How to Install a Travertine Marble Paver for Pool Drainage

Back fill the soil around the pool to a depth of about 11 inches (have the pool contractor do this). That way you won’t need to excavate for the paver base. Compact the soil with the plate compactor. Slope the soil away from the house and the pool, following the path of natural drainage. Doing this helps create good poolside drainage.

Lay in 6 to 8 inches of gravel base, depending on the thickness of your pavers. Add 2 or 3 inches at a time, wet it and then compact it thoroughly before adding another layer. Slope surfaces away from the pool by 3/16 inch per foot. Use stakes and string to create a line level. Tie the string to the farthest stake at the level of drop for that distance -- 1 1/2 inches lower than the string height at the first stake, for example, if the distance between them is 8 feet (8 times 3 divided by 16). The distance from the leveled base to the level line should be equal the entire length.

Install travertine marble curbs as edge restraints for outer paving edges. Have the pool contractor install matching coping that finishes the pool edge. Well-defined edges will keep pavers from slipping and spreading.

Prepare the sand bed atop the gravel base. Lay down wood strips or screed rails every 6 to 8 feet. Measure the distance between the line level and the rails to maintain the correct drainage slope. Pack sand in all around the rails, to steady them. Spread sand between the rails, slightly higher than 1 inch, and then drag the 2-by-4 across the surface to smooth it. Fill in low spots with sand if necessary and repeat the leveling.

Place pavers in the sand in the chosen pattern, working outwards from the pool. Establish 90-degree angles and straight lines by measuring 3-by-4-by-5-foot triangles. Start laying pavers from a 90-degree corner and keep joint lines straight. Leave 1/8 inch between pavers. Remove screed rails as you reach them, adding sand as needed. Cut pavers to fit using a hammer and chisel, if needed, when you reach the edges.

Sweep the surface once all pavers are set. Spread sand, sweeping it into the joints between pavers. Leave excess sand in place as a cushion. Compact paver joint sand by tamping the entire surface. Spread more sand as needed. Make several passes with the compactor, each time at a 90-degree angle to the previous tamping. Sweep excess sand over the joints for several more days.