Which concrete surface to use for pool sidewalks?

[kywildcats]

Brushed concrete vs Aggregate concrete, which is the slickest? Can you stain brushed concrete?

 

[JVTrain]

Exposed aggregate concrete will be slicker than brushed concrete simply because the aggregate used is almost always small river rock that is polished and rounded. Those exposed rocks will be slicker than a brushed concrete surface. I don't think it would be overly slick for a pool decking surface but I've never experienced it first hand. Might depend on the protrusion height of the stones after the cement wash out procedure.

Any concrete can be stained. You'll get the best results with a concrete that actually has the cement portion of the mixture dyed with additives rather than staining after the installation but both can be done.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

All of our sidewalks to the pool decking were done in stained concrete with a rock salt finish. It looks great, especially when it rains and the color deepens a bit.


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[ping]

I went with a rock salt finish and didn't bother with a stain as I don't want to have to seal it to protect the stained finish.

 

[Chuckiechan]

I have rough exposed aggregate and it is like cheese grater.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Just to show an example, both the pool deck (acid wash finish) and the sidewalk (rock salt finish) used the same colorant in the cement mix. But they look different dry and wet. The picture below is dry, deck on top sidewalk on bottom.

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[Divin Dave]

My whole deck is exposed aggragate and its even sealed, and I dont consider it to be too slick. I dont have brushed concrete, so I can't make that comparison.

As chuckiechan put it, "feels like a cheese grater", well maybe not quite that bad, but after a few hours, you will need your flip flops, and not because of the heat, but your feet get sore from walking barefoot on it after a while.

 

[kywildcats]

Thanks all for the input. I want the aggregate and my wife want the brushed. Who you think will win.....HA!

 

[kywildcats]

Now wife wants just "regular" concrete finish. I've tried to explain to her how slick it will be, but she wont listen!!!!!

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Now wife wants just "regular" concrete finish. I've tried to explain to her how slick it will be, but she wont listen!!!!!

At least try the acid finish. It's not slippery at all.


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[Divin Dave]

I like the acid finish. I like the 'weathered' look it gives.

At least try the acid finish. It's not slippery at all.


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