- Is your pool located on a sloped site?
- Do you want to be able to walk straight out of your home and into your pool?
- Are you searching for a way to avoid grout cracks or chipping?
- Do you wish you could hide the unsightly drainage grates or covers around your pool?
If you answered ‘Yes’ to any of the above questions, pedestal pavers could be just the solution you need to build the pool of your dreams – one that checks all the boxes for style, convenience, durability and safety.
What are pedestal pavers?
Pedestal pavers are a modern and versatile paving solution for outdoor spaces. Though they have typically been popular in commercial projects to date, the pedestal paving methodology is rapidly gaining traction in residential construction.
Pedestal pavers refer to an innovative paving system where individual pavers are supported by adjustable pedestals, creating a raised, level surface and an easy installation process, which eliminates the need for grout. The pedestals are individually adjustable and designed to compensate for uneven ground, making them compatible with a variety of substrates.
Pedestal pavers are commonly made from durable materials such as natural stone or concrete, ensuring resistance to harsh outdoor environments. The elevated pavement not only provides a sleek and sophisticated appearance, but also allows for efficient water drainage through the groutless gaps between the pavers. Furthermore, the paved surface is neat and uninterrupted by drainage covers or grates, as all services are concealed in the air gap beneath the paved level.
When style meets functionality
Aesthetics play a significant role in designing any outdoor space, and your desired look and style for your pool will likely be the biggest motivating factor guiding the materials you choose. The great news is that many standard paving materials can be used on a pedestal system, including concrete, natural stone and porcelain pavers. However, it is always best to check with the product manufacturer to ensure that their pavers are fit for installation on pedestal supports.
The main visual difference between a standard paving installation versus a pedestal paver installation is the absence of grout, which adds a touch of sophistication to the overall paving layout. The consistent gap between the pavers creates clean, minimal lines that will never cause any frustration from grout cracking or chipping, simply because grout is no longer needed.
This gap between pedestal pavers also offers functional benefits – it is an efficient solution for drainage, allowing rainwater to drain between each paver and reducing any pooling of water on the surface. Drainage pits, covers and grates can be concealed underneath the paving, removing these unsightly but necessary pool elements from the field of view.
Convenience you can’t beat with pedestal pavers
The biggest selling points for installing pedestal pavers are the ease of installation and maintenance, and the lower costs for replacement or repairs in the longer term.
The typical installation process for outdoor paving can be time-consuming due to the various materials and stages required as part of the laying process. In contrast, pedestal pavers offer hassle-free installation. The adjustable pedestal system allows for easy levelling of the pavers, even on uneven surfaces. Once the pedestals are set into place and levelled, pavers can easily be lifted into place one-by-one, cutting out all the time required for grouting, bonding and caulking. The clean-up process is also simplified, as there is no ‘grout haze’ to worry about cleaning off after the paving installation has been completed.
For busy homeowners, maintenance is another area where pedestal pavers demonstrate great value. Access to underground services is easily obtained by simply lifting off specific pavers and placing them back onto the pedestals after the maintenance is finished. If there is any damage such as chipping, cracking or discolouration of any of the pedestal pavers, only the affected pieces need to be removed and replaced for a low-cost outlay, as opposed to the expensive process of removing and reinstating entire sections of paving that were laid using the traditional method.
Outstanding durability
Pool environments can be harsh on paving materials. Exposure to water, chlorine, sunlight, and varying temperatures can take a toll on surfaces over time. When selecting your poolside pedestal pavers, it would be practical to select materials designed for the outdoor environment such as Anston’s 100% Australian-made luxury concrete pavers, which are known for their resilience and long-lasting durability in outdoor settings.
The same goes for the type of pedestals or pod supports used in your pedestal paving installation. Cheaper, low-quality pedestals on the market may not stand the test of time, running the risk of breakage and costs for reparation works. A trustworthy, easy-to-use pedestal system we recommend is the Buzon adjustable pedestal system, which is distributed in Australia by Pasco Construction Solutions.
There’s no debate that high quality materials are worthy of a larger upfront investment, as they will resist fading, cracking, and staining, ensuring that your poolside paradise remains visually appealing and functional for many years.
Are pedestal pavers safe to use around pools?
Safety is always a top priority when designing poolscapes due to the presence of water and the potential hazards caused by slippery, wet surfaces. Generally, the main safety requirement for poolside areas is that the floor surfaces should provide reliable traction to prevent slips and falls. It’s important to ensure that your poolside pavers meet the compliance requirements for slip resistance as specified in the Australian Standard, ensuring secure footing for everyone enjoying the pool. As an example, Anston’s range of pool coping pavers are made with a textured, shot-blasted finish that achieves the highest slip resistance classification of P5, as specified in the Australian Standard.
If you’ve chosen to use pedestal pavers around your pool, you should be mindful of another safety issue – one that is irrelevant for pavers installed the traditional way (i.e., on a solid concrete or mortar base). As pedestal pavers are raised above the sub-base, any cracking or damage to the pavers, such as from a heavy impact, can be very dangerous to pedestrians due to the risk of the paver breaking and falling down to the sub-base. For pavers laid on a solid base, the damage would be cosmetic only, but on pedestal pavers raised high above the ground, there is a significantly larger risk of injury.
To mitigate this potential hazard, it is important for designers and homeowners to carefully select pavers that have a high compressive strength and breaking load, ensuring they meet the minimum strength requirements for standard paving. Taking an extra step further for increased security, Anston’s range of reinforced pedestal pavers has been developed specifically for installation on raised pedestals. Each pedestal paver is made with steel reinforcing inside the body of the paver, helping it to retain its shape and structural composition even after being subjected to heavy impact. This is an innovative, Australian-made solution that is only currently possible in a manmade product.
Pedestal pavers are revolutionising the way we approach poolside design. Without any compromise to style, convenience, durability or safety, these pavers offer a well-rounded solution for outdoor spaces that bring a wealth of long-term benefits.
Whether you’re planning a new pool project or considering an upgrade to an existing pool area, pedestal pavers should be on your radar. Consult your landscaper to discuss pedestal paving for your pool installation, and reach out to the team at Anston once you’re ready to take the plunge!
