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Wayne, NJ Pool Deck Resurface

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This was a pool deck resurface that had a couple of very interesting challenges. This was a very old pool with fiberglass walls and a concrete bottom. The existing coping was a piece of rubber in a metal track which had begun to get loose. The first challenge was to create a cast in place coping that would hide that metal track once the rubber was removed. Once the coping was completed, we could then correct a couple of drainage issues on the pool deck. We also honored the existing expansion joints in the slab in a decorative way by creating a brick row lock. Another challenge to this job was how to deal with the area of the pool deck next to the wooden deck. There was existing curbing there that was several different heights. We decided to turn this area into a decorative accent by creating a seat wall faced with cultured stone. We poured a heavily reinforced wall in front of the existing curbs up to the bottom of the deck. We then capped the wall with our cast in place concrete tile in a color that would match the coping. Once that was complete we faced the wall with the cultured stone. All work was done in a weeks time and since there was no demolition involved, there was no disturbance to the existing landscape.

Bulkhead Repairs, Concrete Bulkheads

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Now that summer has come to a close, many lakes in our area are beginning their draw down process to allow homeowners the opportunity to make repairs and renovations to their docks and bulkheads.  We encourage you to take advantage of this situation and assess your property to see if you are in need of repairs.  Whether you are in need of a few simple repairs or a completely new sea wall, we have the knowledge and expertise to get the job done.  Not only can we provide natural stone walls and poured concrete bulkheads, but we are now able to offer a cast-in-place stone wall using our concrete formliners.   We can also renovate the horizontal portions of your property that abut your floating docks, as well as the top of the bulkhead.  Typically this area already has concrete of some sort that was covered at one point in time with wood.  Composites are now very popular in this area, but often are more expensive and require more maintenance.  We can resurface this area with our unique cast-in-place concrete tile.

Here are a few pictures of our work.

Recently Completed Project

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A few photos of our most recent project.

Concrete Over Wooden Deck: Discussion with the President of Concrete Network

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How to Cover Over Old Wood Decks and Floors with Decorative Concrete

You will be intrigued just as I was by the concept of poured concrete over weathered wood decks and interior wooden floors that have settled unevenly in old houses. Think how much nicer these areas could look as long as they can be made structurally sound enough to handle the addtional weight.

Unique Concrete has been involved in this use of stamped concrete for several years. Most of the work in these areas have been retrofits which are more difficult to address than new construction. The process has worked so well that Unique Concrete would like to promote the concept more toward new decks and areas that could be designed from scratch to handle the additional weight. Then you could have the beauty of custom masonry in elevated areas over wood and in a cost effective manner.

Barry Fisher of Unique Concrete wrote me the following letter:

Hi Jim,

My sons and I would like to share a concept with you that could develop into another area for decorative concrete to expand. This concept involves placing an inch and a half of patterned concrete on the horizontal areas of wooden decks.

The process offers people another alternative for decks and promotes the lasting beauty of custom masonry. I have attached several before and after pictures of retrofits that we have been involved with recently.

The benefits for using concrete on the wear surface are numerous:

Besides the aesthetics, you now have something that is rot proof, insect proof, easy to maintain even in the harshest climates, and will retard the spread of fire.
On elevated decks, this decorative solid surface will provide you with a rain-free area underneath and if you choose to screen in your deck, it will aid you in creating an insect free environment.
Our oldest decks go back 20+ years, and there are no problems that I’m aware of.

Barry Fisher
Unique Concrete
www.uniqueconcretenj.com
uc@uniqueconcretenj.com