Exterior Surfaces
How to Clean a Pool Deck Without Damaging It
By Solpath Window Detailing · Published · Updated
How to clean a pool deck depends on what it is made of. Concrete pavers can be pressure washed with care, then have their joint sand topped up. Travertine is soft natural stone and needs lower pressure and no acid cleaners. Coated or textured decks can peel under high pressure and are better soft washed. On all of them, keep debris out of the pool and rinse the plants.
Know what your deck is
| Surface | Approach | Watch for |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete pavers | Pressure washing with a surface cleaner | Joint sand washes out and needs topping up |
| Travertine | Lower pressure and a stone-safe cleaner | Acid cleaners etch it; high pressure pits it |
| Coated or textured concrete | Low pressure or soft washing | High pressure lifts the coating |
| Bare poured concrete | Pressure washing with a surface cleaner | Stripes if a wand is used instead |
Protecting the pool
- Work away from the water, so dirt is pushed toward the drains and lawn, not into the pool
- Keep cleaning solutions from running into the pool
- Skim and rinse the edge when the job is done
Why decks go dark
A pool deck is wet most of the time and often partly shaded by a screen enclosure. Algae and mildew grow into the surface, especially along the edges and under furniture, and a deck that looks dirty is often a slippery one too.
Sealing
Many pavers and stone decks are sealed, and a cleaning can be followed by resealing. That is a separate job, and worth asking about at any quote so you know what is and is not included.
