Salt water is corrosive and is known to damage certain aspects of a pool including concrete and metal components. Having said that, some of the hysteria regarding salt water is overblown in my experience.
Having owned a salt water pool since 2006, I have not noticed what I would call salt water damage either to the metal ladder I have in the water during the season, the vinyl pool liner, any of the pool equipment or even the paving stones around our pool on the deck area.
But that doesn’t mean that every stone or other material should be considered for your pool deck. Let’s take a look at building materials you may consider for the deck of your salt water pool.
Best material for a salt water pool deck
The best material for a salt water pool deck will be water resistant, salt resistant, tough and durable. Finding one that is cost effective and easy to source helps too.
Here are some of the best choices for deck building material around your salt water pool. Prices are installed costs.
Salt resistant pavers
There are a number of pavers that you can consider for the deck around your salt water pool. In particular you can choose from salt resistant options like porcelain, bluestone, travertine and granite among others.
In fact you can also go with regular interlocking bricks (pavers) and I know this from personal experience. We have regular gray interlocking bricks around our salt water pool extending all the way to the side and front of the house. There is no difference in coloration ie. there is no noticeable damage to the bricks near the pool despite regularly getting splashed with salt water.
As with regular interlocking bricks they can get weeds between them which can be insightly. Plus you need to put sand in between the bricks to help keep them in place, sand that can make its way into the pool water.
Cost: Expect to pay $5 – $10 per square foot depending on which type of paver you choose. They are easy to replace since they can be removed individually and are also slip resistant. Pavers also hold up well to both chlorine and salt making them a good choice to utilize around your salt water pool.
Limestone
Limestone is one of the more expensive options for a pool deck. It’s a sedimentary rock that is considered very durable due to its density. It’s thus very heavy and can be expensive to ship.
Major rock quarries that produce limestone are located in North America, Asia and Africa and you will find that some limestone is potentially cheaper (ie. from India) than from other countries (ie. France). Looking around for limestone sourced from different countries may save you money.
You can choose many colors and designs and it’s a very versatile material. Other than the high cost for both the material itself and shipping costs, it’s a great option for building your deck around a salt water pool.
Cost: Expect to pay $40 – $50 per square foot for limestone pavers depending on which country of origin’s limestone you choose and other local market conditions.
Stamped concrete
Stamped concrete has a high quality, custom and unique look that can make a great addition to your salt water pool area. Stamped concrete is exactly what it sounds like: Concrete is poured and as it is drying, a patterned stamp – basically a mat made of polyurethane – is laid upon the concrete that leaves an impression on the concrete with a unique design.
Stamped concrete can be colored with stains or using dry-shake colors for a custom look to match your taste.
Concrete can crack over time so repairs might be necessary. Unlike pavers which can be individually replaced, concrete repair can be more laborious and time-consuming. One benefit of stamped concrete is that unlike pavers, there is no sand used that can fall into the pool.
Cost: Expect to pay $8 – $12 per square foot for stamped concrete work but more detailed work with multiple colors can cost up to $18 per square foot.
Other decking options for your salt water pool
Composite decking
Composite decking isn’t a stone option but it’s still a viable option for a salt water pool deck. Composites can be made from a variety of materials including PVC plastic, recycled plastic, natural wood, bamboo fibers or a combination. As such they take the look of wood but improve upon it by adding durability that natural wood doesn’t have.
While regular wood can age, crack and wear over time and splashed salt water can make it worse, composite materials can be a good choice for the deck around your salt water pool.
Unlike regular wood, composite decking isn’t susceptible to splitting or termites either so it can be a great, durable choice for the decking around your salt water pool.
Cost: Expect to pay $45 – $55 per square foot for composite decking depending on which material you choose.
Gravel
Gravel is an interesting choice for a pool because it could involve loose gravel or stone which is relatively cheap. Any loose material like gravel could (and will) make its way into the pool to some degree which increases your cleaning time. Gravel packs well and absorbs rain water so it can be a good choice for around your pool since it won’t be a problem if it gets wet with salt water.
You can also consider pea gravel that is cemented in to form a solid deck around your pool that isn’t loose and thus won’t end up getting into the water. It leaves a nice professional look and is cheaper than some other options.
Cost: Expect to pay around $5 – $10 per square foot depending on whether you end up using loose compacted gravel or cementing it in place to make it more permanent.
Decking materials to avoid using around your salt water pool
Untreated lumber is not a good choice to use near a salt water pool as it’s not durable and is susceptible to water and salt penetration. If wood is stained and sealed and you have your heart set on a wood deck it can be used successfully although composite material that looks like wood may be a better long term choice.
Wood however can chip and crack and if you’ve ever gotten a wood splinter in your foot while running on a deck, you know that it can hurt.
Concrete is a controversial topic for salt water pool owners because of the corrosive nature of salt and its potentially damaging effects on concrete. Having said that, you can treat concrete decks with a sealant to prevent water penetration. Commonly, a silane-siloxane or acrylic sealant is applied to the concrete to provide a barrier to both water and salt.
Salt water pool deck considerations
- Choose a deck material that is water resistant, resistant to salt, isn’t slippery and is durable.
- The benefits of a paver deck is that they are widely available and can be easily (ie. individually) replaced.
- When you put interlocking bricks or anything with sand, stone or soil between them, heavy rain can cause the material to run into the pool at times which will add to your vacuuming work.
- Loose gravel or stones can be particularly difficult to vacuum and may scratch a vinyl liner if they fall into the pool and you have to manually vacuum them or use your auto vac.
