How to pave a swimming pool area

If the area around your swimming pool is grassy and prone to getting muddy, one solution is to use paving. Here's a guide on how to do just that.

Level of difficulty

Level 3 – Advanced

What you need

• Safety goggles
• Gloves
• Pegs
• String lines
• Pencil
• Angle grinder
• Vibrating plate
• Cement
• Sand
• Slabs

The steps to follow

Laying a foundation

1. If the area where you plan to pave has an existing well-compacted foundation, then it will not be necessary to lay hardcore.
2. If the area is soft then you’ll need to lay a sub-base and compact it with a vibrating plate.
3. You'll need to prepare a foundation if the ground is made of soft soil. In this case, lay a base of hardcore and a layer of gravel and compact it with a vibrating plate. The layer should be about 70 mm (2.7 in).

Paving the pool deck or patio

1. Plan, design, and measure the swimming pool deck.
2. Mark the outline of the patio by installing pegs and stretching string lines along the edge of the area you've planned out for paving.
3. Plan a rainwater draining channel.
4. Once the rainwater drainage system is installed and functioning properly, you can start paving. Start paving on a levelled area.
5. Spread a layer of mortar mix onto a screed area. The mortar mix should be in a thick but pliable consistency.
6. Put five dabs of mortar on the side of the slab where it'll be in contact with the mortar bed; one dab of mortar on each corner and one in the middle.
7. Place the slab on top of the bed of mortar and gently tap on the slab with a rubber hammer.
8. Fit tile spacers or wooden spaces at the corner of each slabs to allow for an even gap between the slabs.
9. After you've placed four slabs, check to see if the surface is level with a spirit level.
10. Locate any uneven slabs.
11. Lift them up and re-adjust the amount of mortar mix on each or on the mortar bed itself and then reposition the slabs one by one.
12. Finish paving the majority of the area before you start paving the edges.
13. To pave the edges of the patio, you'll first need to customise slabs to fit into these gaps. Cut these slabs with an angle grinder. Wear safety gear (goggles and gloves) when cutting the slabs.
14. Firstly, score the surface of the slab with the angle grinder.
15. Hold the slab on both ends and place the scored line face-up on an edge.
16. Apply pressure downwards and break the slab along the scored line.
17. When you've finished laying the patio, let the mortar set for about 2 days.
18. Remove the tile spacers and fill the gaps with mortar mix.
19. Scrape off excess mortar mix from the joints with a trowel.
20. Let the joints set and dry for another three days before setting foot on it.

Related articles

• How to lay a foundation for paving a garden
• How to do block paving

Don't want to DIY? Get recommended swimming pool specialists for your home improvement job.