Pool Deck, Walkways & Stairs
Sunset House

Walkways and stairs collect foot traffic, rust spots and algae in shaded sections. Flat surfaces can take more than walls, so we use surface cleaners that clean evenly and keep spray off walls and doors.

The pool, spa and BBQ area collect grease near the grill and algae near the water. Where the deck is pavered, re-sanding and a slip-resistant seal make it safer and easier to keep clean.

Bike racks and covered parking gather dust and oil that come up with a quick hot-water wash.

Sunset House owners and boards watch costs closely, so we quote every surface on its own line and the board decides what to do now.

Sunset House was built in 1969, so walkway concrete and stair treads are old. Surface cleaners give an even clean at controlled pressure; we never aim a narrow tip at aged concrete, which can etch it, and we hand-rinse the stair nosings where traffic is heaviest.

One of the island’s older Gulf-front buildings. Sunset House at 220 Seaview Court dates to 1969, the same year the S.S. Jolley Bridge opened to Marco Island. It holds 92 units on seven floors, from one to three bedrooms and about 534 to 2,700 square feet, and every unit has a balcony. A building of this age has usually had its pool deck resurfaced or re-laid at least once. Before sealing we check whether earlier coatings are still sound, because new sealer will not hold on top of a film that is lifting or turning white.

Directly on the crescent beach. The building sits on Marco Island’s crescent beach with a private boardwalk down to the sand. Every trip to the beach brings fine sand back across the pool deck and walks. That sand grinds into sealer like sandpaper and settles into paver joints, where it is not a substitute for proper joint sand. We blow and rinse it out completely before refilling joints with polymeric sand.

Large heated beachfront pool. Listings describe a large heated beachfront pool with a barbecue area, a social room with kitchen and library, bike and beach chair storage, and covered reserved parking. The pool deck takes salt spray, sunscreen, splash and grill grease all at once. Each gets its own pre-treatment, then the deck is rinsed and left to dry fully before sanding. A slip-resistant sealer goes on in one coat, since manufacturers caution that a heavier build on dense pavers can be slick.

The boardwalk approach. Where the private boardwalk meets the pool deck and walks, wet feet, towels and sand come off the beach together. That transition strip stays damp, grows algae quickly and is where people are most likely to slip. We give it extra attention during cleaning, check the joints closely for washout, and make sure the slip-resistant sealer covers it evenly right up to the boardwalk edge.

Seasonal residents. Many owners in island buildings like this one are seasonal, which leaves quieter months when the pool deck can be closed in sections with little disruption. We plan with the manager so notices go out well ahead.

Western Gulf exposure. Units such as #305, a 534-square-foot one-bedroom with a private open balcony, look west over the Gulf with pool and beach views. That same exposure means strong afternoon sun and salt wind across the pool level. Sun breaks down sealers over time, and salt pulls moisture into the surface. A breathable penetrating sealer, such as a silane or siloxane water repellent and salt blocker, lets moisture escape and does not leave a film that can cloud in humid air.

Storms and joint sand. Marco Island took Hurricane Irma’s second U.S. landfall in 2017 and about eight feet of storm surge from Hurricane Ian in 2022. Surge and wind-driven rain strip sand from paver joints and leave silt behind. Where joints have been scoured, the old material is dug out at least an inch and a half deep before new polymeric sand goes in, as Alliance Gator recommends for repairs.

How we sand a beachfront deck. Sanding begins only once the deck is dry from edge to edge, which near the Gulf can mean a late-morning start. The sand is worked down to about an eighth of an inch below the top of each paver, compacted, swept and compacted again, then wet with a soft shower in short runs so nothing dries out midway. We keep the pool covered at the edge so no sand or rinse water ends up in the water.

Wait times and reopening. Some polymeric sands can take rain after about 15 minutes on a draining base, while others need up to a day. The wait before sealing depends on the sealer, from about a day to as long as a month. Sand cure before sealing follows the label, and the manager receives the schedule in writing so residents know when the pool area closes. Residents can return to each sealed section after about 24 hours, per the product label.

Covered parking and bike storage. Covered reserved parking and bike and beach chair storage areas collect oil drips, rust from old bike frames and sand. Rust marks are lifted with a concrete-safe remover before any sealer goes down, and oil is degreased so the finish bonds evenly.