Imagine that, you spend thousands of dollars on a lovely concrete pool deck, but you get to see it crack, stain, and fade as it suffers under the intense beatings of chlorinated water, hot, beating sun, and freeze-thaw effects. Sound familiar? You are not the sole person in this battle. The fact is, selecting the best type of concrete sealer is not all about maintenance; it is all about safeguarding your investment and years of being barefoot with your swimming around your pool.
Here is something you may find surprising, not every pool deck sealer is made the same. As a matter of fact, the variance that exists between a good sealer and a magnificent one can really be the variance between a deck that would last a lifetime of five years to a deck that will remain beautiful even after decades.
Why Your Swimming Pool Deck is Screaming out Protection
The thing is concrete is such a durable construction and at the same time very porous. Imagine that it was a very hard sponge. Unsealed they allow water penetration that bore along the chlorine, salt and other chemicals that eat up the concrete layer by layer.
The problems your pool deck experience are quite severe to say the least. You have the damp on a regular basis, chemical assault by the various things put in the pool, UV light which would turn a vampire into tears, and you have extremes of temperature which would rend even the hardest material. What, and where the freeze-thaw climate? And that, well that is when it turns really interesting or rather not in the good way.
Now this is where it becomes a personal experience: the number of times when you have burnt your feet on the unsealed concrete deck during the summer? Or on a wet surface fell? The correct sealer does not only safeguard your concrete, it safeguards your family as well.
The Two Titans- Penetrating And Film-forming Sealers
As far as pool deck sealers are concerned, it is an analogue of two major heavyweight stars each one with its own strong points and peculiarities.
The Unseen Guardians Penetrating Sealers:
Penetrating sealers are similar to that friend with whom you have your back, but he or she does not usually pester about it. They enter the concrete and go deep into it (the products like RadonSeal may go up to 4 inches deep) and form a chemical bulwark in the inside. These sealers actually do nothing to the appearance nor the texture of your deck and that is quite amazing considering, which is pretty cool.
The most outstanding feature? They will not cause your deck to get slippery. That is why some waterproofed surfaces feel like frozen water when wet (like an ice rink). These are not these guys. They preserve the natural feel of your concrete and offers protection up to 7-10 years.
Water repellent sealers such as Armor SX5000 series can minimize water absorption to an extent of 95 percent. Consider that 95 percent less water translates into 95 percent less potential of freeze-thaw damage, chemical pestering and overall wear and tear.
The protective shield- Film-Forming Sealers:
Film-forming sealers, however, are more like that fancy raincoat which does not only keep you dry but makes you look good doing so. These are acrylics, urethanes and epoxies which form a visible coating over your concrete.
The effect is visual and it is striking. The acrylic sealers may also make your deck appear to be constantly wet, enhance the rich color of the deck, and give you the glossy vivacious look that is highly desired by many homeowners. The thing is, however, that they might get slippery when wet and, therefore, it will be a sure thing that you will have to put in a non-slippery additive.
The Heavy Hitters: They are the Best of the Best:
Well with RadonSeal: The Deep Dive Champion, we are going to dive in deep and find out what it is all about.
RadonSeal has gained a track record which is actually very good. This water-based, zero-VOC sealer will seal up to 4 inches into concrete forming what is basically a permanent seal. Mike from Everything About Concrete vows by it and when a person who makes a living sealing concrete puts their reputation on the line about a product, you listen.
What is special about RadonSeal? But after you put it on you never have to put it on again. It is chemically reacted with the concrete, leaving behind silicate crystals which bars water and yet lets the concrete breath. It is simple to apply as it just requires a spraying or an application by a roll, two thin coats and that is it.
According to the company, it is effective both near saltwater and chlorinated pools, and, to be truthful, the reviews are quite impressive. It is also environment friendly and non-hazardous to families and pets.
Deco Guard, the Pool specialist
Speaking of a pool deck in particular, siloxane of modified acrylic known as Deco Guard deserves your attention. This sealer was made to serve the purpose of pool environments, and it is far more resistant to de-icing salts and pool chemicals.
The best part about Deco Guard though, is the low-sheen finish that does not look like it just got sealed. It gives very good results in water and salt as well as an appearance that is natural. Its spread coverage is also good; on the first coat, 200-300 square feet per gallon.
Siloxa-Tek 8500: The Approved Performer of DOT
Here comes something interesting: Siloxa-Tek 8500 is DOT approved, in fact. When the state highway departments have confidence in a sealer to do concrete work in their state, then it speaks a lot about the performance. It is highly repellent to water and salt and due to its clarity (non-yellowing nature) this penetrating sealer is often used as an awning treatment or in the treatment of raw materials with inherent yellowing qualities.
The downside? It is expensive compared to the alternative options, and it is also not associated with a lot of coverage per a gallon. Yet, occasionally you get what you pay, right?
The versatile lineup on foundation armor series:
With Foundation Armor you get both water repellent and acrylic. Their SX5000, and SX5000 WB (water-based) are good selections of users who do not want to alter their appearance with protection. To those wanting a boost, their WB15 and WB25 water based acrylics offer that saturated appearance desired by many homeowners.
The Cool Deck Technology: One of the side effects of global warming is the heat factor that comes with it.
There is one thing I would like to speak about which is overlooked means surface temperature. The ordinary concrete has the potential to become too hot by 34-76 degrees Fahrenheit compared to the atmosphere. It is 80 degrees and you are going to have more than 150 degrees of surface temperature. It is literally too hot to walk barefooted.
Cool! It is this issue that Cool Pool Deck Coating by Encore Coatings takes care of. This is a product which can cool the surface temperatures by 38 degrees. One customer said that he spent five minutes standing barefoot on his decks when the temperature was at 100 0 F- something that would have not been possible before.
Mastering the use of Applications: Doing it Right
This is a pitfall of most DIYers. It is not rocket science to apply but some special attention should be given.
Surface Preparation: Success Base Years ago a customer came into my auto-body shop with a project. His car was damaged and he needed to have it painted. He wanted to do the painting himself and asked me to prepare the surface of the vehicle. I explained to him that there was no way to prepare the surface of the car except removing the paint. He looked at me and said I tell you the truth; there is no chance of success to the project of my car without the proper surface preparation. He was right after all.
Your hand should be as clean as you can possibly have it. That is pressure washing, degreasing, and letting it dry off altogether. Most of the manufacturers suggest applying 24-48 hours after cleaning.
When it comes to new concrete, patience is very essential. The concrete must then dry out correctly, the recommended standard time is 28 days, but some studies have shown that 14-21 days may also be enough with right conditions.
The use of Dance The use of dance can be very rewarding, especially when it is accompanied by dedicated training. The benefits of such an exercise can be really pleasing and the results can be really positive. This is true whether in locations like schools or even during leisure activities. During this process there are several things that are bound to happen and they include the following.
A majority of sealers consumers demand two coats of “wet-on-wet” coats. This will involve use of the 2 nd coat before the first one is completely dry that is typically 30 60 minutes. It also makes a difference temperature wise- optimum is 50-80 F and a low humidity and no anticipated rain within the next 24 hours.
Field tip: Even coverage is possible by using a pump-type sprayer, and it is always important to have a wet edge so as to eliminate lap marks.
Safety First: The slip resistant factor
Safety and pool areas are associated with one another. The penetrating sealers do not alter the original texture of the concrete and thus, they are innately slip resistant. Sealers Film-forming sealers have to be non-slippery, i.e. have some type of additive non-slipperiness, like little particles that add roughness.
The trick is to realize that once the surface is sealed this changes how it behaves when wet. Among even those sealers widely believed to be non-slippery (as they are labeled non-slip) may become slippery when not well formulated or applied.
Maintenance: Using the Protection to Stay Alive
The majority of quality sealers should be reapplied after every 2-5 years, depending on exposure and traffic. Penetrating sealers such as RadonSeal do claim permanence, however film forming type sealers do indeed need to be re-applied on a frequent basis.
Rinsing is easy, the mild detergent and soft brushes will do. Abrasive cleaners should be avoided because they would destroy the sealer surface.
Cost Analyzer: Investment as opposed to expense
The financial fact is this: Good sealers are more expensive initially but they cost less in the long run. A high quality bucket of sealer that will last between 5-10 years at a cost of $200 is more cost effective than a sealer that would only cost and need to be reapplied at $50 every year.
Then put into consideration the cost of failure. Replacement of concrete costs thousands of dollars. Sealing is insurance insurance, that is, comparatively low costs protection against high-cost trouble.
The Verdict: Your Choice
The excellent seal against radon, simultaneously providing the longest life and safety, are found in a penetrating sealer such as RadonSeal or Siloxa-Tek 8500 to most homeowners. These items safeguard without distorting the surface look of a deck or generating slip problems.
Quality acrylic sealers with non-slip admixtures do the trick, provided you are willing to do regular re-sealing tasks. And all I can say (sorry, I cannot help it) is just keep in mind that with great beauty comes great responsibility (and reapplication, of course).
In the case of extreme heat, the cool deck coating delivers the comfort advantage that no standard sealers could ever come close to.
What you Can do
Your pool deck should not be neglected. Either you prefer penetrating sealer with its low-maintenance protection or the film-forming one to enjoy its additional beauty, what matters is that you select one and apply it to the item correctly.
You have to dedicate time to evaluate your unique requirements: climatic conditions, use behavior, esthetic inclinations, and readiness to maintain. Thereafter choose a sealer meeting those requirements. The person you will become in the future and your bare feet will appreciate your efforts.
It might be best to have in mind that the sealer which is applied is the best of all. And avoid analysis paralysis as your deck goes into the unprotected session. What is important is not the perfect option but a good option and doing a thing.
