built before the mid-1990s, it’s probably covered with that familiar mottled-beige concrete.
Today, acrylic is becoming even more popular than Kool Deck because it’s easier to install and maintain. Here are the
pros and cons of each:
Kool Deck
Keystone Kool Deck was invented by a Tucson company, Mortex, in 1962 for use as a surface coating over concrete
swimming pool decks, walkways and patios. Applied to freshly poured concrete, Kool Deck creates a colored, textured
concrete surface that the manufacturer says is as strong as the base concrete.
Kool Deck Pros:
lowers the surface temperature of concrete by around 20 degrees, more than any other deck material.
withstands thermal expansion and contraction better than concrete.
Is fairly easy to clean.
Kool Deck Cons:
is more complicated to install than acrylic, so it takes someone trained specifically in the use of that deck topper. If you
go with Kool Deck, make sure your installer is trained and experienced in applying this specific material.
fades under the Arizona sun, so its color is hard to match if you have to patch it up during a repair.
must be applied to freshly poured concrete before the concrete cures in order to bond properly.
Acrylic
An alternative to Kool Deck is a thin coat of acrylic or polymer concrete, usually a mixture of modified acrylic resin,
Portland cement and sand, applied over plain concrete to give it a texture.
Acrylic Pros:
can be fashioned to look like flagstone, Saltillo tile, brick and even Kool Deck.
can be acid-stained or custom-textured for a unique look around the pool.
may be applied to new or old concrete.
is usually finished with a solvent-based sealant that makes it stain resistant and easy to clean
Acrylic Cons:
when textured, is cooler than plain concrete, but not as cool as Kool Deck
it does not last as long as Kool Deck.
-Rosie On the House
PROCESS
Kool Deck is a cementitious product that is
extremely durable and long lasting.
Kool Deck is a brand of pool coating
created by Mortex in 1962.
The aggregate and paint color are mixed
with water until achieving a milky
consistency.
The mix is then “thrown down” using a
large brush directly into a recently poured
concrete surface or “green” concrete.
Once the material and the concrete set,
the combination creates a durable,
beautiful, textured, non skid surface
for pool decks, patios, and walkways.
Entire process typically takes 1 day.
NOTE:
For existing concrete (concrete that is grey
and has set over time) we recommend an
acrylic overlay coating.
ADVANTAGES:
Kool Deck is cooler to the touch than most
cementitious products due to its texture the
lighter the color choice the cooler the
cementitious products due to its texture
temperature.temperature.
It is very durable.
Lifetime: 20-30 years
It is skid resistant.
SPECS:
Thickness: 1/4″
