Hardscape Around Your Pool: Materials, Design Choices, and Why the Details Matter

Hardscape is one of the most important—and often underestimated—decisions in a pool project. It defines how your space looks, how it feels underfoot, how it performs in heat and weather, and how well it holds up over time. Just as importantly, hardscape choices have a major impact on overall project cost, especially as patio areas expand beyond the pool itself.

Below, we break down our recommendations, alternatives, and the key design and cost considerations every homeowner should understand before selecting materials.

Our Preferred Hardscape: Techo-Bloc

For pool decks and surrounding patios, Techo-Bloc is our top recommendation.

Why Techo-Bloc stands out:

• Excellent durability and long-term performance

• Strong resistance to sun fading, staining, and wear

• A wide range of refined colors and modern patterns

• Consistent dimensional accuracy, which is critical around pools

Techo-Bloc products also integrate exceptionally well with stone lids over automatic pool covers, allowing for clean detailing and reliable operation—something not all manufacturers handle equally well.

Other Hardscape Options (and Their Tradeoffs)

Belgard

Belgard is another quality hardscape manufacturer and can be a good alternative in certain situations. However, their coping profiles are often less compatible with stone lids over automatic covers, which can limit design flexibility or require compromises.

Brushed or Stamped Concrete

Concrete is commonly considered because of its upfront affordability and versatility. However, it’s important to set realistic expectations:

• Concrete will crack—it’s not a question of if, but when

• Repairs are visible and often difficult to blend

• Long-term durability and stain resistance are limited compared to pavers

Other Materials

There are additional hardscape materials available on the market, but many fall short in one or more of the following areas:

• Durability over time

• Resistance to sun fading

• Resistance to staining from leaves, water, or pool chemicals

For pool environments, these limitations tend to show sooner and more visibly.

Color Matters: Comfort and Aesthetics

Once a material is selected, color choice has a huge impact—both visually and practically.

We generally recommend:

• Lighter cool or warm tones

• Avoiding very dark colors in high-sun areas

Lighter tones stay more comfortable underfoot in summer heat and tend to age more gracefully over time, especially around water.

Pattern Selection: Beauty vs. Complexity

Hardscape patterns vary widely, and so do their costs.

What affects pricing:

• Number of cuts required

• Installation time

• Pattern complexity and alignment

More intricate patterns are beautiful, but they require additional labor, which increases overall cost. Simpler patterns often provide a cleaner, more modern look while keeping installation more efficient.

Understanding Cost as Patio Space Expands

One of the most common misconceptions about hardscape is assuming cost scales linearly by square foot. In reality, it often increases exponentially as patio areas grow.

Why?

• Larger footprints increase the likelihood of:

  • Additional drainage solutions

  • More extensive grading

  • Landscaping impacts

  • Retaining walls

• These elements add complexity well beyond the surface material itself

As a result, additional patio areas typically cost more per square foot than the hardscape immediately surrounding the pool.

Flat Pools, Sloped Yards: A Critical Reality

Pools must be perfectly level. Most yards are not.

This mismatch creates an important design challenge:

• There is often limited space to gradually adjust elevation

• Even subtle slopes can trigger the need for retaining walls

• Less yard area means less room to “absorb” grade changes naturally

Because of this, hardscape decisions near a pool often carry structural implications that don’t exist elsewhere in the yard.

The Takeaway

Hardscape is not just a finish—it’s a system that impacts comfort, durability, design, and cost. Choosing the right material, color, and pattern early helps avoid compromises later and ensures your outdoor space performs as beautifully as it looks.

At Palmingo, we guide clients through these decisions with a long-term lens—balancing aesthetics, function, and real-world construction considerations—so the end result feels intentional, cohesive, and built to last.

To begin, please submit an inquiry on our website and we will guide you through the selection process.