The Best Concrete Pool Deck Colors

Tom Ralston Concrete in Santa Cruz, CA

Coloring is one of the best ways to beautify a concrete pool deck, give it more distinction, and make the deck blend in with its surroundings. Coloring usually goes hand-in-hand with other decorative concrete treatments, such as stamping or stenciling, allowing you to replicate the colors of natural stone or create unique medallions or other custom art.

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POPULAR POOL DECK COLORS

The sky's the limit when it comes to picking a color for your pool deck. However, keep in mind that lighter colors reflect sunlight and are cooler on the feet. See these concrete color charts to get an idea of the complete range of options.

White and Beige Concrete Pool Decks

White and light beige tones are quite popular for concrete pool decks because they evoke the look of a sandy beach and they reflect harsh sunlight so the deck stays cooler. Often these pool decks start with a white concrete mix to achieve the purity of color.

White-on-White Pool DeckUnique Concrete, West Milford, N.J.

Stamped Pool Deck in Beige and TanPatterned Concrete of PA, Allentown, Penn.

Vanishing Edge Pool Deck in Light WheatNobel Concrete, Jenison, Mich.

Brown & Tan Concrete Pool Decks

Shades of brown, tan, terra cotta and other earth-tones create stunning concrete pool decks that blend in beautifully with many backyard landscapes and complement most home exteriors. The color scheme is rustic and natural, giving the pool the look of a man-made pond.

Integrally Colored Pool Deck in Camel and CaramelCalifornia Decorative Concrete, El Dorado Hills, Calif.

Slate-Textured Pool Deck in Adobe Buff and Terra CottaConcrete by Design, Springboro, Ohio

Sandstone Slate Pool DeckKing Concrete, Embrun, Ontario

Gray & Blue Concrete Pool Decks

Gray concrete pool decks don’t have to look boring and ordinary. With the addition of darker gray color accents, such as pewter or charcoal, they can be given the rich look of slate or weathered flagstone. And by adding a touch of blue, they echo the color of the water and mimic the color of blue-gray river rock.

Aqua-Blue Pool DeckBDC Ltd., Longview, Texas

Seamless Slate Pool Deck in Light Gray and CharcoalA to Z Designer Concrete, Dittmer, Mo.

Roman Slate Pool Deck in Light and Dark Gray

Multicolored Concrete Pool Decks

By using a broader spectrum of colors and coloring methods, contractors can give concrete pool decks realistic stone or tile finishes and custom graphic enhancements. Another popular look is to color the pool coping in a contrasting shade to give it greater definition. Often these finishes require more skill, time and effort to install, but the results can transform the look of your poolscape.

Pool Deck Overlay with Acid-Stained FlagstoneConcrete Craftsmen, Santee, Calif.

Pool Deck with Stained Hand-Cut Flagstone PatternGreystone Masonry Inc, Stafford, Va.

Flagstone Pool Deck with Vine PatternDecorative Concrete Institute, Temple, Ga.

HOW TO CHANGE THE COLOR OF AN EXISTING POOL DECK

If you’re unhappy with the current color of your pool deck, here are your options for changing it:

• Stain the plain gray concrete around your pool to bring it to life
• Resurface your pool deck with a coating to create a blank canvas for any color you want
• Use a tinted sealer to enhance or recolor a pool deck that’s faded over time
• Apply pool deck paint for an easy and affordable transformation

COLORING TECHNIQUES

The most popular methods for coloring exterior concrete are chemical stains, integral color, and dry-shake hardeners. Each of these methods can be used alone or in combination to create unique multi-tonal effects. Many coloring methods offer myriad shades to choose from, allowing you to pick a hue that will best complement your home, landscape, or other elements in the vicinity of the pool. Custom color matching is also possible with many products.

Integral coloring admixtures infuse concrete with rich, long-lasting, fade-resistant color. It’s a popular option for exterior concrete because the color runs throughout the entire slab and will not fade due to sun or weather exposure. This coloring method also works well as a backdrop for contrasting accent or antiquing colors, such as pigmented release agents and stains. See Integral Color.

Acid, or chemical-based, concrete stains are an economical and highly versatile way to color both new and existing concrete pool decks. Stains can be applied by hand after the concrete sets, giving contractors the ability to add subtle hints of color or bolder design accents. Acid stains penetrate and react chemically with the concrete, creating natural color variations that add character and unique mottling effects. However, the color selection is generally limited to subtle earth tones, such as tans, browns, terra cottas, and soft blue-greens.

Water-based stains (typically a blend of acrylic polymers and pigments) penetrate the concrete to produce permanent color, ranging from translucent to opaque depending on the product. They go beyond the subtle color effects of acid-based stains and come in a much broader spectrum of hues. Most manufacturers offer dozens of standard colors to choose from (see these concrete stain color charts).

Dry-shake color hardeners and antiquing agents are the most popular coloring methods for stamped concrete pool decks because they produce realistic color variations similar to natural stone. Because the color is concentrated at the surface, it tends to be more intense than integral color. See Color Concrete with Concrete Color Hardener.

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