We have had a pool for 3ish years and have pavers, reddish dark, probably "generic pavers", and during the summer they can get a little hot. We now want to extend our patio and dont want to spend the 20k to. What are the other options that do not get hot. Thought about concrete and use my pavers in-between to make a pattern, but heard poured concrete can get hot (and some dark stone which is probably expensive and we arent using, can get very hot too). Ive read about acrylic and kooldeck and there's some pros and cons. Personally, I dont love the "orange peel" effect of the kooldeck. And have read acrylic coatings can be slippery (not sure how slippery we are really talking). Brushed concrete? Travertine (would this be more expensive than pavers and I cant use my existing patio pavers)? Would love any ideas and experiences.
Patio material that stays coolest
- Thread starter friguy3
- Start date
My rocksalt finish, stained concrete is the coolest surface around my pool. Flagstone, rocks and old bricks are all noticeably hotter. It is also maintenance free.
i've gotta say, i live in phx and my marbella is cool. i'm slightly regretting not having made the rest of the patio marbella but i wanted old chicago brick for more of a different look under the grape arbor. plus less $ and i can do it myself. i'll prob put an outdoor rug on it though! this is me only with a month of experience but i know someone else who's had it a few yrs in phoenix and loves it
- Sep 8, 2013
- 606
Travertine is the coolest paver out there. I live in South Texas where the sun shines 300 days out of the year
I live in NJ and have a Marble coping and it is as cool as can be. I think Marble is very much like Travertine. I have techo block inca pavers for the decking and they are not as cool as the Marble but my feet never feel hot on it. I also have a border of small brick around the techo block and that is very hot. Fortunately it is a small area I can easily avoid.
- Jun 12, 2011
- 3,763
- Pool Size
- 19500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pureline Crystal Pure 60,000
I have acrylic coated concrete. It's almost as cool as cool deck, but is much more durable. Ten years old and I have just resealed it with a new coat of the color coat. One day's work and it now looks like the day it was first installed. It has held up much better than my neighbors cool deck, which started peeling after about five years. It is also non-porous, so no staining or salt damage.
On the advice of my pool builder, I avoided the use of any natural stone, since this was built as a salt pool. There is no deck surface that you can walk on bare foot in the sun her in Tucson, but this as close as any. You can have it textured and tinted to match brick, travertine, flagstone, or any material you chose. The only limit is the skill and experience of the installer. Oh, and it's not slippery if there is any texture at all. I suppose It might be if you make it completely smooth, but I've never seen that done.
On the advice of my pool builder, I avoided the use of any natural stone, since this was built as a salt pool. There is no deck surface that you can walk on bare foot in the sun her in Tucson, but this as close as any. You can have it textured and tinted to match brick, travertine, flagstone, or any material you chose. The only limit is the skill and experience of the installer. Oh, and it's not slippery if there is any texture at all. I suppose It might be if you make it completely smooth, but I've never seen that done.
ewkearns
0
I've found that the material is far less important than the reflectivity of the material. If light is absorbed it WILL make [whatever] surface HOT. I actually have a wood deck that gets too hot to walk on. Repainting with a much lighter color is toward the top of my to-do list....
Hi chiefwej, What did your PB say the salt system in the pool would do to stone? Thanks
- Jun 12, 2011
- 3,763
- Pool Size
- 19500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pureline Crystal Pure 60,000
Over time salt water splash out causes erosion. Softer more porous stone like flagstone will flake and erode much more quickly, and harder stone will hold up better, but all stone can suffer damage. Salt laden water wets the stone. Any moisture penetration evaporates, leaving salt behind. As the water evaporates, salt crystals form within the stone, causing damage and creating fractures that allow more penetration.
We have travertine pavers. They are ivory which is a lighter color and you can lay on your back shirtless at the hottest time of day. You could not even stand in one spot with our old concrete pavers.
- Jun 12, 2011
- 3,763
- Pool Size
- 19500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pureline Crystal Pure 60,000
Try that in Tucson and you will leave the skin from your back there. I don't care what surface you have, here you won't be laying on it shirtless.
Well I live in FL and have Country Classic Travertine (http://www.travertinemart.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/CountryClassicFP1.jpg) and typically mid-90's weather...and Jup is right...it's totally cool to the touch. While it wasn't cheap, I would not trade the travertine we installed.
100+ degree temps in Texas and our Travertine pavers barely feel warm (and still cool under the patio.) Love the look and the feel!
Hi outdoorsgal... I was looking at paver material and was at one of the largest pool builders in the Phoenix area looking at their paver display... I could walk on the various materials barefoot to compare... travertine and marbella were the coolest by far. Later I was at a stone supplier and asked about marbella and was told it was much softer and porous than travertine... what has your experience been with the marbella thus far? Thanks. Kirk
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I'm in south Florida and it gets smoking hot but travertine doesn't. Fact
I know NOTHING about concrete so sorry if this is a silly question - is "acrylic coated concrete" just poured concrete with a special sealer on top? We are deciding on our patio now and we are maxed out on our budge but we are having a fairly large concrete patio poured (1200sq ft) and want to keep it as cool as I can. It is going to be a salt water pool. I'm just curious if my husband and I can buy the special acrylic sealer or if it has to be done by an installer.
- Jun 12, 2011
- 3,763
- Pool Size
- 19500
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pureline Crystal Pure 60,000
The textured acrylic coated deck is a three step process that was professionally installed. The base coat is a primer/bonding agent. Then the texture coat is sprayed on and troweled for a “knock down” texture, similar to stucco. Finally a color top coat is rolled on which seals and provides a durable wear layer. Both the process and final appearance are very similar to Kool Deck.
Maintenance requires touching up any chip or cracks with color top coat, in order to keep any water from getting under the coating and causing peeling. In addition you should apply a full new top coat to the entire deck after several years. My deck, although 13 years old, still looks like it did when installed. But I have been careful to keep it touched up and have recoated once (about 3 years ago).
Maintenance requires touching up any chip or cracks with color top coat, in order to keep any water from getting under the coating and causing peeling. In addition you should apply a full new top coat to the entire deck after several years. My deck, although 13 years old, still looks like it did when installed. But I have been careful to keep it touched up and have recoated once (about 3 years ago).
We are leaning toward using Marbella since travertine has gone up considerably. Just curious if you are still happy with it since it has been a few years? Have heard that it is tough to keep clean..Thanks.