Cool Patio Options For Your Inground Fiberglass Pool

Lots of choices to make your inground fiberglass pool uniquely yours

When you’re first starting to think about a new inground fiberglass swimming pool, you’re probably mostly thinking about the pool itself—will you choose a rectangular design or a freeform? A big pool or a small pool? And if you love soaking up the sun while also cooling your heels, you might be thinking about a fiberglass pool with a tanning ledge or even a beach entry (Patent US 10,472,839).

Once you’ve chosen the perfect pool design for your family, it’s time to start thinking about how you’ll finish it all off. What kind of landscaping will you choose to create your ultimate backyard oasis? What color scheme and style of patio furniture will you choose to complement your pool? And, of course, what will that furniture be sitting on? Your pool patio will be the foundation for your outdoor living area, so make sure you choose something you’ll love for years to come.

Most inground pool builders include 3 to 4 feet of patio in their installation quote. This will probably be standard concrete, but some include specialty choices as well. Others may not include any patio in their price and will either recommend a contractor or allow you to choose your own. So, make sure you ask your pool builder what, and how much, pool patio is included in their quote to avoid surprise pool installation costs down the line.

Here are some cool pool patio options to consider: 

Standard concrete

Standard concrete is the most common and affordable patio option for your new fiberglass inground pool. A standard concrete patio is an easy job for most contractors. However, if you’re hiring your own contractor, ask if they have experience with pool decks. Pouring a patio around the edge of a fiberglass swimming pool takes some practice and is not for beginners.

If you want to dress up your standard concrete deck, you may add a dramatic visual effect by using a small border, perhaps 10 to 14 inches wide. You can create a border with stamped concrete, pavers, brick or colored concrete, but be sure to have a plan for matching it if you ever need a repair.

Stamped or colored concrete

Concrete has come a long way in recent years. With the addition of colors, your standard gray concrete can now be beige, brick red, slate, or just about any color of your choosing. You can really dress it up with a pattern and texture to resemble traditional patio materials like brick, slate, flagstone, tile, and wood. Flagstone concrete stamping adds a beautiful finishing touch to a Roman-shaped pool.

Exposed aggregate

Exposed aggregate creates a unique look and surface by washing away the top layer of cement to expose the underlying aggregate. The finished look is similar to a river bed. This look is the perfect complement to a rustic or natural backyard design, especially with a freeform pool (including a freeform beach entry pool).

Pavers and other stones 

Pavers are available in a variety of colors, shapes, textures, and materials. Paver can be mixed and matched and arranged in different patterns to create a unique look. Natural stones such as flagstone, bluestone, slate, and limestone offer a distinctive style to your backyard swimming pool project. Travertine is especially popular because it stays cool and is easy on bare feet around the pool. Like pavers, geometric-shaped stones work best with rectangular pool designs, whereas natural stones will work better with freeforms.

Ask your pool builder 

Your pool builder can also provide information for you about what type of patio will best complete your backyard paradise. No matter what type of pool patio you choose, it’s sure to be the perfect foundation for amazing pool parties, festive family gatherings and your personal “get away from it all” retreat for years to come.