| Selecting a paving material for your pool decking is an | | | | patterns. Pavers can be all one color or a blend of a |
| important part of your pool design. However, what | | | | few different colors. The latter is a nice look and |
| to choose can often be confusing. | | | | gives a more natural appearance. |
| One of the main concerns is often budget. Of course | | | | When it comes to choosing a paver pattern, mixing |
| that is always a concern in a landscape project, but | | | | different sizes can create an interesting design. You |
| with swimming pool decking it is particularly important | | | | can also choose to use all one size, or just two sizes. |
| because of the large amount of square footage that | | | | The design can be laid parallel to the house or it can |
| is typically involved. | | | | be laid on the diagonal. Diagonal patterns tend to |
| Concrete | | | | make the area look larger. |
| One of the least expensive materials is concrete. | | | | There is often a matching pool coping for the pavers |
| With a little creativity, concrete can be a good choice. | | | | you select. Paver pool coping has a rounded edge |
| Concrete can be scored into a geometric design. | | | | along the water side. Some pavers used for coping |
| Scoring is the creating of lines in the concrete that | | | | are four inches wide, resembling the shape of brick, |
| can create a pattern. You can also add color to | | | | while others are much wider. This availability will be |
| concrete. The color should be mixed into the | | | | determined by which paver you choose. Not all |
| concrete and it should blend well with your | | | | coping options are made for all pavers. |
| surroundings. Do not add color, such as a stain, to the | | | | Dark colored pavers can be hot on your feet. Lighter |
| concrete after it is poured, as it will not hold up well. | | | | colors are cooler and work better for swimming pool |
| When using concrete as your paving material, you | | | | decking. |
| may or may not use the same concrete for the pool | | | | Travertine Pavers |
| coping material. The coping is the material that edges | | | | One of my favorite paving materials for pool paving |
| the pool itself adjacent to the rest of the paving. | | | | is travertine pavers. They are more expensive than |
| If you decide to have a concrete coping, there are a | | | | concrete pavers but their beauty and outstanding |
| couple of different ways this can be done. The first | | | | features are striking. |
| is to run the concrete right up to the water's edge...a | | | | Travertine is a natural stone. Travertine pavers are |
| cantilevered coping. There is no break or border | | | | made from travertine stone that has been cut into |
| around the coping. The entire pool decking area, | | | | shapes, similar to concrete pavers. Pavers have the |
| including the coping, appears as one material and | | | | advantage over travertine tile in that they are dry |
| looks unified. | | | | laid. Along with their beauty, a very strong reason for |
| You can also have a concrete coping that resembles | | | | considering them is that they are cool on your feet. |
| a border going around the pool. Here, there is a | | | | Your paving will never feel hot. |
| definite line which is typically a joint defining the | | | | Natural Stone |
| coping from the pool paving. However, I prefer the | | | | Although I love bluestone, I would not recommend it |
| cantilevered look. | | | | because it can get very hot. However, there are |
| Another option is to use an entirely different material. | | | | other types of natural stone that can be used which |
| You can use brick, stone or pavers as the coping. | | | | do not get hot. Some of the granites are an |
| This creates a separate border around the pool in a | | | | example. Natural stone is usually set in mortar. This |
| different material and can look very nice. However, it | | | | makes it your most expensive choice for a pool |
| does add on to the cost quite a bit. | | | | paving material. |
| Stamped concrete is another paving option for your | | | | When selecting your swimming pool paving, |
| pool area. The problem I have with this, is that | | | | remember that it is everything in the design that will |
| construction joints often run through the pattern, | | | | make your landscape successful. The planting design, |
| ruining the designs. | | | | the design itself, and interesting garden features such |
| Concrete Pavers | | | | as garden ornaments are all just as important as the |
| Concrete pavers can also be used. There are many | | | | paving material itself. |
| types available with various color choices and | | | | |