The extreme heat and constant sunshine during Phoenix summers can cause cool decking to fade after several years. With proper care, though, cool decking should last a minimum of 10 years before it starts chipping and cracking. You don’t necessarily have to apply new cool decking to the entire deck every 10 years; however, you will need to recoat in some spots. You may have to pour fresh concrete to ensure that patched spots match the original color when recoating. Valley Concrete Coatings & Polishing breaks down the lifespan of cool decking and how you can make it last longer,
What Exactly Is Cool Decking?
Cool decking is a cementitious overlay coating that lowers the surface temperature of whatever you apply it to. Many people use it to provide relief from high heat when walking on certain areas with bare feet. The most common way that people use cool decking is on concrete areas around swimming pools, patios, and sidewalks. Many homeowners use cool decking to add color and texture to concrete floors as well.
Concrete around swimming pools will often lose its rigidity if you don’t apply cool decking to it. This type of coating acts as a barrier between the concrete and harsh elements, such as water and chemicals from the pool, letting the cement expand and compress as necessary without suffering damage. In addition to performing well in high heat, cool decking is specially designed to endure the rigors of freezing and thawing weather.
Understanding the Lifespan of Cool Decking
Any type of concrete poured in Phoenix, even if it has cool decking applied to it, will start cracking and chipping after five to 10 years. For most homeowners, if they take good care of concrete with cool decking, it will last 10 years before it requires patching or recoating.
Knowing How to Make Cool Deck Last Longer
There are several tips and tricks that you can follow to extend the life of cool decking. First and foremost, you should follow a strict aftercare regimen immediately after the cool deck is installed.
Installation Aftercare
Cool decking requires a lengthy curing period lasting at least 28 days. For the first 48 hours, you should block off the area and avoid coming into direct contact with any coated surfaces. During the first week of the curing phase, you can tiptoe on the coated areas but should limit usage of the deck or patio as much as possible. After two weeks, you can start walking on the areas with cool decking; however, you should keep all patio furniture and shoes with hard soles off the surface during the entire curing process.
Daily Sweeping and Rinsing
Cool deck surfaces are beautiful and will last for years to come, but they need regular cleaning to maintain their appearance. Cleaning coated surfaces requires a powerful soap and water solution, a bristle brush, preferably nylon, and a final rinsing with a garden hose. You should also do your best to sweep and mop all leaves and dirt off the concrete every day. Cleaning and rinsing your deck regularly is especially important if you use a saltwater chlorinator in your swimming pool.
Cleaning Spills and Stains
If you spill something on cool decking, make sure to clean it immediately with soap and water. Many types of spills can result in stains, but the faster you clean them, the easier it is to completely remove them. To clean stains, you’ll want to use a nylon scrub brush followed by rinsing with water.
If you have cool decking around a swimming pool, it’s important to carefully use suntan lotions and oils. If you spill these substances on cool decking, it can result in slippery surfaces and stains. You can easily clean up suntan lotion and oil spills with a nylon brush and water.
Carefully Use Chemicals and Fertilizers
Always use extra caution when using concentrated pool chemicals near cool decking. Make sure to wipe up any spills of chlorine or muriatic acid on areas covered with cool decking to avoid permanent stains and unsafe walking conditions. In addition, when fertilizers used for gardening and lawn care come into contact with water, they can leave stains on concrete with cool decking. Because of this, after applying fertilizer to your grass, you should always rinse off your cool deck with water.
Removing Gray Mineral Deposits
Gray mineral deposits occur frequently in high-traffic areas coated with cool decking, particularly around steps and staircases. These mineral deposits occur as water on the concrete evaporates. A pressure washer with a PSI level of 3,000 or more is the most effective tool for removing light accumulations of gray mineral deposits.
For heavy accumulations, you’ll likely need to buff the concrete to remove them. When buffing, it’s crucial to continuously wet the deck. The steps you must follow to remove the deposits can be a bit tedious and difficult, making it favorable to leave the work in the hands of a professional. Some experts claim that you should buff cool decking once a year, regardless of if you notice any stains.
How to Recoat With Cool Decking
Cool deck recoating requires a lot of attention to detail. If you don’t recoat properly, you’ll end up with a texture and color that don’t match the original cool decking. The first step that you need to follow when recoating with cool decking is to remove all flaking and cracked textures. You can easily do this with a scraper and a water pressure machine. The goal is to remove the old patch of cool decking before applying a new coat.
Before applying the new coat of cool decking, make sure that the concrete is clean. You can use a 50/50 ratio of water and muriatic acid for cleaning, allowing the mixture to set for three to four minutes before scrubbing and rinsing with water. Additionally, you should level the edges of the patched area (the area where you removed the old cool decking), to a 90-degree angle before applying the new cool deck coating.
Make sure that the concrete is completely dry before adding the new coat of cool decking. If you apply the new coat of cool deck before the concrete completely dries, the moisture will cause flaking and peeling within the first few years of the recoat process.
Once you’re sure the concrete is dry, you should add two coats of cool decking. Between each coat, let the area dry for three to four hours. After applying the last coat, wait an additional three to four hours before resuming normal use of the patio or deck. Follow the same maintenance schedule for the recoated areas as you do for all other areas.
Of course, the easiest way to patch your cool decking is to contact a professional from Valley Concrete Coatings & Polishing. We’ll make sure that repairs to your cool decking are flawless.
Are You Ready to Stay Cool With a Cool Deck?
Are you tired of burning your feet every time you walk on your pool deck? If so, contact us at Valley Concrete Coatings & Polishing today to learn all about cool decking in Phoenix, AZ, and how it increases a deck’s durability while also making it slip-resistant. We specialize in a range of residential flooring services, including concrete staining, floor polishing, epoxy flooring, and more. Contact us now to book a cool deck consultation for your home.
