Pool decks can be a pain to keep clean and look good. They’re exposed to the elements, which means they get dirty quickly, but you also need to be careful that nothing gets into your pool while working on your deck. If you don’t want to spend the time or money on professional help (which is understandable), here’s an easy DIY fix for resealing your pool deck:
Reset the Flagstone
- Remove the old caulk with a hammer and chisel.
- Please clean up the joint with a wire brush, then use a masonry chisel to reset the flagstone (ensure you’ve got enough mortar between each stone, so it doesn’t move).
Inject the Mortar
Once the joints are cut and cleaned, injecting the mortar is time. Use a pneumatic injector to inject the mortar into each joint. To do this, place a trowel on one side of the joint, then use another tool. A power drill with a mixing bit or a hand mixer mixes up some mortar. Once you’ve mixed up your mortar, use that tool to shoot small amounts into each joint from above or below.
Remove the Caulk
- Use a utility knife and scrape away the caulk with the blade’s sharp edge.
- If removing the caulk was challenging with a knife, try using a razor blade scraper. These tools are specifically designed to remove caked-on grime and paint from surfaces. They can also be used to remove excess caulking around deck joints.
- Suppose neither of these methods works for you. In that case, chemical removers on the market can dissolve caulk residue quickly and efficiently.
Clean the Joints
- Use a wire brush to remove any dirt or debris from the joints.
- Using a small amount of water and a soft brush, clean the joints.
- If you have a power washer, use that to clean your deck’s joints.
- Dry off with a dry towel after you have finished cleaning your deck’s joints
Mix and Apply the Sealant
Now that you’ve primed the pool deck, it’s time to seal it. Sealants come in two main varieties: acrylic and vinyl. Acrylic sealants are usually a little more expensive, but they last longer and adhere better than vinyl ones. If you’re planning on resealing your pool deck every year or so, acrylic is probably worth the extra money up front; if you don’t plan on resealing until years down the road (say, after 15 years), then stick with vinyl because it’ll be cheaper over time.
Depending on which type of sealant you bought and how much mixing your local hardware store clerk (the clerk did not talk about how much mixing was required), there will be some leftovers at this point. You should either keep this second batch—if there is one—for future projects or toss it out now so that no one ever has a chance to use something that your hands have touched without first sanitizing them thoroughly with bleach or other disinfectant substance before putting their fingers anywhere near those sealed surfaces again!
Once all of the necessary materials are gathered together and ready for application onto our newly-primed surface, we can get started applying them directly onto our freshly-sandblasted area where we had already sprayed down several layers of protective coating overtop what was initially used when we first bought these things during our last visit here at Home Depot earlier today where they gave me discounts because they knew I needed help getting my yard cleaned up before summer comes around again next year when all their customers start complaining about how dirty everything looks after being unable.
Wipe Away Excess Sealant
A damp cloth is the best tool to remove excess sealant from the joints. A brush can also be used, but it’s not ideal because you can damage the sealant. A power washer or pressure washer to clean your deck should not use too much force. They may cause damage to your patio or even break through the surface. It would help if you also avoided sanding and power tools. These could gouge or scratch the finish of your new sealant job. A wire brush will also mark your deck’s surface, so don’t use one of these!
It is a simple fix to reseal your pool deck, but you’ll need to plan on two days at least one week apart.
Sealing your deck is not a weekend project. Please don’t go into it thinking that you will be able to seal your deck in one day. Or you’ll have it look beautiful by the end of the weekend. This process takes time for everything to dry out properly, and a rush job means air bubbles or moisture may be trapped under the finish coat of stucco.
To begin with, you’ll need to ensure that all your tools and materials are ready. Do this before starting any work on your deck. You may also want someone to help with this project. They can act as an extra set of hands if needed.[2]
It’s a simple fix to reseal your pool deck. Make sure you plan on two days at least one week apart.
