Types of pool decks:
Here are a list of some advantages/disadvantages of different pool decks out there that would be the area you walk on around your swimming pool.
Kool Deck – least expensive, very cool on your feet, great for resistance to slipping. Stains easily, harder to maintain, can start wearing off in 10+ years.
Sun-dek– not a big price increase over Kool Deck, cool on your feet, cleans easily and stain resistant overall (includes a paint touch up kit to match deck color). Not as slip/skid resistant than Kool Deck. Sundek is the number one product Crystal Pools and Spas Inc. installed around pools.
Stamped Concrete/Stained concrete- Same price ballpark as Sun-dek, looks like natural stone but generally at 1/3 the cost, wide range of different colors and patterns. These products have maintainence needs, they both need to be sealed at least every 3 years and have an added skid resistant sand-like product added to the sealer (yet the product is still more slippery than the other products, these products can get hot on your feet depending on the color.
Pavers– more expensive than Sundek but not much depending on the type of paver chosen, very skid/slip resistant, great decking because it should not crack unlike concrete and if it settles a little it can be easily taken up and reset, lots of choices (even travertine pavers). Can be hot on your feet depending on the product/color chosen.
Flagstone- Excellent look, comes in wide range of colors/selection, Can be installed with french drainage (where you do not see plastic, the water will actually go into a man made trough in the concrete), great as far as slip/skid resistance. By far the most expensive, depending on the color can be very hot on your feet.
Brick- priced less than flagstone but more than pavers. Usually set on concrete making the cost go up. It can be set as a paver to reduce the cost of the decking but the end product will leave you with no cement grout joints. This decking could be rough on your feet depending on the brick finish. This decking will usually give you an older look but usually will be more hot on the feet due to color and brick retaining temperature through the brick and not just on the surface.
The pool decks we generally install at Crystal Pools and Spas are travertine pavers. Travertine is an excellent decking around the pool! NO cracks to worry about, great as far as for heat concerns for feet, we apply polymer sand(which hardens, so NO weeds!!!), the different color options, the french pattern is easy on your eyes, God made stone compared to man made, very good for longevity and wear, etc. Hands down this is the one area I would put money in even over a waterfall. For the price difference even over Sundek, the look is second to none in my opinion. Also, they are easily fixed if say after 15 years a couple of them settle a little.
These are the main choices of pool decks.
Pool decks
Pool decks
