[Kemper100]

So yea I'm helping my brother place / finish the concrete around his new pool project. I was talking to a concrete guy about it and when I said I'm going to apply a broom finish he was like oh no you don't want that and I said sell you don't want a slick hard trowel finish and he said I needed a light broom finish. All I've ever done are typical sidewalk type finish.

What is the correct finish for the concrete around a pool?

:glasses: :glasses: :glasses:

 

[tstex]

What part of the country are you located?

What is the size of the pool deck dimensions?

What type of soil is below the deck to be and is the area flat or hilly?

Regardless of what type of aesthetic look you are trying to achieve, you want to make sure the sub-surface is properly prepared.

In our part of the country, there's two types of concrete pool decks: those that are cracked and those that are going to crack.

My pool deck is about 1300 sq ft of 1.25" thick tumbled travertine in the Versaille pattern. It took 3 days to dig out 10 inches of clay.gumbo soil and remove, then 2 days compacting 8" of aggregate, then 1.5 days laying the stones along w the Portland cement and fine sand...5 days prep, 1.5 days laying stone...

 

[Kemper100]

What part of the country are you located? North east

What is the size of the pool deck dimensions? Dim (approx. 40' X 12') Lap Pool with a 4' apron around it.

What type of soil is below the deck to be and is the area flat or hilly? The behind the house hilly but my brother had a contractor install a retaining wall so the area has tamped and compacted fill bank run gravel and the area around the pool has 3/4 blue stone fill.

Regardless of what type of aesthetic look you are trying to achieve, you want to make sure the sub-surface is properly prepared. Agreed

In our part of the country, there's two types of concrete pool decks: those that are cracked and those that are going to crack. I think we have it covered, strong and stable...hopefully.

My pool deck is about 1300 sq ft of 1.25" thick tumbled travertine in the Versaille pattern. It took 3 days to dig out 10 inches of clay.gumbo soil and remove, then 2 days compacting 8" of aggregate, then 1.5 days laying the stones along w the Portland cement and fine sand...5 days prep, 1.5 days laying stone...

Thanks for the advise......what is the correct finish for the concrete around a pool?

:glasses: :glasses: :glasses:

 

[tstex]

Freezing or thrusting is one thing you will need to address if your NE location endures sustained freezing temperatures w moisture.

If your sub-surface base will prevent expansion and contraction from ice thrusting [in Hou it would be soil expanding and contracting from rain and drought, respectively], AND you have the proper expansion joints installed, your exterior design should not be an issue w superficial brush marks...a 4ft perimeter deck is not every big as well so you should be good.

Make sure those retaining walls are very robust for both pool and deck. There should be codes in your area for how close you can build to structures and retaining walls..make sure those are all checked-off...good luck

 

[Kemper100]

Looks like this dood is using a typical broom finish. He also leaves the joint marks and edger marks in after he brooms the the finish. He doesn't appear to use the edger against the pool bullnose.

Is that typical?

:glasses: :glasses: :glasses:

 

[Mike Milam]

I've only had one inground pool. Had it installed in 1978. When the deck was poured within so many hours they applied a material called "cool deck". It was sort of like a cement and was weird to watch them put it down. They basically dipped the mix (wet) out of a bucket and slung in on the concrete and then troweled it. The left divots all over it and then cut a flagstone pattern in it with trowels. I'm attaching a picture but I'm not sure how clear it is.

BTW, that deck never got hot in the hottest part of summer.

 

[Kemper100]

So back to the original question...

What is the correct finish for the concrete around a pool.....is a sidewalk broom finish ok to use?

 

[tstex]

So back to the original question...

What is the correct finish for the concrete around a pool.....is a sidewalk broom finish ok to use?

Kemp, one last question...what are you using for the coping around the pools edge?

 

[bob22]

My pool has a broomed finish on it but I would say it is less aggressive than seen on sidewalk at front of house. A bit easier on the feet but still slip resistant.

 

[Kemper100]

Kemp, one last question...what are you using for the coping around the pools edge?

Plastic coping the mfg sent with the kit.

 

[tstex]

I believe you will be ok w the broomed finish, just want to make sure your finish integrates well w the coping...do you have a pic and instructions on how the "plastic" coping is supposed to be installed?

 

[Kemper100]

I believe you will be ok w the broomed finish, just want to make sure your finish integrates well w the coping...do you have a pic and instructions on how the "plastic" coping is supposed to be installed?

No picture but the coping fastens to the top of the metal pool wall. I'm trying to figure out if you would use the edger against the coping like you would on the outside edge of the ............I'm thinking not.

 

[stadry]

horsepuckey !

yes, if anyone's conc isn't properly jointed, it will crack randomly,,, yes, if either dynamic or static loads are over-limit, it will crack randomly,,, we overlay maybe 30-35 pool decks/patios yr,,, everyone wants their cracks gone but nobody can make them disappear unless you replace the conc

co be attentive when jointing & your conc will NEVER crack

texture of finishing depends on broom bristles

 

[jomama45]

Most pool decks we pour get a light broom finish, which requires a specialized broom made for fresh concrete, not a typical push broom. I would not edge against the coping, you don't want to invite water to collect there. We always tape the coping well and strip the tape after we broom.