New build - can't decide on decking!

[JC707]

Hi all. Been awhile, lots of changes with us moving etc but we are finally about to begin our long awaited pool build! The PB recommends pavers and works with a paver company (off contract for us). We were set on it but still wavering on possible stamped/color concrete decking. We are in Bay Area CA with clay type soil. Our old home in same area had concrete in backyard that shifted a few inches after a few years, maybe due to improper install on concrete contractor's part?

That experience left me with a sour taste in my mouth but there have been 8 pools on our new construction block and I got in touch with the concrete contractor who is giving me a quote next week. Only thing is I would be in charge of the deck portion and the PB will be out of the loop on it. For the pavers, they work directly with paver company and handle everything together.

What I am getting is $16-18 per sq ft for pavers and $13-14 for stamped/color concrete. What I don't want is the concrete to begin shifting like it did at our hold house, except this time a pool will be involved and possibly damage it? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[JC707]

Another thought for pavers:

1. Can easily remove portions that may need for any repair work in future.
2. Heard of weed's/algae growing in paver cracks and cannot power wash due to poly sand --- is this true? I did love power washing our old concrete in home we sold - so easy!

 

[JC707]

For Concrete:

1. cheaper - we have a large project of 3,000-4,000 sq ft of decking/area needing pavers or concrete. So could save a pretty penny doing concrete.
2. Cracks are a given, but shifting due to clay soils or the like is not what I want since we will have a pool in middle of everything.
3. Can easily clean concrete with my power washer.


I am leaning on pavers slightly only because of our clay soil but I do love a nice stamped concrete deck. I don't like having to be in charge of the deck pour/project though....I have enough going on in life at the moment. lol

Is it possible to do pavers around pool/pad and then stamped concrete everywhere else or too busy/weird?

 

[Bperry]

You can do pavers, lots of people do. Just prepare the base well and the weeds won’t be in the cracks all that much. The polymeric sand is kinda a joke as it always cracks anyway and then you have to remove it or reapply it every so often. IMO stone dust is better for filling in the cracks.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Cracking and movement can occur with both installations.
The base on which the product is installed on will determine its movement in the future.

 

[JC707]

What I am thinking is pavers around pool area like 5 feet border style (pre cast concrete coping is what we are doing) and then stamped/color concrete for everything else.

Has this been done or will it be way too busy?

 

[Bperry]

What I am thinking is pavers around pool area like 5 feet border style (pre cast concrete coping is what we are doing) and then stamped/color concrete for everything else.

Has this been done or will it be way too busy?

That’s an aesthetic question.

Probably costs more to do it that way (two separate installations) but I don’t see why it couldn’t look fine.

 

[Bill1974]

Concrete will almost always crack. Controls joints are key in making them less noticable. If sufficient rebar is used there should not be any heaving if the base is prepped properly.

SInce you have clay/expansive soil, keeping it at a constant moisture level will help in limiting the issues caused by it. If you have a high water table or seasonal changes in the water table level could come in to play you make need to find a way to stablize the soil. Making sure water is drained away from the patio and not getting to the soil under it will go a long way in minimizing cracks or having to resent pavers.

As with concrete, prep for pavers is just as important. I am not sure stone dust is great for filling cracks between paver around a pool. My experience is that anything is not affixed will find its way in to the pool. With polysand, you do have to make sure the proper polysand is used and worked in between the pavers properly. It is not a forever solution, it will need to be maintained. That may be yearly or every few years. It will depend on the size of gap the polysand has to fill, how well it was done and how well the prep under the pavers was done. I have about 3000 sqft of pavers that are 3 years old now and i only have 3 small area (less than 15 sq ft total) that I need to touch up. These are areas where water runs off a canopy and one area that was probably not done well orginally.

Powerwashing paver can easily remove the polysand if you are not careful. And damage concrete and pavers if not careful too. Again this is where water managent comes in to play, if the patio/decking is pitched so water doesnt stand or water does not onto it, it will save a lot of time cleaning it down the line.