In Orlando, the pool area is the backyard. Cool decking, pavers, or travertine underfoot, a screen enclosure overhead keeping the bugs out, and year-round swim weather. But the pool area is also the hardest-working exterior surface on the property: constant moisture, sunscreen and body oils, chlorine or salt splash-out, and shade from the enclosure itself — which is exactly the damp, dim environment where algae thrives.
Pool deck and screen enclosure cleaning is a specialized job. The decking needs the right pressure for its surface, the screens tear if you look at them wrong with a pressure washer, and everything has to be done without filling the pool with dirty water or harming the equipment. This page covers how each part of the pool area gets cleaned.
Pool Decks: Cool Decking, Pavers, and Travertine
Orlando pool decks come in three main surfaces, and each gets its own approach. Cool decking (often called Kool Deck) is a textured cement coating sprayed over concrete — it stays cooler underfoot, but the texture is delicate. Too much pressure or the wrong tip carves lines into it and can lift the coating. We clean cool decking at moderate pressure with wide fan tips, letting detergent and dwell time do the work.
Paver pool decks get the same joint-careful approach as "paver driveways": detergent, dwell time, moderate pressure, and a moving nozzle so the joint sand stays put. Travertine pool decks — popular because the stone stays cool — get the acid-free treatment described on our "deck and patio page": alkaline detergent only, never acid, which etches the stone on contact.
Every pool deck gets extra attention on the walking paths: the route from the back door to the pool, the steps into the pool, and the shaded corners where algae makes the surface slippery. A slick pool deck is a fall waiting to happen, and it is the number one reason pool owners call us.
What Grows on a Pool Deck
Algae is the main offender — the green-black film that makes the deck slippery and ugly. It loves the splash zone and any area that stays damp. Sunscreen and body oils leave a different kind of film, especially on the deck right at the waterline and on the steps. Dirt and pollen settle into the texture of the decking. And in the corners where the deck meets the enclosure frame, mildew collects in the seam.
Salt systems add one more factor: salt splash-out leaves a white crust on the deck near the pool edge. It rinses off, but it tells us to check that the salt cell and equipment are not getting sprayed during the wash. We protect all pool equipment — pumps, heaters, filters, salt systems, and automation panels — before starting, because none of it wants detergent or direct spray.
Screen Enclosures: The Lanai Gets Cleaned Too
The screen enclosure — the lanai — is what makes Florida pool ownership bearable, and it gets filthy. Pollen coats every panel yellow-green each spring. Algae grows on the screens on the shaded sides. The aluminum frame oxidizes and collects grime in the tracks. Spider webs fill every corner. From inside the pool area, dirty screens make the whole space feel dingy even when the deck is clean.
Screens are the most delicate part of the job. Standard window screen mesh tears under direct pressure-washer spray, so we clean screens at very low pressure — essentially a strong rinse — with a light detergent applied first and proper dwell time. The detergent loosens the pollen and algae; the gentle rinse carries it away. The aluminum frame and tracks get a soft wash, and we clear the debris that collects in the bottom track where the screen meets the deck.
We inspect the screens as we go. If we find torn or sagging panels, we point them out — cleaning will not fix a torn screen, but you will be able to see exactly which panels need rescreening once they are clean.
Protecting the Pool and the Equipment
The biggest concern with pool area washing is where the dirty water goes. We work to keep wash water out of the pool: rinsing away from the water, not toward it, and managing the flow so detergent-laden runoff does not pour over the coping. Some water always gets in — that is unavoidable — but we minimize it, and your pool's filtration handles the rest. Running the pump for a few hours after we leave clears whatever made it in.
Equipment protection is standard: pumps, heaters, salt chlorine generators, and control panels get covered or shielded before we start. Outdoor outlets and pool lights get the same care. If you have a pool heater with an exposed pilot or sensitive electronics, tell us when you "request your quote" and we will take extra precautions.
What Affects the Price
Pool area pricing is driven by the deck size, the enclosure size, and the condition of both. A small plunge-pool deck with a modest enclosure is a quick job. A large freeform pool with an expansive two-story enclosure, heavy algae, and pollen-caked screens takes considerably longer. The enclosure height matters — tall enclosures need extension wands and more ladder work.
Surface type plays a role: cool decking and travertine need more care (and specialty detergents for travertine) than plain concrete. Bundling with a "house soft wash" is common and usually cheaper than separate visits. As a rough range, cleaning the pool deck and enclosure for a typical Orlando home often falls in the mid hundreds of dollars, with large or heavily soiled pool areas running higher. Planning ranges only — your written quote is based on your actual pool area. See our "Orlando cost guide" and our "washing frequency guide" for more.
Our Pool Area Process
"Request a free quote" and tell us about your pool area — deck surface, enclosure size, and what you are seeing. On the day, we walk the area with you, confirm the written price, cover the pool equipment, and move patio furniture out of the work zone.
The deck gets its detergent treatment and surface-appropriate cleaning first, then the enclosure: screens at very low pressure, frame and tracks soft-washed, corners detailed. Everything gets rinsed away from the pool, the equipment covers come off, and we walk the area with you for a final check. Most pool area jobs take two to four hours. You can usually swim the same day once the deck is dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the dirty water get in my pool?
We work to keep it out — rinsing away from the water and managing runoff so detergent does not pour over the coping. A small amount always gets in, which is normal and harmless; running your pump for a few hours afterward clears it through the filter.
Can you clean the screens without tearing them?
Yes. Screens get very low pressure — essentially a strong rinse — after a detergent treatment loosens the pollen and algae. Direct high-pressure spray would tear screen mesh, so we never use it on the screens. The method is designed around the most delicate part of the job.
Is it safe to pressure wash cool decking?
Yes, at moderate pressure with wide fan tips. Cool decking's textured coating is delicate — too much pressure or the wrong nozzle carves into it. We let the detergent do the work and use the rinse mainly to carry the loosened grime away.
How often should the pool area be cleaned?
Most Orlando pool areas need a full cleaning once a year — the combination of moisture, shade from the enclosure, and sunscreen oils builds up fast. Heavy-use pools or heavily shaded enclosures may need it twice a year.
Do you clean inside the enclosure tracks?
Yes — the bottom track where the screen meets the deck collects dirt, algae, and debris, and we clear it as part of the enclosure cleaning. Clogged tracks hold moisture against the frame, so keeping them clear protects the enclosure too.
Can I swim right after the cleaning?
Once the deck is dry to walk on, usually within a few hours. The pool water itself is unaffected — we keep wash water out of it as much as possible, and your filtration handles the rest.