Modern house with swimming pool
A modern house in the desert surrounded by a concrete pool. Paul Bradbury/Getty Images
Concrete offers smooth surrounds in a variety of colors, in addition to the familiar light gray. Certain types of architecture, such as mid-century modern and contemporary, call for clean, simple lines and even concrete surfaces. Pool decks or fences made of concrete should be poured by a professional unless you are a professional do-it-yourselfer or a competent helper who provides a lot of help.
Pros: Very easy to maintain, feels great underfoot. It doesn’t get too hot when the temperature rises.
Cons: Concrete can become slippery when wet if it doesn’t have a textured surface or has been brushed. Aggregate (pebbles or rocks) can be added to concrete to create a non-slip surface.
Courtyard near the pool: brick
Advantages: Durable, easy to maintain, colors other than terracotta gray are available, for example.
Cons: Moss tends to grow on cool bricks, so you’ll have to maintain it regularly. Otherwise, mossy bricks can become slippery when wet and can create dangerous drop areas.
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