Perfect Pool Decks are Stylish and Comfortable!
By Nancy Dransfield, Landscape Architect, Landesign of VA, Inc., P.O. Box 15582, Richmond, VA 23227, 804-261-6773,
n.dransfield@verizon.net
Pool decks are expanses of space that accommodate chairs, tables, lounge chairs and all the things we want to have beside the
pool.
It’s the place to entertain or enjoy quiet afternoons passing time.
Many of the same materials that are used in patios can be used as pool decks with some exceptions. Here are a few pointers to keep in mind:
- It has to be comfortable on your feet. A hot surface is unbearable. Use a paving material that doesn’t get hot to the touch. Roughness is also an issue. You don’t want a surface that can scrap and scratch bare feet.
- A nice even surface that furniture easily sits on is best. This keeps tables and chairs level and easier to use. A natural stone with a rough surface is uneven causing furniture to rock and roll. It can also stump toes. Stone that is set in grass or dry laid some other way is going to be more uneven than a stone surface installed on a concrete pad with a mortar joint.
- Use a surface that is easy to clean. Any dry laid material with large joints where the dirt and debris can get through can be annoying. It can be a pretty look, but dirt is constantly getting into the pool from people’s feet. This type of surface is also difficult to sweep or blow clean.
- Safety is a big concern. A slippery surface can cause a bad accident. Stay away from slippery natural stone materials and some tiles. I grew up with a terracotta tile porch that was like walking on ice when it got wet. Tile can be gorgeous around a pool, but it has to be a tile for exterior use that also provides traction.
Surfaces that are used in Central Virginia:
- Concrete Pavers come in a wide range of colors and patterns. It is installed completely dry, no mortar. If the base settles or access is needed to the area underneath, they come up easily. You don’t have to worry about the surface cracking.
PHOTO CREDIT: Sandra & Roger Wiley
This pool deck is a concrete paver that looks like natural stone. It is a favorite of mine. The pieces fit tightly together making an smooth, even, clean surface. It is an asset to your landscape design!
- Brick makes an elegant pool deck. It gives a formality to a landscape design. Some bricks are rougher than others. Choose one that is not rough on your feet or snag at your bathing suit when you sit and dangle your feet in the water.
This paving looks gorgeous with the white, frame pool house. This brick is laid in a basket weave pattern with a mortar joint. There is a bull nose brick coping on the pool. You don't get much better than this!
- Decorative Stamped Concrete is smooth to the touch. The concrete is made with very fine sand, so the pattern can be pushed into the concrete with a template. Dark colors of this material also do not get hot. It’s a great paving to use if you want a dramatic, dark deck for your landscape design.
This decorative concrete is stamped to look like stone. It's a nice resemblance don't you think? This dark color is not hot and is nice and smooth to walk on.
- Standard, gray concrete is still used. It can have a troweled surface instead of a broom-finish to make it more comfortable on your feet. Color may also be added to it to give it a more updated and interesting look. I have used a brick border and pool coping on a concrete deck to add interest and style. I don’t use aggregate concrete around a pool. It’s just too rough for bare feet.
- I have done a Pennsylvania bluestone pool deck and it looks incredible. The coping was rectangular and the deck was random rectangular stones. It is very elegant. Stay away from slate. It is too slippery and hot on your feet.
- Lawn up to the edge of the pool is not seen in Virginia. I see it a lot in New York and other New England states. It is a very gorgeous look to see lush green grass by a swimming pool. Of course, the area is level so it's easy to have furniture around the pool. Grass does not grow well here in our hot summers. Maybe this has something to do with not seeing it used here. It would be brown and patchy looking. There may be a problem with dirt or grass clippings in the pool.
Budget may determine what you can actually use, but it doesn’t have to limit the aesthetics of the project. The pool deck is a big part of the landscape design. Use a material that meets your needs, is comfortable and works to create a beautiful and functional addition to your home.
Questions? Do you want to landscape your home and do not know where to start?
Ask
me a question about any landscape design issue or concern. I will respond quickly. You also get a page on this site dedicated to the topic. You can share it with your friends and the readers will appreciate it too. I hope to be hearing from you!
Please
contact me
for further information or to talk to me about my design services.
Nancy Dransfield
Landesign of Virginia, Inc
P.O. Box 15582
Richmond, Virginia 23227
Office: 804-261-6773
Fax: 804-264-7253
E-mail:
n.dransfield@verizon.net
Related Pages:
Swimming Pools;
Gunite Pools;
Vinyl Liner Pools;
Fiberglass Pools;
Fences;
Back Yards
and
Patios.
Go to Next Page
Return to Home Page from Pool Decks
|
