Pool Decks, Perfect Decoratives

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Classic Texture: Product Review

As you have gathered, pool deck materials, though tough, still require a protective over lay for longevity and surface safety. Remember how brick and tile surface systems retain heat after sun exposure? Recall how pool deck materials when wet can lose their traction? Your recollections may provide you with off and funny moments of tip-toeing and skidding; but try to imagine a care- free time lounging by the pool and comfortably walking and tanning under the sun, admiring the deck and how seamlessly it blended in with the landscape. If you desire to relive those moments in the comforts of your home, you have to remember the name that made it all possible—Sundeck Classic Texture.

 Description and Use

Sundeck classic texture is a two-component sprayed and knock down cement application capable of obtaining excellent adhesion to dry, properly prepared concrete.

With 17 standard colors customizable to answer customer specifications, and flexibility for mixing and matching varied color effects and pattern, you have design options next to boundless.

The material releases soils easily providing ease in cleaning and has top- notch resistance from heavy duty detergent solutions to paint thinners and other chemicals.

Sundeck Classic Texture was developed as a pool deck concrete resurfacing product due to its none skid properties and coolness under hot climate conditions.

Limitations

·         Surface must be mechanically prepared and dry.

·         Concrete surface to be coated needs to be structurally sound.

·         Do not install over soft surfaces such as vinyl or any rubberized coating.

·         Do not install over metal or wood.

·         Do not install if rain or cold weather is forecasted.

·         Blisters and failure of coating system can occur if surface area has high levels of vapor transmission or alkalinity. Check for these factors with your contractor prior to installation.

Maintenance

·         Power wash or rinse thoroughly on a regular basis or as needed.

·         A mild solution of muriatic acid can be used for tougher stains.

·         Touch up and perform all minor repairs as needed with touch up kits provide by Sundeck during installation

·         Re- coloring of coating can be done to refresh the appearance and promote longevity.

Contact your Sundeck dealer for further assistance.

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Pool Deck Maintenance

Your diligence and careful choice of materials, and contractor, have all paid off and you are now enjoying the pool of your dreams. You and your family together with your friends are soaking in the pleasures of a safe and inviting home attraction and you have no other wish but to sustain the fun for years to come. Though it is a given that well- built pool and deck systems are meant to weather constant use, traffic and environmental conditions, proper maintenance is as important a factor in preserving its aesthetic and functional state for years on end.

Below is a feature of the most used pool deck materials to give you tips on how to keep them ready for the dive in.

Wood Pool Decks

Water and weather would naturally cause the wood to deteriorate. To prevent wood disintegration, routine cleaning is a must. Sweeping puddles, removing leaves and dirt of the deck will prevent moisture build up and help the wood maintain its flexibility during temperature changes. Use a cleaner specially designed for wood decks. Spray off the cleaner with a pressure washer to remove deep-seated dirt and grime in between boards. Be careful not to use a heavy pressure washer; a light pressure washer should work just fine.

Every year, check the deck’s condition. If weak and rotten spots are found, replace them immediately with new boards.

Pavers, Bricks and Tiles

Of similar installation procedure and maintenance, these materials are very dense and non-porous that they can resist the growth of mildew and algae. As good as they are on their own, natural factors can still play a significant role to their discoloration and displacement.

Typically, sweeping and routine rinsing are the most cost- effective ways of maintaining these materials, but regular rinsing can also cause joint in-fills to weaken. Installing a protective surface sealer after the first installation will surely reduce joint displacements and releveling to up to 2- 3 years.

Concrete Pool Decks

Requiring lesser maintenance of all pool deck materials, concrete only needs occasional cleaning as its upkeep. But like any other surface systems, it is still susceptible to wear due to weather, traffic and pool chemicals. Ideally, acrylic sealers should be applied every three to four years after its first installation to keep it in top-notch condition.

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Choosing the Best Contractor

Details, Details, Details

The list should be more manageable at this point. The contractors have given you their respective estimates and design options. Now, it may just be a matter of deciding which of the plans laid out is reasonably priced and who of the contractors exuded the most credibility. Remember the questions you can post during a contractor’s site visit? Here are the reasons why you should ask them:

·         Who will be supervising the job?Most likely, while the job is in progress, you will have questions that would need tobe addressed. You will have suggestions and changes during the process and you will need to be advised by other than the workers to get the job done right.

·         Do you have references we can check with? Surely they will give you the contact numbers of their happiest customers, but then again, it wouldn’t hurt to check. Ask if there were any add-ons or change- orders that weren’t part of the contract.

·         Besides a well- built pool and deck, what other considerations should I check?Details may vary but the best contractor should generally have things thought ahead:

o   Excess water from the yard should never puddle up anywhere near the pool area.

o   Pool equipment such as pumps should never be too noisy.

o   Steps, planters and other elevation changes should be in the right places.

o   All the necessary pipes underground are set before the deck is done.

o   Security and safety measures should be placed.

Whoever wins your trust and confidence in giving you as much detail as possible, that, and whatever your gut tells you, is your best bet.

The Cheaper the Better?

We may have heard this more than we would care to count, but how many times have we actually heeded this advice? The best value is not always the cheapest. Pick the lowest price and you may, if you are lucky, end up with a pool with the barest minimums required, if not, even much less.

If there are occasions when not cutting corners is the only way to get a better deal, this one is it. A contractor who knows all the corners to cut is definitely not your guy.   

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How to Narrow the Search for a Contractor

  The previous articles would have at least given you the basics about pool decks-- its layout, materials, and safety precautions. Let’s say that I have turned on the paranoid in you, and yes, you are convinced that your current pool deck is not safe enough, or if you don’t have a pool just yet and would want a pool deck with the exact configurations I have described-- well then, great! You know what to do but the only problem is you don’t know how to do it. But no worries, here’s where a contractor comes in.

Narrowing the List

Thumbing through the yellow pages is easy enough. Choosing who to call would prove to be a challenge. You’ll see companies advertising how “good” and “experienced” they are. With a list of firms in front of us all claiming to be the best, we, consumers, tend to be more skeptical than convinced.

A good way to weed out the list is to consult with your friends, relatives and coworkers. Have any of them gotten a pool built before? Did they have a positive experience? Would they recommend the same contractor or would they vouch for someone else?

Your social network would at least give you 2-4 positive recommendations. Call these contractors to have a look at your yard and provide an estimate for the pool deck. After these recommendations, do a little more research on some of the remaining companies on the yellow pages. Half a dozen references would be ideal.

Check Contractor’s License

All contractors are issued licenses from the Contractors State License Board. Licenses are issued in numerical order. Meaning, the lower the license number the longer it has been around. Make sure to check when the license was issued, if the license is still active and able to contract, who the owners are and the other members of the firm.

Ask Questions

After checking with the Contractors State License Board, you may have gotten rid of some shady contractors off your list. Once the other legit contractors are already at your residence doing their estimates, ask them questions like:

·         Who will be supervising the job?

·         Do you have references we can check with?

·         Besides a well- built pool and deck, what other considerations should I check?

Remember that the more details they give you, the better.

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Pool Deck Enhancements

A pool and its surrounding area are one of the home’s best attractions. This holds more truth for commercially owned establishments like condominiums and hotels. Having a pool in the home or in your business is already a big plus, having one that’s comfortable and inviting will definitely set the difference.

Here are some useful techniques to enhance the pool deck and give it that additional edge:

Decorative Plants

Strategically placing various foliage can improve the frame of the pool deck and give it a softer and greener look. Plants add more interest and provide a more soothing effect to the hardscape.

Aside from giving depth and adding more dimension to the pool area, plants can also serve a practical use. They can double as “green screens” to hide security fences, cables, wires or anything that needs covering. Furthermore, vine- covered trellises and ornamental grasses can be situated to act as green walls for added security and privacy.

The Magic of Lights

A lover’s moon as they would call it is enough to lighten the mood and give any surrounding that romantic and inviting atmosphere. As the moon is not always there to provide us its magic, uplighting on trees, fences or on any natural or man- made elements can share the same effect. The right shade and the right amount of light along a pathway, or a fiber- optic lighting outlining the pool, will definitely do your pool deck wonders. 

Take it Outside

Give the expression "extension of your living space” a more literal sense and apply it to your pool deck and see how fun things can get. An outdoor mini-bar with cocktail tables and high chairs is one idea to start things off. Get inspiration from your indoor furnishings and shape these ideas for outdoor use. A game zone to play your kinect with will surely be a hit.

Play it by Ear

Adding fountains and waterfalls or any other water feature not only adds to the architectural beauty of the pool area but gives it a more natural feel through the sound they create. Muffle the sound of nearby traffic with the soothing sound of running water.