From hot days to hurricanes and sanitizing products to sandals, Florida pool decks need to withstand the wear and tear from thousands of different elements, all while looking as good as the Miami skyline at sundown. To choose the correct pool deck material for your space, you need to consider cost, durability, design possibilities, and more. The possibilities are endless and can be overwhelming, so to make your decision-making a little easier, the team here at Bengoa Construction has highlighted and summarized key features of some of our favorite materials to use on pool decks here in South Florida.
In this article we will cover:
- Brick
- Concrete Pavers
- Travertine or Limestone Pavers
- Bluestone or Marble Pavers
- Wood or Composite Wood Decking
- Rubber Surfacing
- Glazed or unglazed tile
Brick
Key Features: Clay bricks have been known to have been used in construction since around 7,500 B.C. That equates to nine centuries of use with this single building material. The technology has certainly changed over time, from a simple mix of local clay and water that was dried in the sun to today’s blocks of aggregate materials designed for cost-efficiency, durability, or lightweight uses.
Appearance: Because this material is historically built from local materials, the appearance of brickwork changes with the region. When brick is mentioned, many of us think of the classic red brick buildings in Downtown Boston or sturdy English factories from the Industrial Revolution; but Spain’s famous golden-tone bricks highlight the versatility in the color palette of this ubiquitous material. Regardless of the brick’s hue, the overall look is one of clean lines and classic, timeless elegance and clean lines.
Durability, Lifespan & Maintenance: Fired-brick masonry is both long-lasting and durable, and its natural rough-hewn texture lends a natural slip-resistance to a wet surface. For both of these reasons, bricks are an excellent option to consider for a Florida pool deck, particularly for the pool coping.
Cost: $4-$8 per square foot
Best Use in Florida: Classic red brick masonry is best saved for indoor pool decks or smaller spaces, as the darker red stone absorbs heat, which can amplify the impacts of the sunshine in the Miami area. Whether for a residential or commercial pool deck, the larger the area, the more the bricks will reflect the rays of the South Florida sun.
Concrete Pavers
Key Features: Another ancient material, concrete is one of the most-used substances in the world, second only to water. Within the construction industry, its use as a building material outpaces the use of steel, wood, plastics, and aluminum combined. Because of this, chances are, if you are looking at an existing pool deck in Florida, you are seeing concrete construction.
Appearance: Because concrete is so universal, many people associate it with a dull, utilitarian look or brutalist architecture from the 1950s. However, as construction technologies have advanced, so have the aesthetic options for this aggregate material. You can now use dye to create a rainbow of concrete hues, or utilize creative methods of stamping or etching directly onto the concrete for a textured, artistic surface.
Durability, Lifespan & Maintenance: A reinforced concrete pool deck can survive for 20-30 years or more with proper care and maintenance. To properly maintain a concrete pool deck, you will need to plan to periodically clean the surface to minimize the corrosive impact of chlorine and other swimming pool chemicals. Every two years, or sooner with visible signs of wear, you should re-seal the concrete to prevent moisture from cracking and warping the surface. This regular maintenance will also help mitigate any potential damage during Florida’s hurricane season.
Cost: $3-$6 per square foot
Best Use in Florida: Concrete is a cost-effective and versatile option for either residential or commercial pool decks in Florida.
Travertine or Limestone Pavers
Key Features: Travertine is a natural stone, created by a chemical reaction when groundwater containing elevated concentrations of carbon dioxide comes into contact with soil or rock containing calcium carbonate. Travertine’s use in construction stems from the Roman Empire, where the Colli Albani volcano created a natural travertine quarry 25 miles south of Rome. Travertine is actually a specific type of limestone, and Florida’s bedrock is made of limestone, so this natural stone makes it a savvy choice for anyone hoping to imbue their pool-deck with a celebration of local culture and materials.
Appearance: The color spectrum from travertine is a wide expanse of soothing, natural tones from deep brown to light pink. Most people associate this stone with a Mediterranean vibe, so if you want your Florida pool deck to look like it belongs in the weekend villa of a Roman God or Goddess, travertine would be a fantastic choice. Limestone tends to form in white or off-white shades, which can lend a sense of light and air to your pool deck.
Durability, Lifespan & Maintenance: Because travertine is created during a chemical reaction with water, it is a soft and porous stone that must be sealed seasonally and cleaned with a non-abrasive, pH balanced cleaner. It is also important to hire a contractor with the proper know-how to resurface the delicate surface of a travertine pool deck. Limestone is harder and less porous, so it resists mold and mildew growth. T and Limestone resists You may be tempted to purchase polished travertine, because the sleek surface doesn’t require re-sealing, but this would create danger in a slippery pool deck environment.
Cost: $3-7 per square foot for travertine; $10-15 per square foot for limestone
Best Use in Florida: The natural tones of travertine hide dirt and stains well while suggesting the air of affluence of Italy’s Amalfi Coast and providing a naturally slip-resistant surface around the swimming pool. Although it requires maintenance, the installation cost is lower, making it a fantastic choice for builders and renovators on a budget. Limestone is a stunning choice in either a residential or commercial environment, lending a subdued elegance to your Florida pool deck.
Bluestone or Marble Pavers
Key Features: Although travertine and limestone are common natural stone choices for building a pool deck in Florida, if you want to exude true opulence, opt for bluestone or marble pavers. Bluestone is a stone that has been found only in the United States, so using it in a commercial pool deck in Florida can help awe any tourists visiting from another country. On the other hand, anyone with any interest in art or design is familiar with the breathtaking beauty of marble in art and architecture throughout history. Opting to install marble pavers in your pool deck will imbue your space with the same prestige that has caused people to covet a rock from the Apuan Alps of Carrara, Italy for centuries.
Appearance: As the name suggests, bluestone carries a natural blue hue, with streaks of gray and silver influenced by nearby minerals in the earth when the rock was forming in the region that is now the eastern United States. Marble, with its iconic striations, comes most commonly in white, black, or gray; but the magic of minerals means this stone also forms in shades of red, pink, yellow, green, and brown. Lighter shades can help reflect the sun’s heat, keeping it cool around the swimming pool in Florida’s steamy temperatures.
Durability, Lifespan, and Maintenance: Bluestone is a multi-layered stone that doesn’t crack easily, and it resists the effects of extreme temperatures, making it perfect for the hot and humid climate of southern Florida. Similarly, marble is incredibly resistant to cracking and breaking, which makes it perfect for the high-traffic area of a pool deck. Keep in mind, though, acidic substances can eat away at the surface of either stone, making it susceptible to mold growth and crumbling. Regular cleaning and resealing with neutral, pH-balanced products is essential to protect the beauty of these surfaces for decades.
Cost: The sedimentary rock formations that birth bluestone and marble are rare, so expect to pay $10-60 per square foot of this material. However the cost is an investment that will increase the value of your property, thus paying for itself over time.
Best Use in Florida: Bluestone and marble add a high-luxury element to any Florida pool deck because of their high cost and need for ongoing maintenance. If you are trying to draw a VIP crowd to your commercial pool deck, marble accents can elevate the environment, but only if they are properly maintained. Marble may be easier to justify in a residential pool deck, where a homeowner has full control over the space and can ensure proper use and care.
Wood or Composite Wood Decking
Key Features: As ancient a building material as stone, wooden pool decks suggest the natural elegance of Swedish saunas, the mountain beauty of Japanese Onsen, and the all-American class of the boardwalk. The most common wood types used to build pool decks in Florida are cedar, teak, and mahogany. Composite wood planks are either pressure-treated or acetylated, which is a process that utilizes a chemical reaction to change the structure of the wood to resist rot, fungi, and insects. The result of the pressure-treating and acetylation process is a durable and hydrophobic wood-looking product, perfect for a Florida pool deck.
Appearance: A little country, a little nostalgic, and a lot inviting, the warmth of a wooden plank deck appeals to any designer with a simple, classic aesthetic. A natural geometric look is achieved with the long rows during installation, and the design can be enhanced by opting to lay the planks in a starburst or chevron pattern.
Durability, Lifespan, and Maintenance: Part of the joy of building with wood is the way its appearance changes as it weathers over time, but it is important to reseal and restain the wood to prevent it from splintering or rotting. If properly treated and cared for, a natural wooden pool deck can last for 15 years for softer woods and 40 years for hard woods. Composite wood falls within that range at a 25- to 30- year average lifespan. Acetylated wood is a relatively new material in the wood science space, but research indicates it can last for 25 to 70 years with little maintenance.
Cost: $4-11 per square foot for natural woods; $15-25 per square foot for acetylated wood; $20-45 per square foot for composite woods, with their higher durability and lower maintenance needs over time.
Best Use in Florida: Either commercial or residential pool owners would be satisfied with a wood or composite wood pool deck, as long as the resulting aesthetic matches their vision and they have the time and money to maintain the product over time.
Rubber
Key Features: Due to its naturally bouncy and slip-resistant surface, rubber surfacing is growing in popularity as a pool deck choice for Florida swimming pools. The surface can be installed in a way that allows water to drain straight through the surface, enhancing safety and decreasing the need for maintenance.
Appearance: Rubber can be manufactured in almost any color and texture you can imagine, and the resulting bright surface is a natural fit for sporty and adventurous pool environments. Rubber was first used in Mesoamerica to create balls for game playing, and this playful association makes it the perfect choice to surround diving pools, water parks, and children’s swimming pool areas in recreation centers.
Durability, Lifespan, and Maintenance: Rubber is an incredibly durable and low-maintenance material. It is naturally antimicrobial and anti-bacterial, it resists odor, moisture, and splintering, and requires almost no treatment, other than applying a superficial coating to enhance its water resistance features. A rubber pool deck surface should last at least ten years with very little upkeep.
Cost: $9-18 per square foot
Best Use in Florida: Even when designed to mimic the look of small pebbles, a rubber pool deck has a more casual look than stone, wood, or tile. It is therefore most suitable for commercial pool decks in Florida, particularly in buildings that expect a high volume of rambunctious foot traffic from people at all ages. Installing a rubber pool deck for an indoor pool can also help reduce noise in an otherwise echoey space!
Glazed or Unglazed Tile
Key Features: Porcelain is the most durable ceramic material thanks to a manufacturing process which heats the clay to temperatures up to 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit. Porcelain was created in China 1,500 years ago and since then has been used to make tableware, toilets, and teeth.
Appearance: Porcelain is naturally ivory and translucent when pressed thin, but it can be dyed, stained, and glazed into every hue of the rainbow, and shaped into any form and size imaginable. An unglazed tile will be matte, whereas most glazed tiles have a surface sheen. This variation makes porcelain tiles one of the most creative options to use for a pool deck surface. No matter what vibe you want to create for your watery Florida oasis, whether retro 1970s glam or a minimalist tranquility, porcelain tiles can help to achieve the look.
Durability, Lifespan, and Maintenance: If the ceramics collection of the British Museum is any indication, porcelain is made to withstand the test of time. With a lifespan of 50 years or longer, porcelain tiles are, pound for pound, one of the longest-lasting non-synthetic material options for pool decks. This is especially valuable in Florida, where high UV exposure, plus sun, sand, seawater, and pool chemicals can take a toll on other building materials.
Cost: The price range for porcelain pavers is nearly as wide as their variety, ranging from $3-$30 per square foot.
Best Use in Florida: When considered as an option for a Florida pool deck, there aren’t many instances where porcelain tiles wouldn’t work. Because they can even mimic the look of wood, travertine, limestone, and marble pavers, they are an excellent option for people looking to elevate the style of their pool deck. However, their bright color options also open the possibilities for fun, artistic spaces, perfect for a viral Instagram backdrop. Really, the only limit to the use of porcelain tiles is the imagination.
Miami Commercial Deck Repair & Waterproofing
We hope we have given you an abundance of information to consider here to be able to choose the best pool deck material option for your Florida pool deck. If you are dreaming of installing a new commercial swimming pool or hoping to properly maintain your existing pool deck via waterproofing, tile repair, or resurfacing, please consider Bengoa Construction. We will work with you anywhere in Miami Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties to build and maintain the perfect pool for your Sunshine State dreams.
