color

The lighter the color, the cooler the deck. Whites, light tans and light grays stay the most comfortable. Darker colors can look good next to some homes, but they run warmer. Look at samples outside in the sun before you choose, and keep in mind the color will sit next to your coping, tile and house for years.

Slip resistance

A pool deck is wet most of the summer. The texture of cool decking gives bare feet more grip than smooth concrete, and a slip-resistant additive can go into the topcoat where the splash is heaviest. Reseal it on schedule and it keeps that grip longer.

The trade-offs

• Prep and application matter more than the product. Over cracked or poorly prepared concrete, cool decking cracks and peels. We fix the concrete first.
• It isn’t as tough as pavers. Heavy furniture dragged across it or a hard hit can chip it. It can be repaired, but a patch may show.
• It needs upkeep. Clean it regularly and reseal it every few years, more often on a deck that gets full sun and a lot of pool chemicals.

Resurface the old deck or start over?

If the concrete under your pool deck is sound, cool decking can go right over it, and that usually costs far less than tearing it out and repouring. If the slab is heaving, badly cracked or draining toward the house, we’ll tell you, because a new surface on a bad slab won’t last. It’s the same rule we use on every job: we don’t put new work on top of an old problem.

Cool decking from Crank

Crank has worked on Orange County decks from the same Costa Mesa building since 1945. We’ll look at your pool deck, tell you what it needs and why, and give you a free written estimate. See concrete resurfacing for pool decks, patios and walkways, or the deck coating systems we install.