A pool deck fit for Royalty. Protect the beauty of your hardscape pool deck

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Today's swimming pool decks have come a long way in terms of beauty and design. More and more homes with pools now feature the latest in elegant hardscape paver designs which can transform a typical backyard into an opulent space fit for royalty.

Be it concrete, natural stone, clay, brick or other choices, hardscape materials are rapidly growing in popularity as the focal point of new elegant pool deck designs. While many of today's hardscape materials are excellent options for their environmental qualities, flexibility of design and their ease of installation, it is their aesthetic beauty that remains their main attraction.

While first impressions are important, creating a beautiful lasting space to entertain your friends and family is key and the reason why hardscape experts highly recommend the application of a sealant to all pool deck paver projects to not only protect but enhance the look of your pavers.

According to Rick DeMarchi, director of marketing for Techniseal, the leading manufacturer of polymeric sand and treatment products for the concrete paver industry, it's important to understand the different categories of sealants when choosing a product because each category brings its own features and benefits with regard to aesthetics, protective qualities and application procedures.

Sealants can be broken down into a few key categories: you have film-forming versus non film-forming; color-enhancing (wet look) versus non color-enhancing (dry look) and solvent-based versus water-based. Most importantly, all are stain-resistant.

"For pool decks it's recommended you choose a non film-forming sealant that has no impact on slip and skid resistance," explained DeMarchi. "Also, today's popular salt water pools can be corrosive to decking creating the need for a water-repellent sealant to protect the surface integrity of the pavers."

This final layer of protection will not only prolong the life of your deck, but also enhance its beauty and make the pavers easier to maintain. More information on sealant technology can be found at www.techniseal.com.