Are you having a new pool installed in your garden? Is it part of a larger landscaping makeover? Are you wondering what type of pavers you should use around your pool? Do you know the benefits and disadvantages of the various materials that pavers are made from?
Having designed literally hundreds of gardens that included a swimming pool, we've installed pavers for our clients made of almost every material available. We know intimately the pros and cons of each. In this article, we'd like to share with you what we've learnt about some of the most popular types of pavers.
Hopefully, it should help you decide, in just a few minutes, which might be most suitable for your project.
Here you will see some examples of the various different types of pavers we've used in a range of installations so you can see for yourself what the different materials look like.
We've also detailed some of the benefits and disadvantages of each material. If you'd like to know more information about each different type of paver simply click on the brand name of the paver shown in the example to go straight to that supplier's website.
Sandstone
Sandstone is a popular and enduring choice for paving around a pool. Depending on the type of sandstone you choose, you will find its surface to be non-slip to walk on, making it one of the safer choices around pools.
We used a beautiful Gosford Stone for this project in Kew to create a very stylish surround to this pool.
The bullnose coping around the pool softens the look and feel of the pool while the warm colours of the sandstone make it an inviting pool area.
As sandstone tends to be porous you will need to ensure you clean it regularly with a pressure washer as needed. (Don't use too high a pressure.) How much cleaning it requires will depend on what you have in the vicinity of the pool, i.e. trees that drop sap and leaves, shaded areas where moss may grow, etc.
Sandstone is inherently one of the softer stones so you will need to ensure it is professional sealed when being installed. Some sandstone products may require dip-sealing before installation. You may also find sandstore requires more re-sealing in later years than other products.
While sandstone is classified as a softer stone, it can have a rough surface. One client commented to us after several years of enjoying their pool that on days when their children are constantly getting in and out of the pool, the action of pulling themselves out of the water by grabbing the sandstone pavers can be a bit rough on delicate fingertips so just consider this if you have young children.
The project shown here uses sandstone Beauford Crazy pavers supplied by Eco Outdoor in Richmond. The client wanted its natural edges to create a more resort-style pool surround.
Porcelain
Porcelain is preferred by many as it tends to be one of the most stain-resistant pavers you can use, meaning it will keep its good looks for years longer than other alternatives. There are wide variety of porcelain pavers on the market these days so your choice of styles is almost endless. And they have a slip-resistant surface.
The travertine porcelain pavers shown here provide a beautiful finish to this new pool.
Porcelain's popularity is enhanced by the fact they overcome one the biggest complaints that pool owners have about the pavers they chose and that is that some paving materials can be very hot to walk on in bare feet. Porcelain pavers have to be one of the coolest products you can walk on, retaining their cool even on long hot days.
Perhaps the biggest downside of choosing porcelain pavers is that they can be very difficult to cut on-site making them slower to lay and therefore more expensive.
Limestone
Limestone pavers have a lovely soft visual appeal to them. They are easy to work with but like sandstone tend to be a little porous, meaning marks and stains can show over time. However some people feel this is part of the natural beauty of limestone that it can take in these impacts. Sealing of limestone pavers is a must to help prevent delamination of the stone where a small layer of the surface may come away.
We used Garonne limestone for this project in Essendon. The pavers were supplied by Eco Outdoor.
Limestone pavers are renowned for being lovely to walk on, with a non-slip surface. Many people choose them to give their pool a sophisticated look.
Travertine
Some people think that Travertine is a type of marble, but it is not. It is actually a type of limestone that forms naturally around mineral springs, particularly hot springs.
We used an Avorio Travertine paver supplied by Better Exteriors for this project in Somers.
Travertine comes in a great many different shades, ranging from very white to dark brown.
It is soft to walk on, mostly hard wearing and easy to look after. The natural variations in its finish allows for some small marks to go unnoticed.
We were once asked by a client whether Travertine would wear well. We answered that the Colosseum seemed to be doing ok after more than 2,000 years!
If you are after a beautiful, hard-wearing and versatile paving stone that will give an elegant finish, you can't go wrong with travertine.
Granite
Commonly used for paths, patios and driveways, granite pavers also make a good choice for use around swimming pools and spas.
We used Granite pavers on this McCrae project where a very low-maintenance solution was required for this client's holiday home.
Granite pavers are an economical product to buy, often costing less than concrete tiles.
Granite pavers weather well and will stand the test of time. They have naturally occurring flecks of mica in them which cause the surface to sparkle slightly in the sunlight.
You will find granite pavers being commonly used in many pool applications. They do have a slightly rough texture under foot which means they provide good, non-slip grip to your feet even when wet.
Bluestone
Of all the pavers on the market, perhaps none is more classically Melbourne than bluestone. Unlike the irregular shapes of bluestone cobblestones, bluestone pavers are sawn to a flat surface.
As hardwearing as regular bluestones, these pavers are easy to look after and economical to buy, making them a popular choice.
We used classic Melbourne bluestone pavers for this project in Ascot Vale.
The only major drawback with bluestone pavers is that they can get very hot under foot.
Note that there can be many differences in the appearance of bluestone pavers. Some are much darker than others and some can have a high iron content that will show up as rust marks on the surface. Others can have what are called "cat's paws' which are air bubbles in the surface of the bluestone. Some people actively like these as a feature in bluestone pavers while others do not. It's wise therefore if you can take some time to ask questions about and even see the bluestone pavers you are considering for your project.
Much of the bluestone that is on the market today comes from Asia or Europe. However if you want to source original Victorian bluestone you can get it from Bamstone.
Concrete
Concrete pavers have grown in popularity over the years as they can provide a similar look and feel to stone pavers, but at a substantially lower cost. Being a paver they are visually more appealing than just having large areas of concrete poured around your pool, even though they are made of the same material.
We used Anston concrete pavers for this project in Glen Iris.
As you can see in this image different batches of pavers can have different shades of colour meaning some of the adjacent pavers will look grey while others will appear more beige in tone.
Concrete pavers tend to be cool under foot and are non-slip. They can give a lovely uniform look to your pool area.
They tend to porous so will require sealing before they are laid.
Main factors to consider when choosing a pool paver
Now that you know a lot more about the various different types of pavers available and the attributes of each material you should be able to make a more informed choice about which might be most suitable for your upcoming project.
In summary, the following points are perhaps the most obvious things to consider when choosing a pool paver.
- How hot will it be underfoot?
- How hard wearing will it be?
- How does it feel underfoot?
- Is it non-slip or just slip-resistant?
- How does it feel when wet?
- Does it need to be sealed before installing?
- How easy is it to clean and maintain?
- Will it delaminate, stain or crack?
- And of course, do you like the look of it?
If you choose a landscape designer like Whyte Gardens, we will discuss your needs with you when designing your pool area. Normally we will recommend a couple of alternative choices of pool pavers depending on all the factors above, as well as considering your budget, etc.
However we will always recommend that you visit the showrooms of pool paver suppliers, either online at least or preferably in person to see for yourself what the pavers are like. As explained at the beginning of this article simply click on the brand name of any of the pavers detailed above to go directly to their website for more information.
You might also find the following article below helpful if you are in the processing of considering installing a pool in your garden.
Articles covering Landscape Design and Construction in Melbourne...
How to avoid costly mistakes when installing a pool
Pool Coping: What is the right style for your project?
Integrating Your Pool into Your Landscape: A Comprehensive Guide
Of course if you'd like to find out more about how we can help you achieve your dream garden that includes a beautiful new swimming pool, please feel free to contact us for a no-obligation consultation with one of our designers.
It is completely free of charge and it is the perfect opportunity to have many of your questions answered about more than just pool pavers.
