Porcelain Pool Coping is Excellent due to 10 Fantastic Advantages!

Is Porcelain Good for Pool Coping?

Are you planning to build a swimming pool and pool deck in your backyard? The number of decisions to be made is mind boggling. Among those is the decision about the choice of the material for the pool deck and coping. You may be aware of concrete, composites, brick and natural stones as options. But what about porcelain? Is porcelain good for pool coping?

Actually porcelain pool coping has 10 fantastic advantages that make it an excellent choice. It is impermeable and inert, making it resistant to extreme weather, pool chemicals and microorganisms. Porcelain can be made slip resistant and mimic any natural stone in appearance.

The 10 fantastic advantages of porcelain pool coping are: 

• 1. Exquisite Beauty: 
• 2. Slip Resistance: 
• 3. Stain Resistance: 
• 4. Weather Resistance: 
• 5. Chemical Resistance:
• 6. Mold & Mildew Resistance:
• 7. Durability: 
• 8. Low Maintenance: 
• 9. Environmentally Friendly:
• 10. Affordable:

Let me get into more details.

What Is Porcelain Pool Coping?

A new pool in your backyard is quite an investment, both in time and money. As a new “to be” pool owner, your knowledge about the pool and the surrounding pool deck may be somewhat sketchy. For example you may not even have heard about pool coping. And if you have, you may be unsure of its importance.

The pool coping is a lot more than a visual border around the pool edge. In fact the pool coping is critical and serves some really important functions such as:

• Protecting the pool wall and foundation from water ingress
• Keeping the deck dirt & debris from getting into the pool
• Providing a ledge for swimmers to hold onto and pull themselves out
• Adds to the aesthetic appeal of the pool and deck

There are a host of material choices for the pool deck ranging from the utilitarian concrete and composites to the earthy brick and natural stones. Even within the natural stones there are at least 10 great options for creating stunning pool decks.

And then there is porcelain pool coping. As you know, porcelain is a special type of clay that has been fired at very high temperatures. The result is an extremely hard, wear & tear resistant material.

Now porcelain can be used to make pool coping as well, as it comes with many advantages.

10 Advantages of Porcelain Pool Coping

When it comes to porcelain pool coping you will likely choose it for its exquisite beauty but over time will appreciate it for its superior performance. Here are the important advantages of porcelain pool coping:

1. Exquisite Beauty: 

Porcelain was first made in China—in a primitive form during the Tang dynasty (618–907) and in the form best known in the West during the Yuan dynasty (1279–1368). 

While porcelain is typically associated with tableware and decorative vases, it also finds application as tiles, pavers and coping.

Porcelain pool coping can be made in a variety of colors, shapes and styles. Porcelain can imitate natural stone or have colorful geometric or floral designs. You will be spoilt for choice when it comes to porcelain options for your pool area. 

2. Slip Resistance: 

When it comes to tableware or pottery, porcelain should have a smooth, glossy surface. However, since porcelain tiles, pavers and copings are crafted before firing, it is possible to give them a slip resistant, textured surface.

Slip resistance is extremely important for any material that is to be used as pool coping. The edge of the pool is bound to be wet. It is also the space which is most used by swimmers. 

Slip resistance of the pool coping is critical to avoid slips and falls and keep swimmers safe from accidents and injuries.

3. Stain Resistance: 

Porcelain pool coping is highly resistant to stains, because porcelain is non-porous. This is a huge advantage as you do not have to worry about spilling your beverage on it. Pool copings will also have dry leaves, dirt, and other yard debris falling on it all the time. No worries, as they won’t leave a stain.

4. Weather Resistance: 

Porcelain is extremely resistant to extreme weather conditions, in part because it is impervious to moisture and in part because it is made up of chemically inert materials.

Porcelain pool coping can handle even extreme variations in temperatures. It is not affected by the freeze-thaw cycle and won’t be damaged by freezing temperatures. Porcelain is also UV resistant so it won’t fade or discolor in the sun.

5. Chemical Resistance:

Porcelain pool coping, in spite of being slip resistant, is not porous. This is because of the glaze on the surface due to firing at a high temperature.

Porcelain pool coping will not corrode, degrade or otherwise be damaged by the chemical rich, and often acidic pool water.

6. Mold & Mildew Resistance:

Not surprisingly, porcelain pool coping is mold and mildew resistant. This is super helpful as wet areas such as pool copings can be the breeding ground for microorganisms like mold or mildew.

In essence, porcelain is not conducive to the growth of bacteria and harmful pathogens. You do not, therefore, need to worry about your kids & pets getting infected by bacteria sticking around on the pool coping.

7. Durability: 

Porcelain is fairly strong, hard and scratch resistant. Porcelain tiles and pavers do not  not chip or crack under normal foot traffic, making them a durable option for pool coping.

8. Low Maintenance: 

Porcelain is really easy to clean as nothing sticks to it. Regular cleaning with a mild detergent and water is all that’s needed to keep it looking great.

It does not even need to be sealed.

9. Environmentally Friendly:

Porcelain is made from natural materials. It is a traditional art, invented much before the industrial revolution. Porcelain tile and paver making is still a small to medium scale business that is highly sustainable and eco friendly.

10. Affordable:

And if all the above advantages have not yet convinced you, then I am sure the price will. You can get both the looks and performance of natural stone pool coping at a much lower price!

What Are the Disadvantages of Porcelain Pool Coping?

So does porcelain pool coping have any disadvantages? Not many that I can think of. One could argue that porcelain is a heavy material making it somewhat difficult to install. To be fair, the same can be said for most natural stone coping.

When installing porcelain tiles, pavers or coping, it is a good idea to buy a bit more than you need. The spare ones could come in handy if you need to replace some down the road.

Bottom Line

Porcelain pool coping is an excellent choice. You will not regret it!

Thank you very much for reading the post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.