Travertine Pool Coping – Reasons Why It Is The Best Choice
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Does Travertine Make Good Pool Coping?
Pool coping, though a small part of the pool deck, has some important functions to perform. You need to consider several factors before choosing the pool coping material. Pool coping can be, but need not be, the same material as the pool deck. So does travertine make good pool coping?
Travertine makes the best pool coping. Travertine is non-slip, even when wet, due to high porosity. Travertine does not get too hot in the sun. And travertine pool coping is quite affordable. It looks good too!
Most of the natural stones used in the building industry come from one of the following 3 types of rocks:
- Sedimentary rocks such as limestone, sandstone and travertine
- Metamorphic rocks such as marble, slate and quartzite
- Igneous rocks such as granite and basalt
Travertine is a sedimentary rock like limestone, but the two have some differences. Travertine is often found around hot springs. Travertine was formed when springs & rivers, rich in minerals dried up.
Travertine is characterized by high porosity, even more than limestone. Travertine has a banded, layered structure and is found naturally in rich earth tones such as White, Beige, Brown and Gray. Like limestone, travertine is rich in calcite. Travertine has one of the highest specific heat capacities among natural stones.
In this post I will explain the functions a pool coping serves. Pool copings have different types of edges and a variety of materials can be used. Lastly, I will explain my scoring system based on six important parameters and the score travertine gets. So read on.
Why Do Pools Need Coping?
It is not essential to have pool coping. Some pools, such as infinity pools, do not have pool coping. But a vast majority of residential pools do have coping.
Coping is the horizontal cap on the vertical pool shell wall. Coping can be concrete, cast on site or precast. It can also be made from slabs or tiles of natural stone such as granite or travertine.
Coping is the pool frame and separates the pool structure from the pool deck. It also protects the top edge of the pool shell. Pool coping sits on the pool shell’s bond beam.
Pool coping serves six important functions:
- De-link the pool deck from the pool structure
- Protect the pool bond beam from water ingress
- Direct water splashing to pool drains
- Helpful grip for swimmers
- Non-slip walking surface around the pool
- Add a visual transition from water to deck
Textured travertine is an excellent choice for pool coping. The texture, such as a tumbled or honed finish provides traction.
Moreover, since travertine is quite porous it readily absorbs the water from the soles of your feet. The risk of slips due to “hydroplaning” is eliminated.
Travertine pool coping lets swimmers jump off and climb back from any point around the pool. Kids running and playing on travertine pool coping are quite safe.
Does Pool Coping Have to Be Bullnose?
Coping need not be bullnose for every pool. However, bullnose is the most popular edge for a pool coping. There are 3 basic types of pool coping edges and you could choose any. Each has its pros & cons.
1. Drop Edge:
In the Drop Edge type pool coping the stone paver is L-shaped. The vertical edge is short and drops towards the pool. The corner is sharp.
Drop Edge style gives a very modern look to a rectangular pool.
2. Cantilevered:
In the Cantilevered type pool coping the edge overhangs on the pool and has a slightly curved corner. Cantilevered pool coping allows the deck surface to blend seamlessly with the pool’s edge.
Cantilevered style is safer, as straight edges of Drop Edge style are sharp and can result in cuts & bruises.
3. Bullnose:
The Bullnose pool coping forms a rounded edge at the lip of the coping. The profile of a half bullnose is a quarter circle on top while the profile of a full bullnose is a semicircle. Bullnose pool copings are very helpful when swimmers want to grip the edge and pull themselves out of the pool.
Bullnose style is perfect for natural stone pavers and is great for curved pool perimeters.
What Material Is Used for Pool Coping?
Any material that is suitable as pool decking would, generally speaking, be suitable for pool coping. However, pool coping materials need to be carefully chosen to meet following requirements:
- Low water permeability to protect the pool structure
- High comfort & safety levels to accommodate higher foot traffic
Four pool coping materials are commonly used:
Concrete
Concrete, poured in situ, or concrete pavers work wonderfully if your pool deck is made from a concrete slab on grade. This by far is the most economical option. However, you do not need to sacrifice style or functionality.
Brushed concrete pool coping complements a stamped concrete pool deck perfectly. The brushed concrete coping will be slip resistant while the stamped concrete deck can have a unique personalized look.
Natural Stone
Travertine, Limestone and Granite are some of the several natural stone pavers you could choose from. Travertine is by far the most popular. Travertine is not slippery, even when wet, does not get hot in the sun and is not too expensive.
Granite is the pool coping of choice, if a luxurious look is more important to you. Though not cheap, granite is durable, hard and non-slip.
Brick
Brick pavers are useful as pool coping material as they can withstand chlorinated water. They are not only cheap but also easy to replace. However, bricks are quite porous and not very durable.
Wood Composites
Wood composites are excellent as they are engineered products. Composites can incorporate all the properties required by pool coping, such as slip resistance, not getting hot in the sun, and being impervious to water & pool chemicals.
They are very affordable but do lack the touch of class. Your pool will be just another “cookie cutter” pool.
Conclusion: Why Travertine Is The Best Pool Coping
I judge the suitability of a natural stone for pool coping on 6 parameters. The stone is given a score on a 5 point scale on each parameter and an average taken.
The average score for a travertine pool coping is 3.50. This is the highest score, when compared to granite, limestone and marble.
See Table and explanations below:
| Property | Score |
| Low Porosity | 1 |
| Slip Resistance | 5 |
| Gets Less Hot | 5 |
| Hardness | 2 |
| Looks | 3 |
| Affordability | 5 |
| AVERAGE | 3.50 |
A travertine coping gets the best score among commonly used natural stone coping. Marble on the other hand gets the lowest score when it comes to suitability for pool coping.
Low Porosity
Rocks.CompareNature describes travertine as being “highly porous”. It describes all the other three natural stones (limestone, marble granite) as “less porous”.
High porosity helps travertine to be less slippery. But on the flip side, pool water, along with pool chemicals, can penetrate the pool coping and shorten its life span. Water seepage can damage the pool bond beam.
The porosity of travertine pool coping can be addressed by using a penetrating sealer. The slip resistant property of travertine pool coping is retained but water will not be able to penetrate the pores (already blocked by the sealer).
I recommend Miracle Sealants 511QT6 511 Impregnator Sealer. It is very effective at protecting against water, stains & slippage.
Slip Resistance
The slip resistance of a pool coping, when wet, is influenced by both porosity and texture. High porosity reduces slips caused by “hydroplaning”. High texture profile increases the grip and traction.
With travertine pool coping you can get the benefit of porosity as well as texture.
Sandblasted, flamed or tumbled finish travertine, sealed with a penetrating sealer, is possibly the safest pool coping out there.
Gets Less Hot
The specific heat capacity of some common natural stones used for pool coping is given in the table below:
Data Source: Engineering Tool Box
Concrete & Water Specific Heat Capacity is mentioned so that you can put the paving materials in perspective.
Amongst all the natural stones travertine has the highest “specific heat capacity”. Generally speaking, higher the Specific Heat Capacity of a material, lower will be the rise in temperature, under the same sunlight conditions.
Hardness
The hardness of marble. limestone and travertine are in the 3-4 range of Mohs scale. So travertine is not much different in hardness. Granite, however, is the hardest being 6-7 on Mohs scale. (Source: Rocks.CompareNature ).
Looks
Travertine, is considered less luxurious and opulent when compared to granite and marble. While granite has a classic timeless look, marble gets extra points for its translucence.
Travertine may not be the best looking natural stone, but it is certainly more natural looking than a concrete slab.
Affordability
Marble is the most expensive pool coping you can buy. The price is purely a reflection of the beauty of marble. Granite is a bit cheaper than marble but a lot more expensive than limestone.
Travertine is the most affordable natural stone pool coping.
Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.
