I recoat my concrete deck every few years with Sherwin Williams H&C Concrete Stain, the non water-based stuff (they have a couple of types); it never peels or flakes as it's not a paint, but a stain. Years ago when I first did it, it was nothing less than transforming. The concrete went from a porous, mottled, stained mess to a stunningly gorgeous pool deck. And for relatively little cost. It comes in certain colors, i.e., you have no choices beyond this. I first used the Bombay color but when I recoated a couple of months ago, went to Sandstone and it's much richer and I like it so much more. Don't waste money having the Shark Grip (a separate product) mixed into your stain as I did the first time round - it will be a waste of money and provide no traction. It needs to be topically applied on the 2nd (or last) coat of product. I did not do this a couple of months ago and I regret it - when it's wet it is SLIPPERY. In fact, a couple of weeks ago I hosed the deck down to clean it and *then* went to add chlorine and fell hard and fast on my back on the pool coping and broke my tailbone, ouch! (Fortunately, I only missed about 4 days of swimming and though it will very possibly take months to totally heal at my older age, at least I'm back 'in the swim.')

When you apply the H&C you need to keep a wet edge at all times, so once you start, you need to continue until done for each of the two coats (minimum recommended). It dries to the touch extremely fast - I was walking on mine within an hour. If your concrete is porous/never been treated it will really soak it up. It runs, if I remember right, about $24 a gallon - far less than a lot of the stuff pool retailers sell comparable products for.

My routine for applying the stuff: I tape the pool coping and around the stairs and then set out the gallons around the pool deck (I think I used 6 gallons recently for a recoat but read the coverage chart on the back of the label--I've a 16x32 with about a 5' wide deck around it). Then I get to work using a roller with a 3/8" nap. If your concrete is porous you will need several rollers as it will eat them up, but if not, one will do the trick for each coating. If your concrete is porous/never been sealed or treated, you will want to roll the first coat of product in one direction and then on the second coating in another direction. On my recoat I did not do this and it turned out fine, however. Don't forget the Shark Grip!

I don't know how to upload a picture here (I mean, clueless) and just have access at work, but if you'd like me to email you a pic I'd be glad to, just let me know your address in a pm.