Surfacing or resurfacing options for a cooler pool deck.

Using a coating on concrete pool deck walking surfaces adds comfort, protects bare feet from high temperatures, and may help to reduce slip and fall hazards.

This article describes some of the types of surfaces that can be used to cover the concrete deck around a swimming pool or hot tub area. The purpose of these surfaces is to make it comfortable enough to walk on with bare feet when the sun is out.

This article also describes the types, care, safety, and pros & cons of various pool cool decking surfaces. We also discuss possible climate restrictions and repair options for concrete walking surfaces around swimming pools.

The page top photo shows a 1998 Surprise, AZ home with cool decking around the swimming pool.

What is a Cool Deck?

Swimming pools are surrounded by "decking", the surface upon which people walk and lounge around a swimming pool. There are many types of surfaces out of which this decking is made.

These include poured concrete, pavers, tile, wood, rubber coatings, and exposed aggregate.

Photo: The cool pool deck shown here was installed by Sundek of Austin, cited below.

[Click to enlarge any image]

A very common pool deck surface is basic concrete that surrounds the pool. Concrete is popular, particularly in non-freezing climates, because it permits customization by adding color, stamped designs, or textures that improve slip-resistance to the walking surface.

When the sun is out however, a concrete walking surface around a swimming pool heats up enough to become painful and even harmful to walk on with bare feet.

For concrete walking surfaces, manufacturers offer surface coatings that can be applied to the surface, intended to provide a cooler walking surface that is also slip-resistant, improving safety around the swimming pool.

A "cool deck" is created by applying this specialty coating onto the concrete.

In addition to the physical benefits of reducing the temperature of the pool's surrounding surface, improving slip resistance and thus pool safety, applying a new cool deck surface coating can add color, texture, and design to the pool area. The surface coating may be applied using a paint roller, spray-painting, brushes, or even troweling to provide a textured surface.

The pioneer in cool decking was a product called Kool Deck, a trademarked product by Mortex, a Tucson, Arizona, company. KoolDeck was introduced on the market in 1962.

For decades, KoolDeck, a surface spray-on coating, was the premiere choice for a cooling swimming pool deck surfaces and it worked well, especially with the very high temperatures and abundance of swimming pools in the southwest US.

Kool Deck is still widely available although now it faces competition from other surfacing/resurfacing manufacturers.

Keep in mind that there are other options for surfacing a pool's deck besides a cool decking surface coating. Not all of these choices offer the same benefits as cool decking surface coatings, yet they may be more suitable for other reasons such as design or cost or for walking surfaces not suitable for application of a surface paint or coating.

Concrete may not be the first choice for the walking surface surrounding a swimming pool in freezing climates where the costs of pouring a frost-damage-resistant concrete surface are significant, or where building owners prefer other materials such as stone, slate, or manufactured pavers.

Especially in a cooler climate, where the heat from sun exposure is less intense, those surfaces have their own slip resistance that may work well to improve swimming pool safety without use of a surface coating.

Pool Deck Coatings vs Slip & Fall Hazards at Swimming Pool Walking Surfaces

Areas around swimming pools can be a particular slip, trip and fall hazard because of the combination of water, possibly spilled tanning oils or foods, running children, and even hot surfaces that prompt user to run towards and leap into a swimming pool.

A result are research and products that address not only walking comfort on hot concrete surfaces, but also the use of anti-slip surfaces and studies of the coefficient of friction requirement for safe walking surfaces around a pool. Model building codes attempt to address the effects of algae, and water, or other slippery materials on stairs and walkways.

Various industry, ANSI, ASTM, OSHA, ADA standards recommend a static coefficient of friction (SCOF) of 0.5 or higher (ADA 0.6 or above) and define surfaces with SCOF of 0.4 or lower as "low traction", i.e. "slippery".

But because building codes & standards cannot anticipate every possible physical cause of slipperiness on walking surfaces or stairways, codes generally do not attempt to address every possible slippery substance that might be present such as algae, water, even spilled food on a concrete walking surface near a swimming pool.

Since building codes cannot anticipate every possible slip trip and fall hazard, instead codes and standards typically state something like the text shown below.

1009.5.2 Outdoor conditions.

Outdoor stairways and outdoor approaches to stairways shall be designed so that water will not accumulate on walking surfaces.

See details

at SLIPPERY STAIRS, WALKS, ROOFS

Types of Cool Decking

There are different materials that can be used to create this cool decking and they are available in different colors and textures based on taste and design.

Most options are very durable, stain resistant, and waterproof, and involve little maintenance. Some products will even offer warranties for a number of years.

All types of cool decking surfaces will provide:

• significant heat reduction
• options for color and texture
• slip resistance

There is considerable differences however among the available surfacing/resurfacing options. Cost, ease of installation, repair options, and heat reduction can vary among these choices.

Primary materials used for cool decking

• Cement overlay
• Concrete coating
• Acrylic paint coating
• Acrylic water-based spray texture

Watch out: never use ordinary paint such as house paint to try to coat a concrete walking surface. The paint won't bond, won't last, and may also be unsafe, contributing to a slip-fall hazard.

Pool Cool Deck Coating Life

A typical pool deck coating like those described here has a life of 1-5 years (Encore 2022) or possibly as long as 4-6 years (Schall 1990). If the surface is a cement product coating and is properly maintained, it could have a life span of years similar to other concrete around a home (Mortex).

The life of the coating depends on

• The coating material itself (e.g. epoxy vs. cement vs. other coating chemistries)
• Surface preparation - free of surface deposits, calcium, portland cement residue, oils such as from suntan lotion.
• Condition of the concrete - spalled, cracked, poorly-composed concrete will not be durable regardless of its surface coating. Surface prep, cleaning agents and a densifying product may be required.
• Application of the coating following the manufacturer's instructions
• Maintenance of the decking surface
• Local climate and weather exposure - surfaces must be dry, some products are less suited to a colder climate

See pool deck coating preparation suggestions at 2022 POOL DECK PAINT GUIDE [PDF], by Encore Coatings, cited in detail below.

Additional variables in choosing a cool deck surface

Factors affecting heat reduction -

• Color - the lighter colors are better as they reflect a larger percentage of sunlight. Some darker colors can contain black pigments which are not conducive to a cool walking surface.
• Texture - a textured surface helps because when a person walks on it, their bare feet are exposed to less surface area.
• Material - some materials will absorb less heat than others.
• Location - decking that is in full sunlight will obviously be hotter than a shaded area.

Care & cleaning - based on the type of cool decking material you choose, the care and cleaning procedures may vary from spray washing with water to the use of special cleaning solutions formulated for a particular product.

Repairs - needed repairs may range from patching a small area, filling in cracks or a broken concrete piece, to trying to match the surface color after a repair. As with initial installation, you will want to properly prepare the surface for any needed repair. This will include thorough cleaning of the surface and roughing the surface to allow for proper adhesion of the new coating.

Depending on the size of the necessary repair, you may be able to do it yourself and some companies provide repair kits for just that purpose. However, for larger repair jobs, you may need to consider hiring a concrete contractor to complete the project.

Climate restrictions - several types of surfaces, not just cool decking, refer to an ability to withstand thermal expansion and temperature fluctuations. Depending on your geographical location, it will be important to explore the parameters of your product's climate capabilities.

New surfacing vs. resurfacing - As with many projects, the important factor is proper cleaning and preparation of the surface before the cool decking installation.

Although some sources claim that Kool Deck can only be used with new concrete, this is not the case. Email that we exchanged with a representative from Mortex, the parent company of the trademarked Kool Deck product confirmed that KoolDeck can be used on previously installed and cured concrete surfaces, though some surface preparation may be required. .

Other products' installation directions will also cite the need for proper preparation of an existing surface or surface coating that is to be re-coated with a cool-deck product.

Cost of a Cool Decking Surface

The costs involved with adding a cooling surface to your pool deck depends on a number of factors:

• Which product you choose
• The size of your project
• The condition of your existing surface and how much prep is needed before adding the cooling material
• Details such as color and design
• Your location since materials may cost differently in different locales
• Whether it can be self-installed or if it requires professional installation

Estimates can range from $4 -20 per square foot. Keep in mind the actual cost will be based on the variables mentioned above.

Cool Decking Research, Resources

Illustration: Encore's Cool Deck, a two coat concrete resurfacing coating to reduce the temperature and improve the slip resistance of concrete decks or walkways around swimming pools.

• Baker, Steven P. "Swimming Pool Safety—Risk Management Best Practices." In ASSE Professional Development Conference and Exposition. OnePetro, 2014.
  Excerpts:
  Many accidental drowning and pool-related injuries are caused by unsafe acts or conditions. Some examples of this include ... running, negligent supervision... improper surface coatings, ....
  
  Pool safety is often overlooked or not given the full attention it deserves. This is likely due to the ubiquitous nature of swimming facilities throughout the country.
• Concrete Network, an independent resource for decorative concrete information, products and service providers, 866-380-7754, 1090 5th st., #109, Calimesa, CA 92399, https://www.concretenetwork.com/concrete/pool_decks/
• Çoşkun, Gültekin, Gencay Sarıışık, and Ali Sarıışık. "Slip safety risk analysis of surface properties using the coefficients of friction of rocks." International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics (2017).
  Abstract:
  This study was conducted to determine the most appropriate surface processing techniques (SPT), environmental conditions (EC) and surface roughness (SR) to minimize the risk of slipping when pedestrians walk on a floor covering of rocks barefoot and with shoes.
  
  Coefficients of friction (COFs) and values of SR were found using five different types of rocks, four SPT and two (ramp and pendulum) tests.
  
  Results indicate that the parameters which affect the COF values of rocks include SR, EC and SPT. Simple linear regression was performed to examine the relationship between the values of the COF and the SR.
  
  The value of the COF was identified as R2 ≥ 0.864. Statistical results, which are based on experimental measurements, show that rocks are classified according to their safe use areas depending on their COF and SR values.
• Drury, Colin G., and Michael Brill. "Human factors in consumer product accident investigation." Human Factors 25, no. 3 (1983): 329-342.
  
• Encore Coatings, Cool! Pool Deck Coating - Acrylic paint coating - 2022 POOL DECK PAINT GUIDE [PDF], Encore Coatings, Op. Cit., 888-776-2242, 63 Industrial Drive, Cartersville, GA 30120, retrieved 2022/06/14, original source: https://encorecoatings.com/best-pool-deck-paint/. The company says that this coating can be used on new concrete or as a re-surfacing coating atop existing coatings such as KoolDeck (a competitor).
  Excerpt:
  Traditional pool deck paints can last anywhere from 1 to 5 years. COOL! by Encore Coatings has a lifetime residential warranty and 10-year commercial warranty.
  
• Fletemeyer, John R. "Swimming Pool and Spa Safety." In Principles and Practices of Aquatic Law, pp. 73-98. CRC Press, 2018.
  Excerpt:
  ... swimming pool deck represents a hazard that could lead to a serious accident ...
  
• Gabrielsen, M. Alexander, and Ralph L. Johnson. "A Professional Challenge—Swimming Pool Safety." Journal of physical education and recreation 50, no. 6 (1979): 43-46.
  Excerpt:
  Slip resistant material should be used and kept clean and free of algae, fungus, and suntan oils ...
• Kool Deck by Mortex - Cement overlay - MORTEX PRODUCTS CATALOG [PDF] - please note that Kool Deck is a trademarked product and not to be confused with cool deck which refers to many other products used for surfacing or resurfacing a pool deck area. http://www.kooldeck.com/, Mortex Mfg. Co. Inc. 800-338-3225, 1818 W. Price Street, Tucson, AZ 85705, http://mortex.com/index.html
• Lapin, Jeffrey S. "For safety's sake: a reasonable standard of care for commercial properties." Journal of Property Management 82, no. 1 (2017): 9-14.
  Excerpts:
  Any spills discovered should be immediately cordoned off to block pedestrian access and then cleaned up using proper tools, leaving a dry, non-slippery surface....
  
  The specific maintenance procedures for this floor should include the routine application of a non-slip floor finish to make it safer.
  
  A periodic test to indicate the slip resistance of a particular floor surface (known as the Coefficient of Friction, or COF) is a recommended best practice in our industry.
  ... a wet or slippery floor ... from being left on the floor that might present a slip-and-fall or trip-and-fall hazard. If such … complex swimming pool.
  
• Los Angeles USDB MAINTAINING AQUATIC SAFETY IN SCHOOLS HAVING SWIMMING POOL [PDF] - Los Angeles Unified School District, retrieved 2022/06/14, original source: https://achieve.lausd.net/cms/lib08/CA01000043/Centricity/Domain/245/Bul- 1454.2 Maintaining Aquatic Safety in Schools Having Swimming Pools.pdf
• Sariisik, Ali. "Safety analysis of slipping barefoot on marble covered wet areas." Safety Science 47, no. 10 (2009): 1417-1428.
• Schall, Fred. SWIMMING POOLS in the 90s [PDF] Journal of Property Management 55, no. 3 (1990): 51-54.
  Excerpt:
  Deck tile and coping.
  Notice also the condition of the decks, and look for cracks and settling which can cause tripping or ponding of water. These should be repaired.
  
  There are presently a number of two-component epoxy deck coating systems and high-solid deck paints available in earth tones and pastels. These can vastly improve the appearance of old discolored or patched decks.
  
  The coatings are fairly easy to apply and can have a surface life of four to six years.
  
• Sundek, Cool deck coatings by Sundek - Acrylic water-based spray texture - SUNDEK CLASSIC TECHS & SPECS [PDF] Sundek Products USA Inc., 877-478-6335, 616 E. Avenue J, Grand Prairie, TX 75050, https://www.sundek.com/pool-decks/cool-deck.html
  
  ... these are referred to as hazard patterns or scenarios. These … swimming-pool accidents, people run around the pool, slip or ...

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Continue reading at PAINT & STAIN GUIDE, EXTERIOR - topic home, or select a topic from the closely related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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