We recently finished a pool deck coating in Aurora, CO at a high school natatorium. The deck now carries a slip-resistant epoxy and polyaspartic system built for constant water and chlorine.
An indoor pool deck is hard to specify correctly. It stays wet most of the day. Swimmers walk on it barefoot. Chlorinated water splashes across it all season. On top of that, it has to stay slip resistant for years without being harsh underfoot.
What we found on the existing deck
The concrete deck had been in service for years. Decks like this usually show the same pattern. The topical coating wears thin or delaminates. The slab loses texture in the high-traffic lanes. Stains build up around the drains. Water sits in the wall-to-floor joint and works its way in.
So the first step was opening up the surface. We ground the deck mechanically to strip the failed coating and contaminants. That also builds the concrete surface profile the new system needs. Next came spot repairs and profiling.
Prep is not a corner to cut. In fact, skipping it is the most common reason pool deck coatings fail. A resinous system is only as good as its bond to the slab underneath.
One clarification. All West Surface Prep does not pour concrete. Instead, we prep, level, and coat concrete that is already there.
The Aurora pool deck coating system
We installed a two-part buildup.
First, an epoxy base coat with broadcast aggregate. The epoxy provides film build and adhesion. Aggregate broadcast into the wet epoxy creates the texture that makes the deck slip resistant. Because that broadcast controls comfort underfoot, it is the part most often specified wrong.
Second, a polyaspartic topcoat. It locks the aggregate in place and resists chlorine. It also holds color under UV from skylights and windows. As a result, staff get a surface that mops clean instead of trapping grime.
Details that decide how long it lasts
Integral cove base. Where the deck meets the wall, we ran the coating up into a cove. Therefore water has no square joint to sit in and work behind.
Coated stairs. The treads carry the same aggregate profile as the deck. Otherwise a slip-resistant deck would hand off to slick stairs, and stairs are where most natatorium incidents happen.
Drain terminations. The coating stops cleanly below the grates. Feathered edges chip first, so we avoid them.
Why schools choose a resinous system
Districts usually weigh three options. They can repaint. They can seal bare concrete. Or they can install a full resinous system.
Paint and sealers cost less on day one. However, both fail early in a wet chlorine environment. A properly prepped epoxy and polyaspartic system lasts far longer. It also keeps a documented slip-resistance profile for risk management and cuts cleaning hours for staff.
The calendar matters too. Natatorium work has to fit summer break or a short shutdown. Polyaspartic cures fast, so a compressed schedule stays realistic.
Get a pool deck coating quote in Aurora, CO
We work with school districts, rec centers, universities, hotels, and commercial aquatic facilities. Our crews cover Colorado, Wyoming, New Mexico, Utah, South Dakota, and Arizona. All West Surface Prep has prepped and coated concrete since 1990.
Is your deck peeling or losing texture before next season? Then a walkthrough is the place to start. We will review the existing system, check the slab, and build a scope that fits your shutdown window.
Call (303) 573-7737 or use the contact form to schedule.