Pool and Paving Step-by-Step

Pool and Paving. Paving is a very practical and hardwearing surface for swimming pool surrounds. However, not all paving is the same. While ordinary brick paving is undoubtedly the most ubiquitous type, there are other options that you have when choosing a pool and paving. In addition to brick paving which may be installed using clay or concrete paving bricks that are slimmer than those used for building walls, paving is commonly done using larger clay or concrete paving stones. It depends on the effect you want to achieve.

In addition to the type of bricks or pavers you choose, you can also decide just how much paving you want around the pool. For instance, paving can extend several meters from the water so that you can incorporate seating and other features, or it may simply be a hard surface that defines the edge of the pool as shown here.

So ultimately, the pool and paving you opt for will depend on your lifestyle and the style of your house and garden.

This below-ground swimming pool is a simple oval shape and was constructed using gunite or shotcrete, which involves blasting a cement and sand mix onto the walls and floor of the reinforced hole.

The photographs below show briefly how this attractive pool and paving was constructed.

The 4 step-by-steps below

1. The hole

The hole is dug by hand using picks and shovels. It is important that the shape of the pool is maintained otherwise it will be more difficult to line the hole with steel reinforcement.  The soil is removed from the site in a wheelbarrow. While it is a labor-intensive method of digging, hand-digging is ideal for smaller pools.

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2. The pool surface

The pool surface is prepared and a steel grid placed on the floor and around the walls prior to guniting. This reinforcement is of paramount importance as it is what gives the pool its shape and strength. Structural specification of the steel grid depend largely on ground conditions, and will usually be approved by the local authority. The unite should be between 100 mm to 125 mm (4-5 ins).
Guniting should be completed in one day, without disturbing the reinforcing.

3. Completed pool shell

Once the pool shell is complete, the paving is laid in mortar around the edge of the pool. Bull-nosed copings are used here in conjunction with larger pavers that are laid behind them. These were cut to fit the shape of the oval pool. It is also vital that all the paving material is level, but slopes slightly away from the pool. This will allow excess rainwater to drain away from the pool instead of running into it and causing problems with water hygiene.

4. Finally

A cement-sand grout is used to fill the gaps between the pavers and copings. The surface is wiped clean immediately so that the cement in the mortar does not stain it. It is then left to set and cure before the interior of the pool is plastered using marble plaster.