Enough of Hurting Your Feet on Hot Concrete Pool Deck!

Do you absolutely love spending your summer days splashing around in the pool, doing laps, or stretched out on a lounge chair soaking up the warmth of the sun (with the proper sun protection, of course!) but can’t stand the searing pain of a blisteringly hot pool deck that seems to just get hotter and hotter each day until you simply can’t cross it any longer without first putting on shoes? This is a common complaint, and a serious one as well. Hot pool decks can cause actual burns, particularly to children and those with very sensitive skin. Fortunately, it is also a problem that can be fixed in several ways. It is crucial that you create a pool environment that is safe and welcoming, part of which is ensuring that your friends and family aren’t in pain when walking across your pool deck.

Construction Options

There are many options for creating a pool deck that will not hurt your feet whenever you touch it. One way is to install shading over your deck. This is not the most practical of options, however. A more viable means of establishing a comfortable pool deck is to have it made from a heat resistant, naturally cool material. Stone pavers are a good choice for this. They are beautiful and can be customized in many different colors, styles and patterns. Stone pavers are naturally cooler to the touch than many other materials without having to make other considerations. Natural stone can be extremely expensive, however, and require long construction periods. If you do not want to take on the expense of natural stone pavers, or your pool deck is already established and you simply don’t want to fry your feet on it for another summer, you should look at pool deck coating options intended for this purpose.

Coating Options

When it comes to pool deck coating that is meant to resist rising to sizzling hot temperatures you have two basic options. You can select a pool deck coating that is already a light color or crafted out of a simulated stone material meant to remain cool to the touch, or you could use a product that is meant to give an existing pool deck surface protection from the heat. These products generally come in the form of a concrete and polymer blend overlay material that is applied much like a spray paint, though it is not a paint. This material is light in color so it deflects the heat from sunlight and does not store it, as does material of darker colors or different composition. These products are also created to cure into a texture much like that of an orange peel. This texture is achieved because of air bubbles sealed into the overlay that keep the surface cool. An added benefit of products such as this, and of cool concrete overlays, is that they provide a slip resistant surface that will protect you from falling when you realize that you can finally enjoy your pool deck again.