The design of the space around the pool is very important for the overall look of the facility as well as for functionality and ease of use. Usually the focus here falls on the decking that covers the beaches around the pools. It is already provided for in the design of the pooltaking into account the specific needs of the project, as well as the wishes of the client.
The variety is huge and the final solution depends on the client's wishes, the architect's vision and many other factors.
When it comes to the pool surround, the pool board should be considered first. It is an important element that serves as a connection between the water area and the beach around the pool.
In addition to the design layout, it must also perform the following very important functions:
- prevent stormwater and other water from the beach from entering the pool;
- to allow comfortable entry and exit from the pool if necessary;
- be safe - not slippery, no sharp edges.
The most widely used are the so-called profile board blocks made of different materials with a special profile. They meet all the conditions described above, and are also at a good price. Of course, the board can be shaped in many ways - from natural stone, by casting in place, from wood, from ceramics, from polymer material. It is important to meet the requirements and make a visual connection between the pool and the surrounding pool space.
For the surfacing on the beaches around the pools, many requirements must also be met:
- not slippery - safety first. Water spilled around the pool lowers the friction of any surface. Because of this, surfacing on beaches should have increased roughness to ensure safe pool use;
- easy to maintain - no matter how beautiful and functional a swimming pool floor is, if it is difficult to clean or requires a lot of maintenance, it is not a good choice;
- to be cold resistant - this is a must for outdoor pools, low temperatures in winter should not damage the coating.
Artificial grass - Modern technologies for the production of artificial grass are so advanced that it is now impossible to tell them apart even from a close look. Their use around swimming pools solves one of the main disadvantages of natural grass - difficult maintenance. Artificial grass has virtually no maintenance, apart from periodic cleaning. Of course, in order to keep its good looks for a long time, it is mandatory to observe the placement technology - drainage of the soil, edge reinforcement, etc.
- Natural grass - used mainly in small domestic pools that are integrated into the natural environment of the garden. The main advantage is the incomparable beauty of the natural surroundings. The disadvantages in this case are the following - difficult to maintain , difficult to clean, the pool gets dirty when bathers enter. In addition, the grass does not withstand the chlorinated water in the pool - it must be kept from getting thoroughly wet because it will dry out.
- Ceramic tiles - under this name we unite different flooring options - granite tiles, terracotta tiles, clinker, cement blocks for flooring around the pool, etc. These are probably the most widely used options for pool surrounds. They have become widely available mainly because they are very well priced and are produced in a huge variety. When choosing ceramic tiles, particular care should be taken for low slip and cold resistance requirements. These are the most common problems encountered with poorly chosen flooring options around the pool. The ceramic tile industry has introduced a parameter characterising the degree of slip resistance of the tile. It is denoted by the sign R followed by a number defining this degree. For swimming pools, floorings with a parameter greater than or equal to R10 are suitable. Resistance to low temperatures is also indicated, usually by a snowflake on the packaging or on the reverse side of the tile itself.
Other types of flooring around the pools are: natural wood, WPC (wood polymer composite), Screed type, Stamped concrete, EPDM polymer flooring, Quartz flooring.
Natural wood - natural product, giving a unique look to the pool. For this purpose, weather-resistant woods are used. Usually these are exotic wood species - Teak, Iroko, Meranti, Bilinga, which are characterized by high density and exceptional strength. The disadvantages of natural wood are the difficult maintenance and high cost. Maintenance involves periodic (usually once a year) treatment with special oils and impregnators, which further depreciate the cost of wooden pool flooring over time. If not treated periodically, the natural wood discolours, cracks, warps and eventually spoils the look of the pool.
WPC (wood polymer composite) - this product is designed to solve the maintenance problems that exist with natural woods. It is also cheaper than them. It is a special polymer (plastic) that is mixed with sawdust. The resulting mixture is colored in different ranges and extruded into a variety of profiles. The wood particles in it create the appearance and impression of real wood. The composite wood polymer pool flooring imitates natural wood almost to 100% and needs virtually no maintenance.
Type "putty" - this type of flooring is considered obsolete, but is still used and in many cases can be the best solution.
"Stamp concrete" - A variant of screed-type flooring where a special powdered polymer is sprinkled on the fresh cement mixture and pressed with specially shaped moulds that print a variety of shapes and patterns. This type of paving is suitable for large areas and public sites as it is quick to make and gives a good appearance. With this type of pool flooring the price is high. In addition, there are great demands on the technology - if not done properly it is slippery and does not withstand low temperatures.
Quartz pool flooring - Similar to EPDM flooring, quartz flooring is colored calibrated pebbles that are mixed with a liquid transparent material in a specific proportion. They are applied to a previously made screed and after polymerisation a hard flooring with an interesting appearance is obtained. The main advantage of these floorings is the possibility to realise many design solutions. For example, random colours can be combined and different materials can be incorporated - for example, shells of marine animals, crystals, etc. As a disadvantage, we can mention the relatively high cost and the difficulty of cleaning, as a certain porosity of the coating is obtained.
EPDM polymeric flooring - are produced from waste rubber products, from which small granules coloured in different colours are formed. On site, they are mixed with special polymer liquid fillers and the resulting mixture is laid on a pre-made cement mortar. After polymerisation, a beautiful, colourful and soft flooring is obtained. It is particularly suitable around children's pools and play areas as it is non-slip and soft when dropped on. The main disadvantage of this flooring is its porosity. It is possible for water to enter it, which can cause problems when it freezes in winter.
