To make concrete less slippery Ralston broadcasts a
light mesh sand (100 grit or smaller) on the surface
when applying sealer. "Another material that is
effective and enhances the look of the deck is finely
crushed glass," he says. "We prefer yellow
glass because it has a subtle look, although when the
sun shines on the glass there is a very beautiful sparkle
that emanates from the deck." McMahon warns that
sand must be incorporated into the sealer every time
the deck is resealed in order to maintain slip resistance.
Copings and Cantilevers
The decks edge, where the concrete meets the water,
is a great opportunity for adding visual interest. "The
coping is a nice feature to play colors and textures
on,' Ralston says. "It basically picture-frames
the pool, so colors are important. Also, you can use
the coping and texture to match adjacent bands, steps
and caps on, for example, surrounding seat walls. The
coping then relates to many features in the pool deck
hardscape and neatly ties it all together."
