Category: Decks & Hardscaping

Decks & Hardscaping

What Makes a Coral Stone Deck Beautiful? Coralina!

Posted on 3/19/2013 7:44 PM By Debra Maurer

Coral stone decking, made of coralina, adds beauty to your swimming pool and backyard.

Coral Stone coralina decking pool Pool builders, landscape architects, and interior decorators around the country are starting to utilize a building material that their counterparts in the Caribbean and Florida already use to create a number of exquisite indoor and outdoor spaces: coralina.

Coralina, also known as coral stone, coralina fossil stone, and keystone, consists of coral and shell fossils, coral, sand, as well as limestone. This unique product is strengthened by nature to withstand a variety of weather extremes, saltwater, pool chemicals, heavy foot traffic, and the occasional mishap with a falling object—making it ideal for pool decking and coping. Virtually non-slip, coralina also absorbs only a minimum of heat and is easily maintained.

“Coralina can transform any outdoor setting into a comfortable and safe environment that swimmers will enjoy no matter how hot and slick it gets,” says Jorge Larrauri, president of Coral Stone USA.

This durable yet beautiful material provides a tropical elegance to all types of settings and is ideal for constructing everything from grand staircases, columns, and indoor flooring to magnificent fountains and pool decking.

“Coral stone, a material that takes thousands of years to develop, is finding its way into today’s contemporary designs,” says Larrauri. “More and more, professionals are discovering that this product adds a refinement to a variety of home interior and exterior styles.”

Harvested from top quarries in the tropics—especially from the high quality ones found in the Dominican Republic—coralina products have a distinctive splendor that appears during processing. One-of-a-kind fossil patterns are revealed, giving the coral stone a fabulous texture that varies from product to product. Depending on what type of surface is desired, a homeowner can choose smooth finishes with a fine grain to more open textures that showcase the encased fossils.

See more beautiful photos of coral stone pool decks >>

Coral Stone coralina stone decking pool Available is a wide range of stunning colors from red and gold to white coral, coralina’s richness consistently passes the test of time, rarely losing any of its brilliance and beauty. “When you enhance your pool's deck with keystone stone, you don't just get stylish pool coping along with a cool deck, you also obtain sophistication, added security, and superior quality,” states Larrauri.

In addition to being luxuriantly beautiful, coralina is also easy to install. It requires very little modification once it is cut for a project; in fact, skilled craftsmen are readily able to position the stone in a desired pattern for any number of outdoor projects besides pool decking and coping, including fences, walkways, steppingstones, planters, and other garden accents where an island ambiance is wanted.

By finishing with a quality sealant, the material can handle all types of harsh weather conditions—and survive to be enjoyed during the warm swimming season! “Normally, those homes in warm, sunny states gravitate to coralina’s alluring elegance,” explains Larrauri. “But homeowners from other types of climates are discovering the material’s durability and exquisite good looks, and it is becoming the product of choice for homes everywhere.

To see more photos and videos of coral stone decks, check out Coral Stone USA>>

Photos courtesy of CoralStoneUSA.com

Alternative Pool Decking Options - Rubber Flooring, Composite Pavers

Posted on 8/22/2012 9:40 AM By Kimberlee Courtney

Rubber Flooring and Composite Pavers

Learn how alternative pool decking options such as rubber flooring and composite pavers can offer benefits to a pool area.

Rubber Flooring

Rubber Pool Deck Flooring When you think of rubber flooring you probably think of rubber mulch chips in the neighborhood playground or poured rubber bond. Rubber flooring is actually a great alternative option for pool decking. Like playground mulch, rubber flooring for pool decks is usually made out of recycled rubber tires, resulting in a product that is eco-friendly and responsibly manufactured. There are two common forms of rubber flooring: poured-in-place rubber bond and interlocking rubber tiles. Poured-in-place rubber flooring must be professionally installed, as opposed to interlocking rubber tiles which can easily be installed by the homeowner; however, poured-in-place rubber bond flooring is thought to be more durable and offers more customization because an array of colors can be mixed and matched to create a unique look.

Rubber flooring provides a permeable, porous, non-skid surface that doesn’t get too hot. It also drains quickly (drains are distributed in strategic areas) and is easy to maintain. Using rubber flooring for pool decking does not have to mean giving up on sophisticated design; there are numerous color options available, as well as patterns that mimic slate, stone, brick, and custom designs. The rubber can be installed over most solid deck surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, or wood, with the option of extra cushioning added in areas of high impact. After installation, rubber flooring usually needs between 24 hours and four days to cure, based on the temperature and humidity.

One of the biggest pros of rubber flooring is it’s low maintenance. Rubber pool decking can easily be cleaned with a leaf blower or garden hose; mild soap and water may also be used. The rubber is known to be very durable, but in the case of damage, a professional installer can cut out the damaged area and pour new rubber bond.

Pool with Rubber Deck
Photos courtesy of No Fault Sport Group, LLC

Composite Pavers

Composite pavers are the up-and-coming alternative to concrete pavers for pool decking. Like concrete, composite pavers are slip-free and extremely durable. A major advantage is that they are approximately one-third of the weight of concrete, and the grid system makes them three times easier to install. They eliminate the frustration of manually setting and aligning heavy concrete pavers.

Like rubber flooring, composite pavers are eco-friendly because they are made from up to 95% recycled materials. Composite pavers are placed in the same compacted sand bases that are used for conventional concrete pavers, but the system allows for easy installation and unique custom designs. The pavers also come in various colors for endless design options, including herringbone, brick stack, pinwheel, and many other paver patterns.

While concrete and composite pavers are both slip-free and extremely durable, installation varies. When dealing with concrete, a base of processed gravel must be laid, after which the base and restraints are installed. Then a layer of bedding sand must be screened before the pavers can be laid, with careful effort put into ensuring that they are even. With composite pavers, installers use a grid system that works as a template for the pavers, which fit into the grid like puzzle pieces. Less base preparation is required, and laying even, neat lines of pavers is foolproof.

Composite pavers should be installed by professionals, but with the right installation guides they can be installed by knowledgeable DIYers. They should be installed over an even surface. The pavers require very little maintenance, aside for an occasional replenishment of joint sand.

Pool Deck_Composite Paver
Photos courtesy of Vast Enterprises, LLC

It is important to take into account the specifics of your pool and environment, and consult with pool experts in order to choose outdoor flooring that is right for you and will achieve your desired look.

View our Decks Buyers' Guide for a list manufacturers and suppliers of deck products and materials.

This guest post was written by Fay Friedman.

Hardscaping Options: Concrete, Brick or Stone?

Posted on 5/11/2012 10:30 AM By Kimberlee Courtney

By Patti Plummer

In addition to traditional house and pool decks, many properties are suited for the beauty that only hardscaping can provide. Pavers come in a variety of materials, such as concrete, brick, and natural stone, and in a number of colors, shapes, and patterns. Here are a few hardscape paver ideas that may be just the answer to your surfacing needs.

Envirotile Multy Home LP recycled brick deck backyard hardscape

Envirotile Multy Home LP recycled brick deck backyard hardscape

Hardscaping concrete pavers are crafted from cement and an aggregate and are often used for walkways, patios, and pool decks. This material is available in a variety of colors and textures and can be made to look like natural stone. These pavers can be installed with or without mortar.

Hardscaping brick pavers impart an Old World charm. Ideal for heavy-trafficked areas like driveways, patios, and pathways, this porous material is non-slip and can withstand environmental blitzes from the sun, water, and chlorine.

Hardscaping natural stone pavers are cut from hard-wearing materials like sandstone, limestone, bluestone, marble, slate, and travertine. Long-lasting and weather resistant, these pavers are ideal for many types of outdoor projects. Travertine and bluestone are perfect for pool decks while granite and slate are great for building driveways and other areas that experience a lot of traffic.

For a list of hardscaping companies, visit our Hardscaping & Stonework Buyers' Guide. To find resources for deck products and materials, visit our Decks Buyers' Guide.

Photo courtesy of Multy Home LP