Slippery Slopes – Coating Pool Decks, Patios & Garages

Overview

ProTect Painters of Oviedo ~ Winter Springs sees a lot of concrete decks, patios and garage floors during visits with consumers and business owners.  Some are just plain ole concrete, some have been covered with kool deck, and others are in various stages of floor coverings (i.e. tile, pavers, indoor/outdoor carpet, rubber mats etc.).  Interesting enough, most consumers don’t often consider their painters in the solution process for these substrates.  While there are other options, painting or coatings for these surfaces can be one of you most economical options for both protection and beautification.

First and foremost, do not put regular house paint on any of these areas. House paints are not meant to be walked upon.   Only use coating products which have been designed to be applied on walked on concrete and masonry surfaces.  If you have any doubts about the products or application methods, do not attempt these projects on your own.  Removing these products from the substrate is a very messy, expensive and can cause damage to the surfaces.

Proper Prep is Paramount

Like all painting applications, preparation is the key to success.  You can purchase the best finish coat product and still fail if the preparation is not completed correctly.  Surfaces must be grease free, chemically neutral and high sheens must be removed for proper adhesion.  Preparation depends heavily on the prior applications/products used on the surface.  A pool deck with original cool deck (aka kool deck) may only need a chemically neutral power wash and a couple of coats of new concrete stain.  An older deck with multiple coatings could require strip, acid wash, sand and other prep.  Older garage floors may require many steps to arrive at a clean palette for the new coating.

Concrete coatings come in basically two varieties.  Similar to wood finishes, there are stains and top coats.  Products also come in water and alkyd bases as well as single part and multi-part epoxies.  There are some fairly complex formulations here.  Many can be applied by the DIY crowd.  Some require skills beyond the typical weekend warrior. 

Multitude of Considerations

Once you have selected the right product for the job, there is still more to consider.  Most of these products can be tinted.  Be careful putting darker colors on pool decks.  They will absorb heat and be hot on your bare feet.  Some products only come in manufactured colors.  Are these going to match your goals and create the look you desire?  If not, you may have to consider other options.  Number of coats required, dry time and use time are all factors.   Don’t do one of these projects and have a pool party the next day.  You will have disaster on your hands.  Read the labels carefully and be conservative.  If it says stay off for 48-72 hours, then stay off for a week.  I personally recommend you avoid driving your car into a coated garage for at least a month. Let the stuff get really cured and hard.  After a run on I-4 or Rt. 417, your tires can heat up to incredible temperatures.  The coating can stick to the tires and peel up when you roll back out of the garage.  Tread or slip rating is very important.  You don’t want anyone to slip and fall on the pool.  You certainly don’t want your car to slide into the back wall of the garage.  Some of these products may require the addition or grit or other aggregates.  These aggregates quickly sink to the bottom of the bucket.  Coatings must be constantly mixed during the application to avoid spot builds.  Uniformity is a challenge when using multiple gallons.  You will likely need to “pot” the coating (mixing in a different bucket) and the aggregate to achieve the best results.

Parting Comments

Coatings for concrete pool decks, patios and garage floors can add value to your home or business at a reasonable price.  Compared to other solutions like tile, pavers and overlays; coatings can be much more cost effective.  There is risk here.  Don’t do, if you just don’t know.  As “they” say, it is hard to fix stupid.  Consult true painting professionals on these projects.  Do not rely on basic retail clerks.  They frequently do not have any training in this very specialized niche. 

Still have doubts about your DIY ability in this area?  Give ProTect Painters a call and we’ll provide you with a free consultation and estimate for your project even if you decide to DIY.