Stone pavers weather better than concrete pavers do, though sealing can help with that. Stamped concrete can be a good option, but will eventually crack across the pattern. Pavers are an easy fix if anything goes wrong.

We have stamped concrete around our pool. The pool is only 5 years old, and we are planning on replacing the concrete with pavers. As said above, concrete always cracks. My vote would be for either stone or concrete pavers depending on your budget and the style of your house/yard.

Pavers because the cracks are built in. If installed correctly they will perform well over time.

Pavers are a nightmare. I own a paver pool deck and it is the worst part of the house. The weeds are a constant maintenance issue, especially here in Florida. When I say constant I mean every week there are new weeds on our surface pavers. And we've tried everything... new sand, polymeric sand... weed killers pre emergent you name it we've tried it... If your idea of fun is pulling weeds every weekend then pavers are for you.

Be sure to consider porcelain pavers in this application. The finish is much higher quality and they are 95% impervious to water, making them longer lasting in wet outdoor applications, especially in freeze/thaw environments. Take a peek here:

http://www.houzz.com/projects/634497/porcelain-pavers-simulated-stone

All three are very durable choices for outdoor application but since Porcelain is man made is would definitely be the strongest of the three. While it doesn't match natural stone's inherent beauty it also doesn't require any maintenance which especially for outdoor use that is really nice.

You can get more information and see our selection of Porcelain Pavers on our online showroom.

http://www.rockbottomtileandstone.com/pavers/porcelain-pavers

HI -- Look into rubber paving ,--- perfect for around swimming pools and sidewalks etc. Comes in many colors and can be easily repaired if that is even needed .

We recommend the Belgard Mega Arbel Patio Slab pavers around a pool deck, as a cracked concrete replacement.

The "texture" provides an extra slip resistant surface, and the Belgard pavers do wear well over time, especially in the hot Southern California sun.

Santa Clarita Stunning Pool Deck Refresh - View 1 · More Info

Santa Clarita Stunning Pool Deck Refresh - View 2 · More Info

we live in bucks county pa and anthony and sylvan are doing my 3rd pool and the tile an coping was excellent but I bought 2x2 orlandini florida tile snow ecoscape and now am concerned if laying just polymeric sand and tampering with wire mesh and cleanstone is ample enough or do we need 3 or 4 inch concrete base.The work is already expensive for 1400 sq ft but need advice to share with decking guy who did NOT plan on doing concrete.My job starts in a week.

It really depends, and this is where an expert in landscape design comes in handy. You need to consider your local climate, shade from surrounding trees, how much maintenance you are willing to do, etc. There are even more options than those three, and depending on your needs and style you may want to pick something you’ve never heard of. If heat is an issue outdoor porcelian tile is amazing because it doesnt absorb the heat. Stamped concrete can be extremely slick and can’t be repaired if you have a problem with the pool. We prefer using any kind of modular materials so if a repair needs to be made you can just put the (pavers, stone or tile back and you can’t tell.) pavers, stone and concrete get hot so consider adding a sprinkler systme that sprays down your pool deck before use.

I have in Thousand Oaks, CA stone pavers. I like it more than stamped concrete and it seems to me that it is better for pool decks. The paving stone has been lying for 10 years and looks great. To be true, I didn`t lay the paving stones myself, but with the help of a paver contractor. However, the service life of this type of paver is quite long.