Can You Put Patio Blocks Around a Fiberglass Pool?

Patio Block Basics

• Most patio blocks are set in a bed of compacted gravel and sand, which gives them a tight base foundation layer that holds the blocks in place while providing some cushion against movement from foot traffic and the swelling of the fiberglass frame in warmer weather. Even if the blocks are installed tightly, they can flex with the frame, thus avoiding cracking or popping up out of the installation area.

Flexibility of Blocks

• One of the benefits of working with patio blocks is their flexibility. Most patio block installations are done in such a way that there is a slight gap between the blocks, known as a joint. When filled with sand, these joints interlock with one other and form a solid platform but have the flexibility to move slightly against each other. Concrete, on the other hand, has no flexibility and will simply crack when pressure is applied.

Mortared Installation

• If you decide to go with a mortared block installation rather than a free-standing installation that sits on top of sand and gravel, you need to provide movement space for the blocks where they meet the edge of the pool. The pool will move with the weather and swell and shrink with the temperatures; plus it will move slightly with the water and weight of bodies. A minimum of a 1/4-inch caulk joint should be included around the edge of the pool in mortared block installations to protect the blocks against movement.

Block Benefits

• Patio block installations are ideal around pools because, if there is an issue over the years, such as a patio block cracking out, it can be easily repaired by simply removing that single piece. Concrete, on the other hand, is a solid surface. If it begins to crack, you are stuck with that visible crack for the lifetime of the slab, which in most cases is more than the lifetime of an individual. Patio blocks can also be installed in many patterns, giving you flexibility in terms of design.