5 Natural Stones to Use When Landscaping Your Pool
Are you planning to install a pool in your backyard? It’s more than just splashing about—the space around it counts, too. The right stone around a pool can seriously enhance the look and longevity of your setup.
Natural stone is a great choice for safety and functionality, but it also looks great. In this post, we’ll reveal five natural stones that can elevate your pool area.
Whether you prefer timeless beauty or want something modern and statement-making, we’ll cover five beautiful natural stones for all tastes and budgets.
Why Choose Natural Stone for Your Pool?
Natural stone is popular for swimming pool areas due to its many benefits. These include:
- Timeless Beauty: Natural stone injects elegance and sophistication into any outdoor area. Its natural beauty will elevate your outdoor space.
- Durability: Many people find that natural stone pavers can handle the elements and retain their aesthetic appeal.
- Slip Resistance: Opting for a natural stone with a textured surface reduces the risk of slips and maintains safety around poolside areas.
- Heat Resistance: Many natural stones can stay cool in intense heat, making them perfect for Australia’s blistering summers.
- Low Maintenance: Natural stone is a low-maintenance solution that requires occasional cleaning and sealing.
- Property Value: Investing in a swimming pool is a fantastic way to increase your property’s value; natural stone creates a premium finish.
5 Beautiful Natural Stones For Your Swimming Pool Area
When exploring natural stones, it’s important to consider personal style preferences and whether children will use them. With so many natural stones available, you’ll have no issues finding one that aligns with your needs.
Here are our top five natural stone choices.
Marble Pavers
When it comes to elegance and extravagance, nothing quite beats marble. It’s ideal for pool coping and combines sophistication with functionality. You can choose between a range of marble pavers, ensuring they blend seamlessly with your outdoor space.
Pros:
- Marble is a premium material that never fails to make an impression.
- The material can withstand the general wear and tear associated with poolside activities.
- Marble can stay relatively cool underfoot, even in the height of summer.
- It’s one of the more versatile materials, with different patterns and colours available.
Cons:
- As a premium material, marble has a higher price point.
- Despite its durability, marble pavers can be prone to scratches.
Limestone
Limestone won’t let you down if you love natural designs that combine style with durability. It’s renowned for stunning earthy tones but adds a refined feel to your pool coping area. Due to its durability, limestone is also a great choice for families.
Pros:
- With superior heat-reflective properties, limestone pavers can stay cool in hot temperatures.
- Many limestone pavers have textured surfaces, which enhances safety.
- The material is also incredibly versatile, with a variety of styles available.
- As a natural stone, limestone is relatively sustainable.
Cons:
- Limestone is a porous material that needs sealing to ensure it doesn’t stain.
- It’s also softer than some other materials, so it can be prone to scratches.
Granite
If durability and sturdiness are your top priorities, granite is hard to beat. It’s one of the most resilient natural stones available for pool landscaping, ideal if your swimming pool will attract a lot of foot traffic. You’ll find a range of granite pavers for all style preferences.
Pros:
- Granite is an incredibly durable natural stone that can withstand harsh weather conditions.
- If you’re looking for a low-maintenance solution, granite pavers won’t disappoint.
- The natural stone also has impressive slip resistance.
- Granite is ideal for contemporary design, as the popular natural stone comes in a range of subtle colours.
Cons:
- Due to its weight, Granite might take longer for professional pool builders to install.
- While you can choose between darker tones, the colour options are less diverse than marble.
Bluestone
Bluestone isn’t just a pretty face. It’s tough as nails and can handle whatever the weather throws at it, from blistering heat to icy cold. Using bluestone for paving around pool areas means you get a robust surface that refuses to crack or lose colour over time.
Pros:
- Bluestone pavers are perfect for modern outdoor environments due to their darker tones.
- As a dense material, you won’t need to worry about damage from general foot traffic.
- With a naturally textured surface, bluestone pavers are naturally slip-resistant.
Cons:
- Bluestone is a porous material that can absorb water without proper sealing.
- Darker tones of Bluestone can get hotter than others.
Travertine
Travertine is a unique material renowned for its timeless elegance. If you have a rustic home or love the idea of creating a sense of luxury, travertine can elevate your pool’s aesthetic appeal. Better still, it looks much more expensive than it actually is.
Pros:
- Stunning earthy tones and unique veining make travertine a timeless material that never fails to make an impression.
- Travertine’s heat-reflective properties mean it can stay cool on hot days.
- The material is relatively durable and can withstand general wear and tear.
Cons:
- Travertine requires regular sealing as it’s a porous material.
- While it’s durable, travertine is susceptible to scratching.
Things to Consider When Choosing the Right Stone
Deciding on the right stone for your pool area and coping might seem daunting, but it’s pretty straightforward when you break it down. Here are the most important factors to consider when making a decision.
Maintenance and Care
You’ll want a natural stone that requires little maintenance—unless you’re willing to spend more time cleaning it. Luckily, most natural stones don’t require huge amounts of care, and general sweeping or hosing it down will be enough.
Granite is the easiest stone to maintain, but it still needs sealing every couple of years to ensure its durability.
Safety Considerations
Safety around the pool is just as important as style. Choosing the right pavers for your pool doesn’t just mean picking the prettiest option—it’s crucial to choose non-slip surfaces.
Textured stones like granite or bluestone are brilliant for keeping things steady, even when they’re splashed. This is super important, especially if you have kids who love a good sprint around the pool!
Also, consider how hot the stone gets in the sun. On a hot day, some can turn into little foot-fryers.
That’s why cooler choices like limestone or marble might be the way to go—they stay more comfortable underfoot, letting you and the family enjoy the pool without the hot-foot hop.
Your Budget
When planning a pool design, your budget will be a huge factor in your chosen materials. Marble and granite are ideal for longevity and luxury but come at higher price points. Bluestone and limestone pavers are ideal if you’re on a budget.
You’ll also need to consider long-term maintenance, like sealing and upkeep, but these costs are much lower than repairing or replacing the pavers.
Long-term benefits
Investing in quality natural stone for your pool is a wise, long-term decision. Its durability, resistance to the elements, and timeless appeal mean your pool pavers will last for decades with minimal upkeep, increasing your home’s value and eliminating future renovation costs.
While the initial investment may be higher than other materials, the long-term benefits and aesthetic impact make it a worthwhile choice.
Streamlining Installation
You’ll also need to consider installation. Most people use a professional service, as it ensures the natural stone lasts a long time and allows you to bring complex designs to life. However, if you’re planning on a DIY job, following top installation tips can make all the difference.
Consider using pre-cut tiles, as they’re easier to install and require less precision than granite slabs.
Allowing For Creativity
If you want to get creative with your paving, choosing natural stone pavers that can bring your vision to life is important. Experimenting with patterns is a great way to elevate the design, including using Crazy paving for a natural and organic look.
Travertine and limestone are more versatile materials that offer a variety of design options.
The Takeaway
Natural stone is a beautiful material that never fails to make an impression. With so many options available for every budget, you’ll have no issues finding the right style for your needs.
Remember, each type has unique properties and benefits, so the trick is to find the one that matches your budget, lifestyle and desired aesthetic.
Armstone offers a variety of beautiful natural stone pavers that will bring pool decks to life. We bring authentic beauty to your home with convenient delivery options and excellent prices.
Our video can provide some key points and explain why it’s important to have your stone supplier and installer on the same page.