Resin Stone or Pavers for Your Pool Deck? Pros and Cons Explained

Remodeling your pool deck is a major investment, so choosing the right surface material is important. Homeowners want a pool deck that not only looks beautiful, but also stands the test of time in Florida’s harsh sun, rain, and humidity. With so many pool deck surfacing options available today, selecting the right one can feel overwhelming. In this article, we’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of resin-bound stone pool deck surfaces compared to traditional paver pool deck surfaces.

Visual Appearance:

Pavers

Pros:

• Pavers have a classic upscale look.
• They are a great option if you want a Mediterranean or traditional look.
• They offer a natural stone appearance.
• They can be installed in a variety of borders and geometric designs.

Cons:

• If poorly installed, or in areas where the soil has a lot of movement, Pavers can start looking uneven.
• In tropical areas where there is  heavy rainfall throughout the year, mold and weed can start growing between the paver joints.
• Unless maintained regularly, pavers can start to look uneven or outdated over time.

Resin-Bound Stone

Pros:

• Resin stone has a seamless, modern, and high-end look.
• It looks stylish in both modern and traditional homes.
• It provides a very clean aesthetic appearance.
• No visible joints to deal with
• Can also create borders and geometric designs

Cons:

• Requires proper resin ratios and installation technique.
• There is very little room for installation errors.

 

Surface Temperature

Pavers

• Concrete pavers can become very hot in warm climates.
• Travertine stays cool under extreme heat.

 

Resin Stone

• Resin stone stays cool underfoot because of it’s stone structure and the resin system.
• The heat dissipates better because of how the aggregates are installed.
• Resin stone makes walking more comfortable in hot weather, especially in tropical or warmer climates.

 

Drainage & Slip Resistance

Pavers

Pros

• Water drainage is acceptable when installed correctly.
• Water somewhat drains through the joints.

Cons

• Water can puddle if pavers are not properly sloped.
• Professional installation of channel drains is often recommended.
• The joints will collect algae over time

Resin Stone

• One of the biggest benefits of Resin stone is that it is fully permeable, meaning water drains directly through the surface.
• Naturally slip-resistant when wet.
• No standing water around the pool.

Cons

• If not installed on an existing concrete surface, needs a proper base before installation
• Needs to be installed properly by a professional

 

Installation Process

Pavers

Pros

• There are many installers to choose from.
• Easier to find an installer
• Can replace individual pavers

Cons

• Very Labor intensive
• Can settle over time
• Weed growth can be a nightmare
• Ants can disturb the base

Resin Stone

Pros

• Installation takes about one day for most applications.
• A seamless finish with no joints.
• Very little movement occurs when an SRM mesh system is installed as a base.

No movement when a SRM mesh is installed as a base.

Cons

• Preparing the surface correctly is critical.
• You need to hire a skilled professional installer.
• Generally, materials are more expensive than pavers.

 

Maintenance

Pavers

High Maintenance

• Needs to be sanded and sealed every three years.
• Re-leveling sunken areas may eventuslly be necessary
• Weed consistently grows between the joints
• Mold can grow between the joints

Resin Stone

Low Maintenance

• Occasionally might need cleaning
• May require light pressure washing over time
• No need to joint sand like pavers
• No weeds will grow through the joints like they do with paver joints.

 

Durability

Pavers

Pros

• The durability is great when sealed.
• Easy to replace damaged pavers.
• Paver pool deck systems have stood the test of time.

Cons

• Shifting and settling over time.
• Edge movement is a possibility.

Resin Stone

Pros

• When installed properly, resin stone is highly resistant to cracking.
• A very flexible system compared to concrete surfaces.
• No Joints to worry about.

Cons

• There is very little room for installation mistakes.

 

Repairability

Pavers

• Advantage
• Individual pavers can be replaced

Resin Stone

• Repairs should be handled by a professional.
• Installing Resin stone correctly is very important.