How to Design An In-Ground Pool Deck

An in-ground pool greatly expands the enjoyment potential of your backyard. Nothing is more inviting than that glistening water on a hot summer day. But what about the deck surrounding your pool?

Aesthetically, the decking defines your refreshing oasis. It can enhance your landscaping and effectively tie in other elements such as a fire pit and pathways. From a practical standpoint, pool decking provides a safe, comfortable walking area for swimmers, as well as a place for poolside loungers.

Best Pool Deck Products

The best decking option for a pool area is Unilock pavers, engineered to provide reliable traction even when wet and to stay noticeably cooler under direct sun. Consider these popular Unilock choices:

Umbriano

The unique, mottled surface with granite particles gives Umbriano a natural, non-slip texture, making it a popular choice for pool decks.

Beacon Hill Smooth

With extra-large sizes and a contemporary color palette, including lighter shades that help keep your deck cool on your feet, Beacon Hill Smooth creates a sleek, modern pool surround.

Arcana

Arcana’s large-format pavers have a silky, matte texture and a speckled appearance of natural granite, quartz, and marble particles, creating a stunning surface that also provides a safe grip for wet foot traffic.

Best Pool Coping Material

When selecting material for pool coping, natural stone products such as Ledgestone,Granite and Limestone are the best choices. Not only does natural stone coping add a touch of elegance to your pool deck, it is also cool to the touch, durable and strong, and has low water absorption.

Pool coping is the protective lip or cap at the top of the pool wall that finishes off the look. Coping has other purposes, such as keeping debris from entering your pool, helping swimmers enter and exit the pool safely, and reducing the risk of slipping around the pool edge.

Keep Your Pool Deck Cool

The coolest pool deck surface is made from pavers. Swimmers commonly have bare feet when walking around the pool area, and a paver deck will allow them to walk safely on a deck that provides a good grip and is pleasantly cool for tender tootsies.

When considering pavers, look for a product that is light in color, such as Umbriano Summer Wheat or Winter Marvel. Umbriano stays cool and has a natural, non-slip texture thanks to the unique mottled surface with granite particles. Be sure to complement your decking with a light, natural-colored coping material as well.

Are pavers or concrete better for pool decking?

While poured concrete is commonly used around inground pools, pavers are a better option for pool decking – when installed properly.

Concrete is more likely to crack, which can be costly to repair. A large area around the damage must be professionally cut, removed, and the concrete must be re-poured, which can be very disruptive. Moreover, if your concrete is colored, the color will fade over time, making color-matching difficult – if not impossible.

Pavers come in many colors and patterns, offering more creative options. They are designed to hold up well over time, even tolerating harsh freeze/thaw cycles. If a stone needs to be replaced, it’s as simple as removing it and replacing it with a new matching stone from the same line. Pavers are also unaffected by chlorine and other pool chemicals.

Now that you have the information you need, the next step is to talk to a Unilock Authorized Contractor to help you plan a deck that will make your inground pool the summer retreat of your dreams.