By Leslie McGuire, managing editor and Christian Thomsen, Handcrafted Stone

Every handcrafted stone tile is produced by hand, and the water used to make them is recycled. The process also utilizes many alternative natural means to manufacture and cure the tiles with a very small percentage use of man-made power. They are fiber reinforced with recycled polypropylene plastic fibers. Not only made of natural raw and recycled materials, they are environmentally friendly during installation. There is no need to remove and discard existing concrete bases.
Photo courtesy of handcrafted stone

Conventional wisdom holds that old concrete, with cracks, surface discoloration, or surface imperfections, must be removed and replaced if improving the look of the concrete is the goal. Many times, homeowners are discouraged by their cement decking or other concrete areas. They can, of course, tear out and replace their existing surface, but there are many options available to them including resurfacing their already existing concrete.

Deck areas surrounding a pool can run the gamut from poured in place concrete, broom finish concrete, exposed aggregate, tile, to brick pavers or natural stone masonry. Different materials possess different assets and limitations, not to mention cost.

Many design combinations, such as brick pavers, or flagstone coping and border bands can be taken into consideration. In climates where freezing occurs, ?EUR??,,????'??antique?EUR??,,????'?? brick should to be avoided as this material is known to absorb water and spall or crack during the frozen winter months. Granite decks offer the rustic look of stone and great durability.
Photo courtesy of Freestyle Pool and Spa

Textured Concrete

One of the biggest trends in outdoor design today is a decorative concrete pool deck, a colored, textured and inviting area surrounding the pool that does more than provide a safe, slip-resistant deck for sunbathing and barbecuing. Concrete pool decks are now given nearly as much attention as the interior design of the home.

Decorative concrete has opened the doors to creating pool decks that complement the exterior of the home, meld with the outdoor environment, and replicate exotic and traditionally expensive materials such as slate, stone or even wood. Sometimes referred to as cement pool decks, the choices available for designing a truly unique, functional, and affordable pool deck are easy to find.

One of the biggest trends in outdoor design today is a decorative concrete pool deck, a colored, textured and inviting area surrounding the pool that does more than provide a safe, slip-resistant deck for sunbathing and barbecuing. Concrete pool decks are now given nearly as much attention as the interior design of the home.
Photo courtesy of Freestyle Pool and Spa

Concrete Stone

If looking for a product that will provide beautiful, natural appearing surfaces over a concrete sub-base, there is also an alternative to other products on the market, which is installer friendly, produces quick, consistent and easy results.

Handcrafted Stone, a unique concrete flagstone, is a good alternative to coatings, stamping, staining, pavers and even natural stone. Because it is installer friendly and produces quick, consistent and easy results while requiring virtually no maintenance and no call-backs, landscape architects will be quite satisfied with specifying these products into their next project.

Precast concrete coping offers the choice of a wide range of textures, patterns and colors, often at a significantly lower cost than poured concrete or natural stone. Poured concrete allows the coping to be one unit with the pool deck, incorporating the coping right over the edge of the pool so that there is no break in the finish on the horizontal plane.
Photo courtesy of Louis Pools

Natural Stone

Flagstone, sometimes known as ?EUR??,,????'??bluestone,?EUR??,,????'?? offers a sleek and traditional look. However, very sunny sites will often heat flagstone to uncomfortable levels, particularly for young children. While many different colors and patterns are available with brick decks, brick, too, can be a hot, sometimes slippery surface.

Flagstone works over concrete slabs or laid directly on existing stable soils. Flagstones are either irregularly shaped for crazy paving or pre-cut usually in squares or rectangles. Flagstone is available in multiple colors with buff, red, brown, and pink being most common. Gaps between flagstones can be filled with sand, planted with grass or creepers, or filled with mortar.

Coping With Coping

Many design combinations, such as brick pavers, or flagstone coping and border bands can be taken into consideration. In climates where freezing occurs, ?EUR??,,????'??antique?EUR??,,????'?? brick should be avoided as this material is known to absorb water and spall or crack during the frozen winter months. Granite decks offer the rustic look of stone and great durability.

Natural stone or brick coping offers the warmth, texture and sturdiness of stone. Materials ranging from quarried granite, to limestone to natural fieldstone offer beautiful and long lasting coping solutions. Poured concrete allows the coping to be one unit with the pool deck, incorporating the coping right over the edge of the pool so that there is no break in the finish on the horizontal plane. Precast concrete coping offers the choice of a wide range of textures, patterns and colors, often at a significantly lower cost than poured concrete or natural stone.

Mix and Match

Other design options include mixing other types or shapes of stone with your crazy paving flagstone. Pleasing patterns with mixed stones have more symmetry than crazy paving stones alone. A pattern with rectangular slabs and crazy paving stones works for a patio.

Plantings

Planting looks best when the flagstones are large. Fill the gaps with a mixture of sand and garden soil. Strew seeds in the cracks or use small seedlings to plant the patio. The smaller the plant, the higher the likelihood the planting will be successful. Also, consider the use of the patio when picking plants. If there will be heavy foot traffic, pick a low, compact, hardy plant. Grass between flagstones is attractive and will tie the patio into your overall landscape.

Another interesting planting option is to plant mint, lemon verbena or lemon thyme in the spaces so when the paving is walked on, a lovely scent drifts up. But no matter what choices you make, there are many beautiful and functional options available to fit any landscape or site requirement.