One of the best things about Los Angeles? Our swimming pools! Los Angeles is known for our pools and our pool culture. Spending days lounging by the pool. Parties by the pool. Late night swims. Have you ever considered how you could make that experience even better? How about getting rid of that boring grey slab of concrete around your pool and replacing it with the more luxe stamped and stained concrete?
Stamped and stained concrete? Yes! Concrete can be stained and stamped to mimic the look and feel of almost any flooring -- from hardwood to natural stone and pavers. Not only that, but concrete is cheaper, easier to maintain and more durable than any other flooring out there.
You have probably seen examples of stamped concrete all over Los Angeles without even realizing it. With stamped concrete, the concrete is stamped after it is poured, giving the concrete the appearance of almost any surface you want -- wood, pavers, natural stone, brick. The stamps are molded from the actual material, so wood stamps are molded from wood, brick stamps are molded from actual bricks, etc. That means, with staining, the concrete can mimic both the look and feel of the actual material.
Installing a stamped concrete pool deck in Los Angeles may be easier than you think. The first thing you have to do is take a look at what you have around your pool already. Do you have concrete? Pavers? Something else? As with any home improvement project, you will want to discuss your options with an experienced contractor to get an idea of what the project will entail. If you currently have a concrete pool deck that is in pretty good shape, you could just install an overlay.
When you install a concrete overlay, any small cracks are repaired before a new layer of concrete is poured over the old one. That new layer can then be stamped and stained however you want it.
If, however, your concrete is showing a lot of damage -- large cracks, heaving, etc. -- it may need to be removed before fresh concrete is poured.
Design Options: With concrete, you can choose almost any design you want -- including personalized stamps!
Maintenance: When properly sealed, concrete pool decks are very easy to maintain. Stamped concrete resists fading from the sun, water and harsh pool chemicals. When properly maintained and resealed every few years, your concrete pool deck can last for decades.
Safety: Don’t worry about slipping on concrete. Non-skid grit additive can be added to the sealer to improve traction.
Comfort: We all know that pool decks bake under the sun. Who enjoys searing their feet on that hot concrete? When you stain your concrete, you can choose a lighter color that will not absorb as much heat. You can contrast the light color with a darker one to create a sophisticated look.
With stamped and stained concrete, your design options are almost unlimited. Some popular choices include:
Wood Stamped Concrete: A wood deck is often a dream for many homeowners. With stamped and stained concrete, you can get the luxurious look of a hardwood deck at a fraction of the cost, with a more durable surface.
Ashlar Slate: With a mix of rectangular shapes, this pattern gives your patio the appearance of cut stone. This is especially true when you add color to the mix.
Random Stone: This more organic look uses patterns that give an appearance of naturally occurring stone. The highlight of the design is the randomness of the pattern.
Plain design: A plain, grey design with straight lines will likely run about $3 to $6 per square foot.
Simple design: A more simple design that uses just one color and one decorative stamp will probably cost about $15 to $20 per square foot.
Custom design: Looking for something more elaborate? A custom design using two or three colors with a contrasting border will end up costing about $20 to $25 per square foot.
Elaborate design: Ready for the ultimate in eye-catching, high-end results? When you choose a more elaborate design with hand-applied coloring, borders and sawcut designs you will end up with amazing results. This will run $15 or more per square foot.