Marble Pool Deck (Backyard Design Guide)
As the temperature rises, itโs the perfect time to hop into the pool. However, itโs important to make sure that your swimming pool has the right deck to offer an eye-catching way to make sure your pool fits into your landscape and that you have a nice place to dry off and hang out. If you want a touch of modern elegance to your pool, a marble pool deck has plenty of benefits.
In this guide, weโll break down everything you need to know about marble pool decks so that you can make the best choice for your taste and landscape. [toc]
Marble Pool Deck Pros and Cons
There are pros and cons to any materials that you might use as flooring, deck, or otherwise around your home. Thatโs why weโre going to break down the best and the worst of this natural stone to help you make the best decision for your home.
Marble Pool Deck Pros
Beautiful stone material – For one, you can rely on marble for a bit of natural beauty around your pool. Plus, as weโve already looked at, there are a variety of ways that you can use it to match your personal style.
Range of marble colors – The pavers and tiles are available in a variety of stone colors. You can find them in colors such as shades of brown, cream, and silver.
Cool surface to walk on – The good news is that the stone surface stays fairly cool as well. This means that even when youโre enjoying a dip during the hottest part of the day, you wonโt have to worry as much about hurting your feet on a hot floor.
Durable & weather resistant – It is also highly sought after because itโs a durable material. Another great benefit is that itโs weather-resistant which means that you wonโt see damage from use outside over the years.
Increase home property value – Finally, having a pool already boosts your property value but using this stone tends to add to the resale value as well. In all, it can be a gain in property value compared to other decking materials.
Marble Pool Deck Cons
Of course, not everything about marble can be positive. Like any other material, there are a few drawbacks.
Slippery when wet – As it directly relates to swimming decks, youโll want to be careful that the stone can get slippery when wet. This means that as you splash water, or even track damp footprints when you get out of the pool, it can cause your patio to get slippery. So, youโll want to be careful about this, especially with running children around.
High cost material – Another con actually relates to the last pro we brought up. As a luxury item, the stone can increase your property value but it comes at a higher cost than some other material options. Luckily, the good news is that the added property value can help mitigate this upfront cost.
Marble can stain – To a lesser extent, youโll want to beware of staining your stone surface since it is a porous material. For a patio, this isnโt usually a problem but if you host pool parties with food and drinks, for example, itโs a good idea to try to avoid spills and clean up any directly after they happen.
Sandblasted Marble
Sandblasted marble is finished to have a slightly rough, uneven surface. By sandblasting the surface, it creates an irregular finish, ensuring that the texture is completely unique.
This is an especially clever choice when youโre worried about how slippery the stone can get which can be a hazard when it comes to a wetdeck.
For sandblasting the surface, the texture it creates helps to add traction to the patio area. This way, it isnโt quite as slick when itโs wet as surfaces with a completely smooth finish.
Itโs worth noting that while this will add traction and texture, it isnโt so textured that it will be uncomfortable to walk on. See more types of pool finishes here.
Marble Pavers
Pavers are individual units of a material laid out like tiles or bricks. This means that instead of a single, smooth slab, these pool pavers are organized as you want them and that fits into the space.
You can use these stone pool pavers to create a pattern that adds to the aesthetic beauty of the design just as much as the appearance of the marble you use. This is true even if you decide that a traditional tile pattern is the best choice for your space.
When it comes down to the individual finish of the stone pavers, you have a lot of options. For instance, you can use these pavers with a sandblasted finish to reduce how slippery the surface of the pool deck gets when wet.
White Marble
White marble is often used in modern design as itโs sleek and simple. Itโs often associated with luxury since it has a neutral but elegant touch.
However, the white variety still often has a one-of-a-kind appearance thanks to the natural veins in the stone. This sets every slab apart from the next.
What’s Best – Marble or Travertine for Around the Pool
Travertine is a little different from marble. It comes from limestone and is a frequent choice when it comes to pool decks. This is true for a few reasons.
For one, since travertine absorbs water quickly, itโs a good choice for a pool deck since it wonโt stay wet. Because of this, it has the advantage of being non-slippery. On top of that, travertine is less expensive, making it a good choice for any homeowner who is on a budget.
However, it lacks some of the benefits of marble as well. For one, while itโs less expensive upfront, this also means that it wonโt elevate the property value the same way. Both have the additional benefit of giving your swimming area a luxurious touch.
In the end, every homeowner has unique needs that are answered in different ways. Yet, if youโre interested in a long-term investment over short-term savings, marble is a classic choice.
For more designs visit our gallery to see more natural stone pool decks.
I love these marble pool deck ideas yet I do agree that each homeowner has different specifications when it comes to home projects. I want my own project to look like an industrial-inspired nook made with mostly concrete. I hope to work with a contractor that would understand my design vision.
What base is used when installing marble for your pool deck? Sand or Limerock?
Sand is not always an ideal base for pavers as it can shift and cause uneven areas. It’s often combined with limestone or other types of crushed stone for better durability. It’s recommend by the American Society for Testing and Materials standards to use stone aggregate combined with concrete sand that meets these specifications; ASTM C33 and CSA A23.1.