Keep It Fresh: Pool Deck Sealer And Color Enhancer Benefits

Ready for swimming season? In some parts of the country, pools are already open.

Pool owners are setting up tables and chairs on pool decks in anticipation of many happy hours spent relaxing poolside. They’re cleaning, scrubbing, and turning on the pumps.

What about sealing the pool deck? If you’ve forgotten that part of caring for your pool, we’ve put together a few benefits of applying sealers and color enhancers. Learn more here about why you don’t want to forget a dose of TLC for your pool deck.

Pool decks take a beating. Between chlorinated water, oils from sunscreens, and weather, your pool deck will suffer damage unless you protect it.

Enter sealers and color enhancers.

Available in both aerosol and a roll-on liquid, pool deck sealer acts as a protective coat of armor. Without it, the deck is susceptible to stains, damage, and premature deterioration.

Let’s look at how sealer helps mitigate the effects of stains.

Pool decks are prone to both natural and man-made stains.

As we mentioned above, pool water contains chlorine. You’ll also find other chemicals in the water including bromide and cyanuric acid. Necessary for maintaining a clean, healthy pool, these chemicals leave stains on the deck.

Natural elements like rain, dirt, and leaves contribute to staining as well. Then there’s pet urine, left wherever Scruffy does his business. Even the fertilizers and weed killers you use on your lawn can stain the pool deck.

If you eat and drink in the pool area, spills will happen. And don’t forget the oils from sunscreens and hair products.

Over time, stains create ugly patches of discoloration

A good sealer makes concrete on pool decks less porous. This means the deck is less likely to soak up oil and other substances. Sealing also makes cleanup of spills easier.

Sealers don’t only protect concrete—they work on other popular pool deck materials such as granite, slate, marble, and travertine.

Using a sealer also prevents another common source of discoloration on swimming pool decks.

If you’ve ever noticed a white, powdery substance on concrete, brick, or other stone surfaces, it’s likely efflorescence.

Efflorescence around a swimming pool area is often mistaken for stains caused by pool chemicals.

In fact, efflorescence forms from salt deposits left after water evaporates. Porous pool deck materials like concrete and natural stonemake the perfect breeding ground for efflorescence.

If a pool owner ignores the powdery buildup, it can spread quickly. A sealer helps prevent efflorescence.

Sealing a pool deck also helps banish another culprit of ugly stains.

Nature isn’t always a friend when it comes to pool surfaces and deck areas.

The constant moisture found around a swimming pool contributes to mold growth. Once mold develops, getting rid of it is no simple task.

Manually removing mold can destroy the surface of your pool deck. Some pool owners use a bleach solution, but if not applied carefully, bleach can also damage the deck. Others battle mold by power washing—not always the kindest procedure for your deck's surface.

Instead, apply a sealer to the pool deck surface. Sealing prevents mold spores from developing in the first place.

When you consider the amount of time the sun beats down on your swimming pool, it’s no wonder pool decks eventually look aged and worn out.

UV rays from the sun cause weathering. Weathering is more noticeable on colored pool decks since the colored pigments fade over time.

Your pool deck surface, like your skin, is porous and susceptible to damage from sun exposure. Hopefully, you don’t spend much time in the sun without sunscreen. Your pool deck needs similar protection.

Sealers help prevent UV degradation. They also help prevent deck materials from losing their vibrant colors.

If you’ve worked with unfinished wood, you know the value of using varnish. Varnish draws out natural colors and patterns in wood, making the surface even more beautiful.

Sealers and color enhancersdo the same for your pool deck.

Concrete pavers don’t need to be boring. By using a sealer, you can bring out the true colors. Sealers also accentuate the various contrasts found in colored concrete pavers.

If you use natural stone materials for the deck, using a sealer preserves the natural look. Sealers also help maintain the natural appearance of marble, exposed aggregate, and brick surfaces.

If you use a wet look sealer you’ll add an attractive luster to the pool deck surface. Whether you prefer a satin sheen or a shimmering gloss, the wet look can restore the life back to a tired pool deck.

Seasoned swimming pool owners usually encounter another common enemy of pool deck surfaces—spalling.

Spalling takes place when the concrete surface peels or flakes off. If you notice pitting and physical deterioration on the deck surface, you’re likely seeing the effects of spalling.

The guilty party here is the freeze/thaw cycle experienced in colder climates. If your deck surface isn’t sealed, it absorbs moisture. Then, when temperatures drop, the absorbed water freezes and expands resulting in a breakdown of the concrete surface.

Once damage occurs susceptibility to effects of the freeze/thaw cycle increases. Sealing reduces deterioration and helps prevent future damage.

As you can see, sealing a pool deck offers a variety of benefits.

You’ll minimize the effects of nature, including damage from stains, mold growth, and UV sun damage. Sealers and color enhancersbring out the beauty of your deck materials. They also keep them from deteriorating.

Using pool deck sealers should be part of your annual maintenance regimen.

Don’t wait until pool season begins. Check out our full line of products designed for pool and patio protection. Time to swim!