So, you’ve decided to use pavers to line your pool deck. Smart choice considering the many benefits that pavers offer. They’re durable, low-maintenance, slip-resistant, and come in a wide array of colors and styles. Now the question is, though, should you go with travertine or concrete pavers around your pool deck?
The answer depends on several factors, including your budget, the look and feel you are going for, and how much maintenance you’re willing to do. Travertine pavers are stylishly classic and highly slip-resistant but they’re also more costly. Concrete pavers, on the other hand, are cheaper yet lack the timeless luxury of travertine. Ultimately, the choice is up to you.
While this may not seem like a satisfactory answer, we’ve gone ahead and prepared a quick overview of both the pros and cons of concrete and travertine pavers. Consider both as viable options and remember, the choice is yours at the end of the day.
What to Love About Travertine Pavers?
Travertine pavers are inherently stylish, with their luxurious and timeless look. When placed around a pool deck, they create an Old World aesthetic that harkens back to the Roman baths of antiquity. Plus, they come in a variety of shades, from light sand tones to darker earth tones so you can create a beautiful contrast between your pool deck and the surrounding area.
What’s more, travertine pavers are slip-resistant, making them a great choice for wet areas like pool decks. This way, you’ll never have to worry about someone slipping and hurting themselves. Not to mention, travertine is quite a durable material, so you don’t have to worry about your pavers breaking down or cracking over time.
Read: Are Pavers Cheaper Than Concrete Around A Pool?
What’s Not to Love About Travertine Pavers?
The main downside of travertine pavers is the cost. While concrete pavers are relatively inexpensive, travertine pavers can be quite pricey. This is because travertine is a natural stone and therefore more labor-intensive and costly to install. Plus, they require more maintenance than concrete pavers, as they need to be cleaned and sealed regularly to maintain their luxurious look.
Read: How Much Does A Paver Driveway REALLY Cost?
What to Love About Concrete Pavers?
Concrete pavers are an affordable yet versatile option, making them a great choice for anyone sticking to a budget. They come in a wide variety of colors and styles, so you can easily find the right pavers for your aesthetic and pool design. This makes them a more flexible choice than travertine, which is usually only produced in shades of tan.
Additionally, concrete pavers are also quite durable. Concrete pavers are made from a mixture of sand, cement, and water, making them resistant to cracking, chipping, and other physical damage. This means you won’t have to spend money fixing your pool deck after a few years.
Read: How To Restore Discolored Pavers?
What’s Not to Love About Concrete Pavers?
The downside of concrete pavers is that they are not as slip-resistant as travertine. This means they should be used sparingly around a pool deck and only in areas that are not wet. Additionally, concrete pavers are more porous than travertine, meaning that they can fade over time, due to exposure to the sun and other elements.
If you choose to use concrete pavers, we highly recommend sealing them with a protective coating to help preserve their color and extend their lifespan. If they begin to look discolored, you can restore the pavers to their former glory using a deck brush or a low-powered pressure washer.
How Should You Decide?
If you’re still not sure which type of paver to use, we recommend making a list of the following considerations. This should help narrow your decision.
How Much are You Willing to Spend?
Start by considering the size of your pool deck and how much you’re willing to spend on pavers. On average, travertine pavers cost around $6 to $15 per square foot, while concrete pavers can range from $2 to $8 per square foot. If your pool deck measures 500 square feet, you can estimate how much you’d need to spend on each type of paver.
What Look Do You Want to Achieve?
Take into account the look and feel you are going for. Travertine pavers are classic and luxurious, while concrete pavers come in a myriad of colors and styles. If you’re going for a specific color scheme, travertine likely won’t work but, if you want to recreate a Greek or Italian backyard oasis, it could be the ideal stone.
Read: How To Level Pavers On A Slope?
How Much Maintenance are You Willing to Do?
Next, think about how much maintenance you’re willing to do to keep the pavers looking their best. Travertine pavers require regular cleaning and sealing, while concrete pavers need to be resealed periodically to maintain their color. Both materials are quite durable, though, so you shouldn’t have to replace pavers more than once every five years.
How Much Sun Does Your Pool Deck Get?
Last but not least, consider how much sun your pool deck will absorb. Travertine is naturally more heat-resistant, making it a far better option if you live in a tropical area. Concrete, on the other hand, readily absorbs heat, which can then radiate out into your surrounding backyard during the summer.
Additionally, keep in mind that sun exposure will cause the pavers to fade. If you’re using white or a sand-tone travertine paver, this likely won’t matter but, if you’re using a darker shade of concrete, it could be worth investing in a sealer to protect the color.
Read: How To Level Ground For Pavers?
Conclusion
We hope this overview has helped you decide between travertine and concrete pavers for your pool deck. Both materials offer a great combination of style, function, and durability. Ultimately, the choice is up to you.
If you can afford it, travertine is a great option, as it is slip-resistant and durable, while still offering timeless luxury. Concrete pavers, on the other hand, are more affordable and come in a variety of colors and styles, but may require more maintenance over time.
Consider your budget, the look you want to achieve, and how much maintenance you’re willing to do before making your decision. Good luck!