Today’s homeowner is no longer content with a drab slab of concrete surrounding their pool. Pools have become part larger outdoor living spaces with waterfalls, fire pits and outdoor dining rooms. Decorative concrete has given designers and contractors the freedom to create functional, affordable pool decks that complement the home’s exterior and blend with the outdoor environment to add and enhance living and entertaining space.

Decorative concrete lets designers select a size, shape or color to create any look at a fraction of the cost of other materials. Expensive materials like slate, stone and wood are easily replicated in concrete with patterns like pavers, flagstone and tile. Combining design elements like colored and stamped pavers or saw-cut patterns with flagstone coping or banded borders adds interest without driving up costs unbearably.

Existing decks can be transformed by using overlays to eliminate the bother and cost of tearing out the old concrete. Today’s overlay products blend polymer resins with cement, sand and additives that bond strongly to existing concrete and are easily sprayed or troweled on. Besides offering a wide choice of colors, many can be stamped or stenciled, allowing the same effects possible with newly poured concrete. Some also have additives to resist UV fading and exposure to salt and pool chemicals. Fast-drying formulas let you transform a pool deck in as little as a day.

Concrete’s slip-resistance, durability and low maintenance have made it a favorite for pool decks everywhere. With all the new materials and techniques available today, designing and building a pool deck that is unique, beautiful and affordable is within reach of nearly anyone with a pool. Take a look at these design ideas for a look at the many ways you can build a concrete pool deck that’s a focal point for outdoor living and entertaining.

For more information about designing and building pool decks, visit ConcreteNetwork.com.

Sophisticated outdoor living spaces are one of the fastest-growing items on homeowners’ must-have lists, and the right tools ensure results you’ll be proud to show off. Whatever your concrete cutting and coring requirements may be, equipment and tools from Ace Cutting Equipment are your choice for top-quality results.