Upgrade your pool deck to a luxury amenity in your own backyard
Painting your pool deck can elevate your whole pool area from standard to stellar. Even more good news is that with some common painting tools and supplies you can DIY the project over the span of a couple days. Most in-ground pools have concrete or paver pool decks, while you’ll typically find wood or composite decking around above-ground pools. This how-to assumes that we’re talking about a concrete pool deck around an in-ground pool. Let’s go through the process of how to paint a concrete pool deck, step-by-step.
The key to getting the longest life out of your painted pool deck is to make sure the concrete you’re painting is both in good enough condition and prepared properly. Patching some minor chips, cracks, or holes shouldn’t cause any problems when done properly. However, if your concrete pool deck has one or more of the following conditions, you should seek the advice of a professional painter or concrete resurfacing company to determine if you’re better off replacing the concrete than painting it:
Several cracks
Cracks that seem to be growing wider with each passing season
Shifting, heaving, or sinking/sloping concrete areas
Peeling, pitting, flaking, crumbling, or spalling concrete
No amount of patching or cleaning can repair some of these problems enough to make painting the concrete worth the cost, even if you’re using the best paint for a pool deck. The paint can only stick to good concrete. If the slab is peeling, the paint will go with it.
Because the concrete needs to be dry to apply paint, and the paint needs warm, dry weather to dry and cure properly, plan this project during a stretch of at least three consecutive days of warm, dry weather.
Clean, degrease, and etch the concrete with a solution designed to clean concrete. Follow the directions on the packaging for best results. Using a clean, stiff-bristled brush or push broom to scrub the concrete will help lift and loosen dirt and debris. Make sure to rinse the concrete thoroughly with a garden hose or power washer. As much as possible, avoid washing any of the cleaner into the pool as cleaners can upset the pH of your pool water. Allow the concrete to dry before moving on to repairs.
Use a concrete repair compound to fill in any pits, holes, or cracks. Try to keep the patches flush with surrounding concrete and match the texture as closely as possible, because any difference in texture will show through the paint. Allow the patch material to dry for the amount of time recommended by the manufacturer (8 hours, in this case).
If you decide to use a liquid crack filler, make sure it is NOT self-leveling, as it will slowly run downhill and gather in a puddle at the lowest point of the crack.
Note: Any cracks in your concrete pool deck will likely reappear through your paint, even though you’ve patched the crack before painting. So, when the cracks reappear, don’t feel like you’ve done something wrong or that the patch product didn’t work. Even the best patch material is no competition for the ground movement that happens during a freeze-thaw cycle or even the expansion and contraction that takes place in extreme heat.
As some debris may get on the pool deck from when you washed the concrete to this point, and there will likely be some crumbs from the patching process, use the leaf blower to remove any of this debris.
Depending on the type of pool deck edge you have—either a formed concrete edge or an aluminum coping the concrete is poured against—you’ll want to apply painter’s tape along the edge of the concrete to keep the epoxy paint from getting on the coping form or the liner or tile inside your pool. You’ll also need to tape around the base of any diving boards, slides, or cups for railings and ladders.
If your pool cover uses anchor bolts, you can remove the bolts and fill the embedded anchors with foam backer rod of the same diameter, leaving it sticking above the concrete an inch or so. This will make it easier to paint around the anchors without getting paint in them. Leave the backer rod sticking up above the concrete to make it easier to find the bolts after you’re done painting.
Make sure the concrete is still clean and free of debris. Then using a 3/8 inch nap roller, apply one coat of primer (make sure it’s designed for the surface you’re painting—concrete, wood, or otherwise). Let the primer dry for the manufacturer’s recommended time.
Pour the paint into a 5-gallon bucket and add the non-slip additive to the paint. Mix in the additive using the power drill with the mixer paddle attachment, making sure it’s mixed in evenly and there are no clumps of additive.
Apply the first coat of epoxy paint to the dry, primed pool deck. Cut in around the edges with a 3-inch brush and roll the rest with a 3/8-inch nap roller. Allow the first coat to dry for the recommended amount of time, usually around 4 hours to recoat, but make sure to check the manufacturer’s directions.
You can use several types of paint on a pool deck, including acrylic, latex, and rubber-based paints, but the best option is epoxy paint. It’s durable and long-lasting, lasting for 5 to 15 years. Epoxy paint also applies smoothly for a stylish finish. It’s a little pricier than some other types of paint, but the results are worth it.
After allowing the first coat to dry for the recommended time, mix in a non-slip additive and roll on a second coat. Allow it to dry before applying the sealer.
Mix in a non-slip additive and roll on a coat of sealer. Allow the sealer to dry and cure for about 24 hours before walking on your newly painted pool deck.
The cost to paint a pool deck ranges from $300 to $7,650, depending on many factors, but especially size and the prep involved. However, if you have the time and patience to prep the concrete properly, this can be an excellent DIY project to save money on and feel proud of the way you’ve updated your pool deck. You will need to spend several hours over the course of a few days from start to finish.
If you have any doubt that you can commit this kind of time or if you’re not comfortable with the nature of the project, it’s a good idea to call a professional painter near you for an estimate and advice.
The average cost to paint a pool deck is $3,000, but the amount you pay depends on these factors:
Deck size: Painting a pool deck costs $3 to $8.50 for every square foot, so if you have a large deck, your expenses will be on the higher end.
Deck material: It costs more to paint a concrete deck than a wooden deck.
Paint type: You’ll have a choice between standard-priced paints, like acrylic, or more expensive ones, like epoxy paint.
Prep work: If prep work like cleaning, sanding, or repairing is required before you start painting, it will cost extra.
No matter what paint you use for your pool deck, you are committing to the necessary maintenance and care to keep it looking like the day you painted it. Epoxy paint should hold up well for many years, but taking a few precautionary measures can extend the life of your painted pool deck even longer.
Most people will close their pool for the winter season, and all kinds of dirt and debris gather on the pool deck. When you open your pool in the spring, add a round of cleaning to the process and you’ll be good for the summer. We recommend using a cleaning solution manually—scrubbing with a brush or broom and rinsing with a garden hose—rather than with a power washer, as using the power washer too aggressively may weaken or peel away the paint that would otherwise have remained bonded well to the concrete.
It’s inevitable that the epoxy paint will need to be repaired. Something gets dropped and chips the paint, or the paint eventually works loose at the edge and flakes away. If new cracks appear in your pool deck, some of the epoxy may flake off along that crack. Be sure to read the directions on the original product you used, but you can likely touch up small areas like these with minimal work. Depending on the size of the area, repairs may show until weathered to a similar color as the surrounding paint.
You may need to reseal your pool deck every 2 to 3 years, depending on how the sealer holds up to weather and use. Resealing typically involves cleaning the pool deck, allowing it to dry, and rolling another coat of sealer on. Depending on the paint you use, you may be able to repaint over sealed concrete. But you may need to strip the existing sealer away with a special stripping agent before repainting and sealing.
If the prospect of maintenance and repainting every five years or so doesn’t appeal to you, a couple other options are available. The sure bet to getting the color you want with minimal maintenance is to replace the pool deck with new pavers or concrete.
Laying pavers over your concrete pool deck is an alternative to painting it. However, you’ll need to consider the thickness of the pavers and how much higher the pool deck will be at the edge of the pool as well as around the ladders, handrails, diving board, and other features like the skimmer cover.
Resurfacing your concrete pool deck is another option for changing the color of your pool deck as opposed to painting. Depending on the resurfacing product, you may still need to reseal the overlay product every year or two. This involves the same cleaning and application process as sealing your painted pool deck.
Derek Rose contributed to this article.
The best temperature to paint a pool deck is between 50 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit, because many paints and sealers require temperatures warm enough for the chemical reaction to take place for proper curing. The paint should not be allowed to freeze, and temperatures above 90 degrees can cause the paint to dry too quickly, also preventing the chemical reaction from following through to completion.
Painting a damaged pool deck is not recommended if the substrate is crumbling, cracking, spalling, or otherwise actively deteriorating. Continuing deterioration will result in the paint also delaminating or flaking off the damaged surface. Minor damage such as chips or hairline cracks that are not actively deteriorating can often be repaired enough to paint over. A damaged pool deck with a lot of cracking and deterioration should be replaced for best results.
Depending on factors such as weather, use, substrate condition, and type of paint used, pool deck paint should last anywhere from 1 to 5 years. Keeping the paint clean and resealing every year or two can help extend the life of the paint. Proper preparation before painting also plays a large role in how long the paint lasts on a pool deck. Paint will likely not last as long on a pool deck in poor condition before painting.
Painting and staining have their own pros and cons, so it’s up to the homeowner to decide what’s best. The good news is that both options can work. Stain is cheaper, easier to apply, and creates a more natural look. Paint lasts longer, has a wider variety of color options, and offers more protection against moisture and sunlight.
