I am going to be moving forward with an 18'x44' double roman ended vinyl lined pool at the end of May. We are going the swg route but am having trouble deciding on pavers or stamp concrete. We got a good price on both but I just want to make sure I am making the right decision especially being in Central Mass.
Inground Pool Project in MA_ pavers or stamped concrete?
- Thread starter Burtonjeeplj
- Start date
Welcome to TFP!
One serious problem with pavers is the difficulty in connecting them to the bonding system. Concrete decks are connected by running the bonding wire to the rebar, but there is no rebar in the paver deck. A copper grid under the pavers would probably work, but there doesn't seem to be an industry accepted method for paver bonding.
One serious problem with pavers is the difficulty in connecting them to the bonding system. Concrete decks are connected by running the bonding wire to the rebar, but there is no rebar in the paver deck. A copper grid under the pavers would probably work, but there doesn't seem to be an industry accepted method for paver bonding.
The problem with stamped concrete in MA is they only make two types. 1) Cracked concrete 2) Concrete that will crack. I'm in Southern NH and just changed my cracked up concrete deck to pavers. The deck on my pool was pretty messed up from freeze thaw cycles and it had been that way for years. Some of the elevation changes were so bad it was becoming a trip hazard in the summer. I rarely see any concrete pad work in our area that isn't damaged from small cracks that only need 1 winter to turn into big cracks. Pavers are more expensive but the way I see it is that's a one time cost because they can always be reset easily no matter what the ground under them decides to do. They also give you the ability to fix plumbing issues or run new electrical after the fact which a poured option prevents.
Thanks for help, we are leaning more towards pavers. We received similar priced quotes mainly because we are looking at basic pavers not the high end architecture type. We have had stone work done by the paver guy in the past so we really trust what he does and says.
Good choice. I had pavers with a previous pool. It looks great. Cracks are, by definition, irrelevant. Pavers can have a natural non-slip surface. And you can rather easily get to your plumbing should you really need to dig it up. For me, pavers had the added advantage of not being "permanent" so I was able to extend my pool decking into the utility easement on my property.
The only problem I had with them is that the paver surface could get feet-burningly hot in the August Texas sun....
I have the concrete around the pool, then pavers at either end. I bought the house with the pool, but I like knowing that the pavers allow for easier access to the plumbing.
We debated this as well and settled on pavers.
1. The quotes were virtually identical in our area.
2. Every piece of concrete in Northern NJ cracks.
3. I've personally witnessed how slippery stamped concrete can be. I watched kid after kid fall and skin knees/elbows and cry at my wife's boss' pool party last Labor Day. To me screaming injured kids aren't part of a fun day in the pool. The pavers we chose are Cambridge brand and they have a lot of texture that should provide a lot of traction.
ac
1. The quotes were virtually identical in our area.
2. Every piece of concrete in Northern NJ cracks.
3. I've personally witnessed how slippery stamped concrete can be. I watched kid after kid fall and skin knees/elbows and cry at my wife's boss' pool party last Labor Day. To me screaming injured kids aren't part of a fun day in the pool. The pavers we chose are Cambridge brand and they have a lot of texture that should provide a lot of traction.
ac
Pavers may be nice, but when you start getting shocked when you go to get out of the pool because they aren't bonded it's going to take the edge off their appearance.
We have pavers here in NH and I would do it again in a second. Cracked concrete is not for me.
Never had that happen or even heard of it happening. Not saying it can't happen but I've seen a whole lot more cracked concrete causing trip hazards than injury by paver electrocution.
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,282
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Zillions of people have pavers by pools. Death by shock on pavers not too common it seems. Maybe just under-reported. I'm sure there are best practices to be followed though...of which I'm not familiar.
Nectarologist
Well-known member
- Apr 3, 2015
- 642
- Pool Size
- 21000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Getting shocked is a non issue if you have a qualified electrician who knows how and does properly perform the work. If that is happening it's not a paver issue. I'm putting techo bloc blu 60 on my stair end and also have it for a patio (pool put in last spring too). The other 3 sides will be grass with 2' x 2' slabs placed set in the grass. I was also thinking concrete but I know it will crack and maybe shift so I decided to spend for the pavers. I don't think you'll ever regret it if you can swing it $ wise.
I thought that you only need a 3 foot perimiter for bonding... so could you do a 3 foot border then transition to pavers?
The ONLY reason a deck needs to be bonded is if it has steel in it. Unless you are installing steel pavers . . .
There is no electrical continuity in a paver deck.
There is no electrical continuity in a paver deck.
Incorrect. Wet concrete conducts electricity, and we have numerous members with problems with decks shocking them because they have no rebar to be bonded.
Though code only requires the reinforcing steel to be bonded, failing to bond a deck will cause problems so all concrete decks need bonded mesh or rebar.
We signed a contract for this pool last week and will either start building at the end of the month or 3rd work in May. We might be able to start end of this month if there is a cancellation. I was initially going the SWG route but my PB mentioned UV/Ozone as an option to avoid any long term damage that SWG brings with it. Anyone have any opinions on UV/Ozone?
If history is any indicator you will get beat up around here for getting an Ozone system 
Understandable haha....i figured it was worth asking since this is my first time with a pool.
Here ya go! We want you to learn and know the whys of everything we do or do not do.
Alternative sanitizers and pools--The Truth!!
Kim
Alternative sanitizers and pools--The Truth!!
Kim
If history is any indicator you will get beat up around here for getting an Ozone system
It's for your own good! :-D