Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - Covering concrete around pool area

Hi, we would like to cover some improperly poured concete around our pool area and would like recommendations on the best outdoor carpet or similar covering to use. The last owners had that pathetic green grass which lasted only a year with kids running around on it. Any ideas would be welcomed. I have had several pool people out to give estimates and they all want to rip the old concrete out and rip the wood fence out around it. We can't afford it right now to redo everything so we need a temporary 5 year fix to make it look decent. Thanks.

Concrete is the material of choice to be used as a pool deck because it will withstand the 3 biggest enemies of any material you use in that area -- Water, Clorine, and the Sun.

There are better grades of indoor/outdoor carpet available that "that pathetic green grass", and they will do with the water and the sun. But I would be concerned about what effect the clorine would have on them. I would imagine that the clorine would weaken or destroy the UV inhibitors that are in the carpet, and that would allow the sun to finish it off.

There is a product called Perma Crete that can be applied over the concrete. It's a fairly new product, and, not knowing where you are, I have no idea how close the nearest installing contractor may be to you. You can search for it on-line and see what you can come with.