Pools are the perfect place to cool off and relax during hot summer days, but they can also be a stunning focal point for a yard. Because of this, many pool owners opt for a well designed pool stone patio surrounding it. If you’re a pool owner and your patio surface is starting to look a little cracked or old or boring, it might be a good idea to start thinking of rejuvenating the space with some resurfacing.

There are many pool patio design ideas and pool patio surface ideas for this kind of project. Though many depend on budget/style preference, there are a few that commonly come up as the best pool patio surfaces. These ideas all allow you to remodel, without having to replace the entire patio. Here are just a few of these pool patio resurfacing ideas.

If you’re resurfacing, you’re likely going to be resurfacing the concrete patio around your pool. Plenty of pool patios these days are made of concrete, because the cost of pavers vs concrete is about $24 per square foot vs $12 per square foot, so it doesn’t break the bank. Plus, concrete is a very durable and reliable surface, and there are many ways it can be designed so it doesn’t just look gray and boring.

Stain

There are many concrete pool patio ideas to choose from, but one low cost way to rejuvenate your concrete is to stain it a different color. Stain is easy to apply and comes in countless different colors. It can easily turn your patio into something fun like brick color, or something classy like dark gray stone. It’s important to note if you have a stained concrete pool patio, or any other surface update you choose, you remember to reseal the concrete. Resealing concrete reduces wear and tear and enhances the sheen and color of the surface, so it lasts longer and stays looking nice.

There are two types of stain: acid and water based. If you want your patio to have a more unique look, acid stains affect the slabs in random shades that can make it look like marble, stone, or even leather. This type makes it so no two slabs are the same. Water based stain gives more of a consistent look, so you’ll always know what you’ll be getting.

Decorative

Not every concrete resurfacing idea has to be completely functional. In fact, there are many suitable solely decorative options. If you want the look of pavers but don’t want to pay the price, a good alternative is a modern stamped concrete pool deck, which is an overlay stamped to mimic stone pavers. Stamped concrete comes in a wide variety of patterns and colors, so it’s easier to choose what looks best for your unique pool area.

Three common stamping patterns include wood, seamless, and flagstone. If you want to go a step further to include unique decorative ideas, you can install pool coping that has an offset pattern to the stamp you choose. Pool coping is the material that caps the pool edge, and many pool owners utilize it to create a unique and functional outline to their pool area.

Recolor

Similar to staining, you can also recolor your pool patio with deck paint. Paint is just as easy and cheap to apply to the concrete, however, it is a bit messier, so make sure you set up something around it to keep from getting places you don’t want. One other possible downside to choosing paint over stain is that the paint just covers the concrete slab’s thin top layer, whereas the stain penetrates the slab.

Texture

If you want to go a step further in your design, there’s a few ways you can utilize texture. One way is through a rocky textured overlay. Rocky overlays can give new life to your concrete pool patio by giving it a cohesive, natural look. Texture is still a very affordable and easy option. This option is often referred to as an “epoxy pebble finish.” Another way to add texture is through a spray texture overlay, which is more subtle, but better suited for areas that will be walked on barefoot a lot.