Concrete vs. Pavers for Your Pool Deck – Which is the better choice? Part II
Our customers often ask the question, “Which is better for my pool deck, concrete or pavers?”
Choosing the pool deck material that’s right for you is a huge decision with many factors, and as Indiana’s top leading builder of inground pools, Pools of Fun has 35 years of experience helping our customers navigate the tough decisions that go hand-in-hand with pool ownership.
Next, let’s look at the pros and cons of Pavers.
Pros:
Beauty — Undoubtedly the most attractive decking around pools is natural and handcrafted stone, or what we in the industry call pavers. Pavers can be manmade or natural stone such as Travertine. The color, patterns and texture options are endless. So, too, are the combinations of pavers you can use to make your deck beautiful.
Warranties — Many man-made pavers have a lifetime warranty. If your paver fails, you simply replace it. Unlike concrete, it will match the rest of the decking. The color is very consistent given its manufactured in a controlled environment.
Longevity — Pavers wear very well and typically don’t require any sealer or maintenance. So depending on the type of paver, the long term cost is much less than concrete. If an area settles, becomes stained or the paver itself fails, the affected area is re-leveled and replaced with no adverse effects. It will still match the existing decking and there won’t be any issues with using large machinery to repair the areas in the backyard again.
Slip-Resistant — We touched on this in our last post, but safety is of the utmost importance in pool ownership. That said, pavers great advantage over concrete is in its safety. Because they are not slick, Pavers help reduce the chances of falling on wet pool decks.
Solid in All Temperatures — Pavers work very well in midwestern climates with multiple freeze and thaw cycles. If an area of the decking heaves or settles, it can easily be re-leveled and takes a relatively short amount of time, and very unobtrusive to the back yard for the repair.
Cons:
Expensive Purchase — The initial cost of a paver deck is higher than concrete. Over the long term, it levels out but the initial cost can be a factor.
Water Can Be an Issue — Some natural stone can be affected by improperly balanced pool water from the splash-out. Also, manufacturers of natural stone will not warrant pool decks around salt pools. Sometimes, the salt in the pool water splash out will degrade the natural stone in some cases.
Lengthy Installation — Some paver decks can take longer for installation as compared to concrete, but the project length is entirely dependent on the design of the pattern installed.
In summary: There are many pros and cons for each product. Every homeowner must be given the options and seriously consider every factor in the pool decking before making a final decision. Building a pool is typically a once in a lifetime experience; you want to make sure you make informed decisions without preconceptions. Knowledge translates to a pool that will stand the test of time.
Take a moment and think of the most beautiful pools you have seen; what did you notice? Was it the fiberglass, type of vinyl liner, the color of plaster? No, it wasn’t, it was the landscaping, pool decking and overall design of the entire project. Keep this in mind when choosing a Pool contractor and products used in and around the pool project.
Give us a call or visit one of our five Pools of Fun locations if you have any questions.
Thanks for reading!