How To Pave Around A Fibreglass Pool - What To Know
There are many varieties of coping that are suitable for use around fibreglass pools. Once you’ve decided to install pavers around your pool, you will likely need a set of instructions for how to complete the pool coping process.
In this article, we will discuss whether or not you can pave around fibreglass pools and we will also provide a step-by-step guide for how to install these pavers yourself.
Can You Pave Around A Fiberglass Pool?
Yes, you can pave around a fibreglass pool. In fact, one of the last main steps of fibreglass pool construction is installing your choice of pool coping or paving stones.
How To Pave Around A Fibreglass Pool
Paving around a fibreglass pool must typically be done by professionals. This process involves pouring concrete, preparing the ground for pavers, and then attaching paving stones (with adhesive) to fit design specifications.
Flattening The Ground
After your pool is put in place, you will need to take steps to flatten the ground around your pool. This surface does not have to be perfectly even, but it should allow larger paving stones to be laid evenly.
Consider filling in holes, dips, and tyre tracks that may have been left in your yard during the installation of your pool with gravel.
Before pavers are laid, you must typically prepare your yard by adding 3-4 inches of gravel and sand. This keeps your paving stones from sinking into the ground over time and becoming uneven.
Pouring Concrete
The next step in the paving process is pouring concrete. If you are using pavers to surround your pool, then you will only need a support beam of concrete to be poured. This beam will attach to the edges of your pool and will stick out 30 to 60 centimetres from the edge.
This serves as a structure to keep your paving stones supported near the water’s edge.
Once the concrete support beam is poured, you will need to let it cure for 24-48 hours before continuing the paving process.
If your pool’s entire coping will be concrete, large slabs will be poured in the area that was previously prepared. Some concrete pool coping is seamless, meaning that it is all poured as one solid piece.
Laying Paving Stones
Begin by laying paving stones along the top of the support beam that was poured around your pool. These stones should line up perfectly with the upper edge of the pool, creating a smooth transition across the ground.
It’s common to use a different style of paving stone directly along the border of the pool than what composes the majority of the pool’s coping. This produces a more finished and accented effect.
You may choose to use grout (like this one) when installing paving stones, but more modern options for pavers can be designed to work without this product, allowing for a more sophisticated look and added water drainage.
Paving stones that can be laid without grout often contain some type of interlocking pattern in order to maintain their structure.
Conclusion
Paving around a fibreglass pool is one of the last steps in the pool construction process.
Creating a structurally-sound section of pool coping out of pavers can be challenging without prior experience, so we recommend you contact a professional to ensure that your pavement lasts for decades to come.
Do you have any questions about how to pave around a fibreglass pool? Get in touch with us, we’d love to help!
Louis
A chemical engineer by trade, Louis is committed to debunking myths in the pool industry by explaining the underlying chemistry and making it accessible to all.