Cool Deck Coating in Lakewood Ranch, FL
Kool Deck, spray deck and knockdown texture recoats for concrete pool decks: what each system is, how it goes down, and how long it lasts in Florida sun.
Cool deck coating in Lakewood Ranch costs about $4 to $7 a square foot, roughly $2,400 to $4,200 for a 600 sq ft pool deck, and lasts five to eight years before the next recoat. Lakewood Ranch Pool Deck Co handles Kool Deck and spray-knockdown recoats, plus the crack repair that comes first.
Kool Deck, Spray Deck and Knockdown: What the Names Mean
"Cool deck" is used for any light, textured pool deck topping, but the systems behind the name are applied differently.
| Kool Deck (Mortex) | Spray texture (e.g. SUNDEK Classic Texture) | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | White cement and marble sand topping | Copolymer-modified cementitious texture plus acrylic color coats |
| How it goes on | Splashed on twice with a dash brush, then troweled; Mortex says it cannot be applied with a hopper gun | Sprayed from a hopper, knocked down with a trowel edge, then two acrylic finish coats |
| Thickness | About 1/8 in, roughly 60% texture voids | Base coat at least 1/8 in |
| Use again | No contact 48 h, light walking after 3 days, normal after 14, furniture after 28 | Protect from moisture and traffic for 24 h |
| Weather | 50 F and rising, not over 90 F, no rain forecast | Not in wet weather |
Sources: Mortex, Kool Deck on existing concrete; SUNDEK Classic Texture specification.
Neither maker publishes a number for how much cooler the surface runs. Mortex says Kool Deck significantly lowers the surface temperature of concrete and that its darker Designer Colors run warmer than standard colors; SUNDEK says its texture is cooler than concrete, brick or tile. Pick the lightest color you can live with; the pool deck too hot guide compares cool deck with travertine, pavers and paint.
The Cool Deck Recoat Process
- Test and strip. Sound the old coating; anything hollow, peeling or painted comes off. Kool Deck on existing concrete starts with an acid wash and a bonding agent.
- Repair. Route and seal cracks with flexible sealant and patch spalls; see pool deck crack repair.
- Mask. Coping, tile line, drains, screen frame bases and door thresholds.
- Texture. The texture coat goes on and is knocked down while workable.
- Finish and cure. Color or seal coats, then the cure times above before full use. Kool Deck is cured under plastic for two days.
Why Not Just Paint It?
Because paint changes the surface you paid for. Mortex's own Systex deck paint page says it does not provide cooling properties and that on a Kool Deck surface the area becomes hotter and slicker. Paint suits plain concrete; a faded cool deck needs a texture recoat. The trade-offs are on the pool deck painting page.
Caring for a Cool Deck Between Recoats
- Clean with strong soap and water; Mortex says owners should not acid wash Kool Deck themselves.
- With a salt chlorinator, rinse the deck often so salt does not build up.
- A solvent-free silicone siloxane repellent such as Mortex Protect-A-Deck gives five to ten years of water repellency.
- Keep pressure low when washing; a wand held close wears texture down.
Source: Mortex Kool Deck care and cleaning.
Cool Deck Coating Lakewood Ranch FL: Questions
What is cool deck coating?
Cool deck is a thin, light-colored cement-based topping with a knockdown texture, laid over a concrete pool deck to make it cooler and grippier underfoot. The original is Mortex's Kool Deck, invented in 1962; spray-applied versions such as SUNDEK's Classic Texture, sold since 1970, give a similar surface. Mortex describes Kool Deck as a textured cement surface as strong as the base concrete.
How much does cool deck coating cost?
About $4 to $7 a square foot for an acrylic texture (cool deck style) coating on a Sarasota-area deck, per a local coating company's 2026 guide, and $4 to $6 for Kool Deck on HomeGuide's national figures. A 600 sq ft Lakewood Ranch deck is roughly $2,400 to $4,200 before crack repair or removal of a failing old coat.
How long does cool deck last in Florida?
An acrylic texture coat is rated five to eight years in DecoCrete's 2026 Sarasota guide, after which it is recoated rather than replaced. Life is shortened by hard pressure washing, salt or chlorine residue left on the surface, and coating over cracks. A siloxane water repellent such as Mortex Protect-A-Deck adds protection between recoats.
Is cool deck slippery when wet?
Less than paint or smooth concrete: Mortex calls Kool Deck a non-skid textured surface, even when wet, and SUNDEK markets its texture as slip-resistant. A cool deck that has been painted over or sealed with a glossy film loses much of that grip, which is one reason Mortex warns that painting Kool Deck makes it hotter and slicker.
Can cool deck be repaired instead of recoated?
Small chips and cracks can be patched, but patches rarely match faded surrounding texture, so most worn decks are recoated as a whole after the cracks are repaired. If the coating sounds hollow or lifts in sheets, it has lost its bond and must come off before anything new goes on.
Can cool deck go over pavers or travertine?
No. Mortex says Kool Deck will not bond to brick, wood, tile or natural stone, so it only goes over concrete. A paver or travertine deck is sealed and repaired instead; see paver sealing.
Tell the contractor what is on the deck now and the rough square footage.