Concrete pool deck paint/sealant question

[echosummet]

Hi all,

I am new to the forums here and was hoping to ping the community for some advice regarding concrete pool deck paint/sealant/coatings. I am leaning towards one particular product but I can't seem to find much information on it from actual users/customers.

We purchased our house with in-ground pool a few years ago and its time to do something about the concrete deck. The current paint is starting to chip and flake off and on top of that it is VERY slippery when wet. The deck itself is in great condition with a few small cracks here and there but nothing major. My plan is to apply a skid-resistant sealant or coating, but I am at a loss at which product to choose.

I live in the Sacramento valley in California and we get hit with the extremes of all 4 seasons. Very hot summers, and winters where the temperature can drop below freezing on occasion. I am looking for product with medium grit, decent warranty, and most importantly a high regard with customers.

I have been looking around locally and online and have found a myriad of products, all seemingly pretty similar but ranging in price fairly drastically.

Here is what I have found so far:

Sure-Step http://www.homedepot.com/p/Sure-Ste...Concrete-Paint-SU-0922/100672153#BVRRWidgetID

Seems to get all around good reviews and the price is pretty attractive. Some other pluses are the company apparently sends a return label in case you over-order and need to return un-opened product. Self-priming is nice but I am finding most products also offer this feature.

Some downsides are it is not chemical resistant, not a water proofer, not a sealer, make no claims of ability to repair concrete.

Other similar options are available at Lowes, Leslie's, InTheSwim, etc but this one seemed to get the best feedback and have the most widespread use (at least recorded on the web that is).

FloorGripII seems like the high end option in this same class and the price reflects that, but the one coat coverage (how true is that really?) might make it worth looking into more.

I have briefly looked into SunDek acrylic finishes, Kool Deck, Kool Deck Elite, and Systex deck paint from Mortex, Deck Kote and a few others but they either didnt seem as different or better than the others or didnt fit my application at all.

Another consideration I am looking at are Concrete RESTORE. I found this product by searching this forum. This also has a nice price, though I have read in numerous places that the coverage is not really as advertised and that you should definitely get more than calculated. I dont know much about this, but other than claiming to be thicker than paints and last longer I didn't notice much of a difference.

The product that really caught my attention though is Cool from a company called Encore (http://encorecoatings.com/cool-pool-deck-coating/)

It appears to be fairly new and I cant really find much feedback from actual applications of it. It sounds really nice and seems to do everything I need and more that make it really attractive. It comes in a kit and I really like that you can add a gallon of any color acrylic paint to get custom colors, although that is just an added benefit. It uses a different method to keep the concrete cool which it seems they patented and is only available in their product. It also has a lifetime warranty for residential applications.

Has anyone in the community had experience with this product?

I have also considered Concrete stain as an alternative to the paint. It seems like stain would be a better choice for longevity as it penetrates the concrete. However, I am getting mixed information on whether it can be applied to painted concrete....

Are there any other technologies I might have missed in my research?

As a summary to my novel:

Must have features

• 
  Skid-resistant
  Able to apply over existing painted concrete
  Self-priming

Additional desired features

• 
  Resistant to chemicals
  Cooled
  Coverage/Coats
  Durable (Crack fill, Sealing)
  Price

I am leaning towards Encore's Cool product but I also wonder if it would be a wise choice to stick with something with a more established reputation and history.

I appreciate any feedback on this and look forward to utilizing this community more

 

[jhalpinjr]

I used a stain and an additive for the "anti slip"
before I go into many details you should reconsider your Must Haves: Putting it over existing painted concrete.......if its flaking and chipping then you are setting yourself up for failure with a new coating. You should clean and ensure the substrate is properly ready to accept wahtever type finish you plan to apply.

Most can be clean with acid and water, with little scrubbing and a pressure washer.

 

[echosummet]

I used a stain and an additive for the "anti slip"
before I go into many details you should reconsider your Must Haves: Putting it over existing painted concrete.......if its flaking and chipping then you are setting yourself up for failure with a new coating. You should clean and ensure the substrate is properly ready to accept wahtever type finish you plan to apply.

Most can be clean with acid and water, with little scrubbing and a pressure washer.

Hi jhalpinjr,

Thanks for the reply.

I should have mentioned my plans for preparation as well. I have cleaned all the lines, rid all the weeds, and will do a quick acid scrub followed by thorough pressure wash. Any flaking portions of the existing paint I plan on taking care of as well.

What made you choose the stain over paint/coating? Do you have any insight into the products I've been considering?

 

[4knights]

I'm very interested in the replies you get on this thread as My deck is straight concrete just poured last October and I'm waivering between stain and a topping like kool deck. I don't know if I have the skill needed to lay down the kool deck as its supposed to be evenly troweled and that takes serious skill to keep the same height without lines.
How does the "Cool" product you're leaning towards get applied? Stain is simple as you spray it on and rinse it off (done that a hundred times for other projects)

 

[echosummet]

How does the "Cool" product you're leaning towards get applied?

It gets applied using a paint roller. Their website has some decent information but a lot of it seems like it could just be marketing gimmicks. Would be nice to hear from someone with experience with the product.

I plan on calling around to concrete specialists and pool builders this coming week to try and get some further insight. Was planning on getting the job done the following week but weather may be an issue so I will likely postpone until summer which will give more time to research.

 

[jhalpinjr]

I went with stain over paint due to longevity. Paints don't seem to last as long. In my case I used a solvent based stain with two colors.
A 3/8 nap roller for application. I used H&C solvent based stain, you can get at Sherwin Williams or Lowes.
I posted pictures ....I will try to find the link here

 

[echosummet]

I went with stain over paint due to longevity. Paints don't seem to last as long. In my case I used a solvent based stain with two colors.
A 3/8 nap roller for application. I used H&C solvent based stain, you can get at Sherwin Williams or Lowes.
I posted pictures ....I will try to find the link here

That looks like it would be a great choice, but Im not sure if it would work for me. I would need to etch the concrete first and couldn't do that over the current paint coat. So I would have to sand it then etch it, and honestly I dont know whats under it....its yellow and looks like another paint job but cant really tell. Also I would like something that would seal the small cracks as well. I could well be wrong about everything I just said, but thats the impression I get from reading their application instructions.

 

[Lowarea]

Do you have an update? I have a similar situation. What did you end up using?

 

[Vettechick99]

Do you have an update? I have a similar situation. What did you end up using?

Ditto. Any updates?

 

[bkilpatrick]

I have applied the Encore Cool product on many (~10) projects and have had excellent results. It has a nice texture and really does stay much cooler than the concrete. My customers are very satisfied.