Your pool deck can be a nice place to relax outside your home, but the upkeep of it is something that is sometimes overlooked. Over time, a number of factors can lead to wear and tear, both on the surface and below it. These issues can pose a risk to safety or make your deck look unsightly, and they’re signs that your pool deck needs repair. Knowing what signs to look for can help you address the problem early on before it gets worse and leads to more costly repairs.

There are a few primary factors that can negatively impact your pool deck over time, and they are important to keep in mind when you’re looking for signs that you need repair. Here are a few common factors:

• Weather & Temperature Changes: Extreme shifts in the temperature and the weather can slowly wear down a pool deck’s surface.
• Salt & Pool Chemicals: Over time, a buildup of salt or chemicals, depending on the type of pool you have, can break down the concrete or the surrounding soil to create instability.
• Installation: The installation process can play a large part in a pool deck’s integrity and lead to more problems if the deck is poorly made.
• Soil Movement: Soil gradually shifts due to temperature and weather changes and can move enough to affect the pool deck’s structure.
• Foot Traffic: A pool deck can be a busy place when you, your family, or your guests spend a lot of time on it, and it can slowly cause wear and tear to the surface.

Cracks are one of the most common, visible signs of damage to your pool deck. These can be caused by a few different factors, including temperature changes, soil movement, and poor construction. While most cracks tend to be small, they can widen over time and create tripping hazards or leaks from your pool. They can also affect the overall structure of your pool deck and lead to more severe structural damage.

It’s important for cracks to be addressed quickly, even when they’re small. They will either need to be filled, sealed, or if the damage is significant, you may need to have the deck resurfaced.

Another common sign of damage is when pieces of your pool deck’s surface begin to chip or flake off. This is known as spalling, and it can be caused by prolonged exposure to moisture, the temperature changing to above or below freezing, or exposure to pool water. The chemicals in a chlorine pool can break down the surface, but a saltwater pool can cause the surface to spall even faster at times.

This creates a rough, unappealing surface that isn’t comfortable to walk across. When this happens, it’s best to get your pool deck resurfaced or sealed to restore the surface.

If you’re starting to notice water pooling up on your pool deck, it may be a sign of a bigger issue like improper drainage or a lack of a sloped surface. When water doesn’t drain away from the pool deck, it can create slipping hazards and cause soil erosion, which can damage concrete over time.

The best way to fix this issue is to have your pool deck regraded, or to install better drainage systems to keep any water from building up and causing more damage.

Over time, you may start to notice discolored or stained spots on your pool deck’s surface. This issue primarily makes your pool deck look unappealing, but it can be a sign your surface is deteriorating and vulnerable to more damage.

Stains and discoloration are caused by UV ray exposure, unbalanced pool water chemistry, dirt, or algae. To avoid this issue, you should have your pool deck sealed and regularly cleaned and maintained.

Underneath the surface of your pool deck, expansion joints are designed to allow the concrete to expand and contract with temperature changes, preventing cracks and other structural issues. However, these joints can wear out, become loose, or even break. When this happens, the slabs of the pool deck may begin to shift or crack, leading to uneven surfaces and the risk of further deterioration.

If left unaddressed, they can cause significant structural problems that are much more expensive to fix. It’s important to have these expansion joints replaced or repaired to keep the concrete stable and to prevent more dangerous damage.

If portions of your deck seem sunken or uneven, it’s a common sign for structural issues below the surface. This can happen when the soil settles or erodes and causes the concrete about it to sink or shift. This can lead to an unattractive surface, tripping hazards, or even water pooling up.

Releveling the pool deck is one solution, but it may only be temporary. To avoid further damage, the best way to fix it is by replacing it.

Some pool decks have a slip resistant or protective coating, such as cool decking or a decorative concrete topping slab, and you may notice spots where the coating has worn down or chipped off. This can be caused by harsh weather, heavy foot traffic, and pool chemicals breaking the coating down little by little.

A deteriorating coating can create a risk of someone slipping and can overall make your pool deck look worn down. This can be fixed through resurfacing or applying a better protective coating over the surface to restore it.

If you’re beginning to see signs of damage to your pool deck, it’s better to act quickly before they get worse, and to keep the repair cost effective. The first step to maintaining your deck, though, is through proper pool deck repair, which is where Concrete Solutions of Atlanta comes in. Our team can provide reliable pool deck repair to help keep your pool deck looking as good as new! Get in touch with us today for a free quote, or to schedule with us.