The sun is setting on the days of plain concrete or pool decks. Concrete pave stones are increasing in popularity as homeowners discover the many choices in colors, shapes and sizes. The backyard outdoor living area can easily be transformed into an oasis with creatively designed pool decking using decorative pave stones. ?EUR??,,????'??The homeowners acceptance and choice of pave stones in pool decks is growing,?EUR??,,????'?? said Dave Morris, owner of, Pavers and More, Sacramento, CA. ?EUR??,,????'??Customers like the aesthetics of the variety of colors, patterns, and textures. Pave stone manufacturers are also producing coping stones in matching colors which can be used for pool coping and stair treads for terraced landscapes.?EUR??,,????'?? ?EUR??,,????'??The fact that there are no forms to set, nor concrete to pour, allows the homeowner to use the pool as soon as possible,?EUR??,,????'?? explained Tex Mabalon, general manager of Pavestone Company in Sacramento. ?EUR??,,????'??Some pool companies promote pool completion in 30 days, which is a huge selling tool, and pave stone decks facilitate pool construction.?EUR??,,????'?? Designing a Pool Deck with Pave Stones Like most landscape features, the chief force behind a design is the customer?EUR??,,????'???s taste. The contractor can assure customer satisfaction by showing the customer a variety of pave stone shapes and colors. Do they wish the pool to harmonize or contrast the colors of the house? The larger pavers, like a 12-inch square are best used for large commercial and residential pool decks, as they could otherwise overwhelm a smaller deck. There are many shapes and textures available in smaller pave stones, such as the standard 4-inch by 8-inch pave stone which can create a beautiful design for any size project. The lay of the pool can also provide guidance for which stone is best suited for the design. Traditionally, when most people think about pools, they think tropical. This theme is still very popular with pool designs, however, a more natural approach has homeowners choosing softer colors, earth blends and tumbled coping and pave stones. These options lend a relaxed ambience to the design. Considerations for Pave Stones Installation Ray Clark of Pavestone Company has worked extensively with contractors on pool deck installations and offers the following advice for contractors. ?EUR??,,????'??Elevation changes on a pool deck could cause an over- abundance of water to run into the pool. It is best to have the elevation on the deck run away from the pool or to a deck drain,?EUR??,,????'?? Clark said. ?EUR??,,????'??Also, existing soil conditions will dictate a thickness of the aggregate base needed. Clay or silty soils require more base (4-6 inches), while sandy soils require less base (4 inches). It is always best to consult with a local geotechnical engineer if you are unsure what type of soil conditions are present.?EUR??,,????'?? Clark also recommends to ?EUR??,,????'??jet?EUR??,,????'??? water down into the base and sand around the inside perimeter of the pool deck to aid in the paver compaction process. More settling occurs around the inside perimeter of the deck and around the beam of the pool than anywhere else on a deck. Irregular pool deck shapes may require more pave stone cuts than others, which can increase the percentage of waste factor. If in doubt, consult with your pave stone manufacturing representative to help you determine the waste percentage. A common misconception about pave stones for pool decking is that sand will migrate from the joints of the pavers into the pool. While it?EUR??,,????'???s important to be aware of this during the installation phase, a paver joint stabilizer will assure that the sand stays in the joints. Segmental retaining walls (SRWs) are also being used around pools as a cost effective alternative to increase landscape beauty, while providing level areas for pool decks. The pool designer and contractor should work together to determine pool type, plumbing, drainage and wiring for fiber optic lights and pool accessories. Like pave stones, SRWs are growing in popularity for pools for their ease of construction, variety of available colors and textures, and increased performance in areas with freeze/thaw cycles. SRWs allow for a completely free draining system. as water from rain and children splashing on the pool deck will flow down the face of the wall and into the drain. ?EUR??,,????'??There are key considerations for building these walls,?EUR??,,????'?? said Alan Starling, of Pavestone Company, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas. ?EUR??,,????'??When designing a wall around a pool it is critical to know if the pool walls are rigid or flexible. Rigid walls apply no load to the soil around the pool and will function properly if the pool is filled with water with no backfill around the pool whatsoever. If so, the retaining walls can be constructed as normal SRWs, designed and constructed in accordance with the NCMA criteria. If the pool walls are flexible and rely on the soil backfill for support, extreme care must be taken when designing and constructing SRWs around the pool. SRWs are designed to move over time and this movement could cause cracking in the pool walls, and excessive hydrostatic pressure behind the walls can potentially cause wall distress. The walls must be located a sufficient distance away from the pool walls so no loads are imparted to the SRWs.?EUR??,,????'?? ?EUR??,,????'??Care must also be taken when constructing walls around pools where the base of the wall is at the pool deck and the wall supports a slope above the pool,?EUR??,,????'?? according to Sam Miller, P.E., president of Scott Miller Consulting Engineer, Little Rock, Arkansas. ?EUR??,,????'??The compaction of the backfill around the pool is critical and must be verified to be at 95% standard compaction (ASTM D698) to limit settlement of the SRWs. All pool plumbing and electrical lines should be installed before beginning the wall construction to avoid undermining a completed SRW and the compaction of the backfill in the plumbing and electrical trenches verified to be at least 95% standard compaction.?EUR??,,????'?? Most SRWs over three feet will require geosynthetic reinforcement, and many municipalities will require plans stamped by an engineer for walls over four feet. Many contractors find the Anchor Wall Systems Estimating Manual to be a very important tool to prepare bids. The manual tells you how many layers of geogrid to use and their length based on the surcharge and soil conditions. Decorative concrete pave stones and SRWs provide the aesthetics, design flexibility and structural stability required to not only successfully complete pool projects, but to transform them into a beautiful paradise. For more information on hardscape products, colors and textures, see www.pavestone.com. You can also obtain a copy of the Anchor Wall Systems Estimating Manual by contacting Pavestone Company at 1-800-245-PAVE.