Pool Paving Considerations

Once you’ve decided on the shape, the finish and the colour of the pool itself you’ll need to decide on the pool paving and coping to suit your overall aesthetic as well as the everyday functioning of your space. Here’s everything you need to consider to make the right choice.

1. Materials

Pool pavers are available in a variety of different materials. There’s natural stones such as limestone and granite, engineered pavers such as the Provincial, Elegance or Luxury ranges from UrbanStone, and porcelain. The most important factors you’ll need to consider are budget, maintenance, durability and, of course, the aesthetic you hope to achieve. The answers will differ for everyone depending on priority.

Pavers or Concrete?

Poured concrete is often used around pools instead of pavers, and has grown in popularity in recent  

years. However, it has some serious downfalls.  Concrete is more likely to crack, which can be costly and disruptive to repair, and you don’t have as many colours and styles to choose from – if your concrete is coloured at all, it will fade over time.

Not only are pavers a more durable option when installed correctly, you have a huge variety of colours, 

finishes and sizes to choose from giving you greater creative freedom over your own backyard. They are also much easier to repair and replace.

Heat Control

On a scorching summer day, pavers heat up quickly. For the sake of your feet, you’ll want to choose the 

most heat resistant material you can fit in the budget for pool Pavers. Provincial pavers from UrbanStone use limestone in the composition which naturally insulates against hot weather to ensure a pleasantly cool finish.

2. Coping

Pool coping is the cap along the edge of the pool shell which acts as protective lip. It helps to keep  debris from entering the pool, making getting in and out of the water safter, and also reduces the risk of slipping.  swimmers enter and exit the pool safely and reducing the risk of slipping around the pool edge.

While the exact options will depend on the product, there are a number of profiles to choose from when it comes to your coping.

Square Edge: This is a 90-degree edge which is uses the same finish from the top of the paver on the pavers edge.  

Full Round or Standard Bullnose: This is a rounded edge on the paver that’s smoothed to touch.

Rebated or Drop Edge bullnose: This is when paver takes the shape of an L with the smaller length extending down into the pool all the way around the perimeter. 

Chamfered Edge bullnose: This is a cross between a bull nose finish and a square edge, where the corners of the square edge are honed at a diagonal angle.

Contrast Vs Cohesion

When it comes to your pool coping, you’ll also need to decide whether you want a cohesive look across all of your pool paving, or contrast. Using another colour or finish to the rest of your pool paving creates a visual border and makes a bold style statement. It all comes down to personal preference.

3. Slip Rating

With so many pavers to choose from, it’s all to easy to get swept up in the style but in a wet zone with high foot traffic, practically and function is more important. Be sure to check the finish and slip rating of your chosen paver before going ahead to make your pool the safest space it can be.

“For the sake of your feet, you’ll want to choose the most heat resistant material you can fit in the budget for pool pavers.”

“For the sake of your feet, you’ll want to choose the most heat resistant material you can fit in the budget for pool pavers.”