Is Stamped Concrete Slippery Around a Pool?
Stamped concrete can be a great alternative to stone, brick and tile. It’s an affordable material that can transform your outdoor living space. But is is stamped concrete slippery around a pool? Let’s take a look.
Stamped concrete can be slippery around pools, because the texture isn’t as rough as traditional concrete. But this material can still be safe, as long as you prepare the surface correctly.
What is Stamped Concrete?
As we briefly mentioned above, stamped concrete is a building material designed to resemble stones, tile, brick, and wood. There are many different colors and textures that can make stamped concrete unique.
After the concrete has been poured, builders will use stamping pads to form a shape. This will create a customized pattern on the surface that can look like textures other than concrete.
This process is much faster than laying down bricks, pavers, or other stones. Plus, stamped concrete isn’t as expensive as tile – which makes it a much more affordable option for homeowners.
Is Stamped Concrete Slippery Around a Pool?
Like most surfaces when wet, stamped concrete can be somewhat slick around a pool. During the stamping process most of the roughness gets taken out of the material.
For example, you will notice more pores on a regular concrete patio, or sidewalk. But these tiny little holes get pressed down once enough pressure has been applied to the concrete from the stamp.
How to Make Stamped Concrete Less Slippery
By now you should know that stamped concrete can be slick in some situations. The good news is there are a few different options you have, in order to make this material less slippery.
1. Use Non-Slick Sealer
It’s always a good idea to use a well-known construction company if you want to get the best results possible. This same rule applies to installing stamped concrete around a pool.
Sure, you can save some money by doing it yourself, but the results will look sloppy. Make sure the contractor uses a non-slick sealer on top of your stamped concrete surface.
After the concrete has been stamped, it should be dried, power washed, and dried again. The last step is to use a high quality sealer, that will give you added security when walking on it.
2. Minimize the Slope
It should come as no surprise that surfaces with an aggressive slope will be more slick. This is something to keep in mind when designing the area around a pool with stamped concrete.
There needs to be some degree of a slope so water can drain and you can avoid puddles. But you should keep the grade minimal, so people can have some friction without risking a fall.
All of this should be figured out before any concrete is poured. The contractor should put a plan in place so that water will be able to drain (without puddling) and the surface isn’t that steep.
3. Create Rough Textures
There are many different styles, colors, and textures you can choose when it comes to stamped concrete. But if you’re looking for a less slippery surface, selecting the right texture is critical.
Avoid the random stone patterns, as these will be the most flat and more slippery. Instead you should opt for a pattern with some type of texture built in to the stamping mat.
This will shape the concrete so the surface feels rough to the touch. And if you combine a minimized slope with a rough texture pattern, it’s even less likely that someone will slip on the surface.
4. Add Color Hardener
Another way to make stamped concrete less slippery is to add color hardener. This can be applied just before the stamping process begins and it’s more of a permanent solution.
The coarse material from the color hardener can be made up of sand, crushed stone, gravel, or recycled concrete. These very fine particles get embedded into the concrete surface.
This can be another alternative to using polymer grit in the sealer. Where a non-slick sealer is a layer that gets applied to the stamped concrete, the color hardener will sit on top of the surface.
Other Safety Tips
Walk around the pool – If you want to lower your chances of slipping on stamped concrete, you should always walk around the pool. Although this may seem common for adults, it’s a much more difficult practice for kids to follow. Make sure you teach children how dangerous slipping can be, so they can follow safe practices.
Avoid making puddles – Swimming is one thing, but creating big waves will only make stamped concrete more slippery. Avoid jumping in the water and making big waves that spill onto your patio. This will only create puddles around the edge of the pool. More water on this slick surface will make unsafe conditions.
Wear proper footwear – If you don’t plan on swimming, wearing shoes around the pool can also lower your chances of slipping. Some shoes have tread patterns that will improve your traction when walking. But this really depends on the kind of shoe. Any kind of traction from footwear is better than wet feet.
Don’t swim in the rain – Swimming in the rain is fine (as long as there isn’t any lighting). But heavy amounts of rain water will also create puddles. You will have to walk a lot slower around the pool, so it’s best to just avoid the patio when it’s this wet. The stamped concrete will be much more slick.
Final Thoughts
This article began with a simple question: is stamped concrete slippery around a pool? The quick answer is yes, but that doesn’t mean you should avoid this building material when designing a patio.
There are many different ways to make stamped concrete less slick. You can use the right sealer, minimize the slope, create a rough texture, and even add a color hardener.
All of these options will make for a safer surface. Plus, you can save money when building as stamped concrete is the most affordable option.
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