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Pool decks
Pool Deck Care in Phoenix: Maintenance, Warning Signs and When to Call
· 2 min read · Deck Builders LLC
Sun, chlorine and sudden storms wear a pool deck faster than almost any other surface at home. A little regular care roughly doubles the time between major repairs.
A routine that works
- Sweep or blow weekly: Dust and grit act like sandpaper underfoot. Do it again after any dust storm.
- Rinse regularly: A hose is usually enough. Use mild soap for marks, and a pressure washer only on a low setting.
- Clean up chemical spills at once: Chlorine and acid etch and discolor most surfaces.
- Watch where water sits: Puddles that remain after an hour point to a drainage or settlement problem.
- Reseal on schedule: Concrete, pavers and stone generally need resealing every two to three years, sooner in all-day sun.
- Trim plants back: Leaves and berries stain, and roots lift and crack.
- Add shade: It protects the surface as well as your feet.
Warning signs
- Cracks that widen or multiply: Hairline cracks in concrete are common. Growing ones are not.
- Uneven or shifting sections: A trip hazard and a sign the base is moving.
- Patchy fading or discoloration: Often a sealer that has failed.
- Loose pavers or a shaky railing: Fix these first. They are safety problems.
- Green or black patches: Algae grows even here, in shade and damp, and it is slippery.
- White powdery deposits: Mineral salts carried up by moisture. Persistent deposits mean water is moving through the surface.
- A surface that has turned slick: The texture has worn away or the wrong sealer was used.
When to call a professional
- Significant cracking or movement: Patching the top does not fix the cause underneath.
- Water that will not drain: The slope or drainage needs correcting.
- A worn-out surface: Resurfacing takes grinding equipment and experience to do evenly.
- Anything affecting safety: Around a pool, do not wait.
- When you are not sure: An inspection costs little and either settles your mind or catches a problem early.
