Salt Water Pool Huntington NY, Southampton NY - Best Surrounds
Salt water chlorination systems for pools are a fantastic alternative to regular chlorination systems as they reduce the amount of chlorine by-products in pool water that lead to skin and health issues. A salt water chlorinator can also eradicate the strong chlorine smell associated with swimming pools. However, some homeowners do report issues with the saltwater staining and damaging their poolside surrounds. This is most likely in areas with irregular humidity levels, i.e. humid and dry in short periods of time, where salt crystallization forces open cracks in the material of the surrounds. It is also most likely to occur when salt is in a high concentration just after adding it to the water. While salt damage is not something most Huntington, NY homeowners need to worry about, we have however put together a list of materials best suited against this kind of damage just in case.
Concrete Pavers
In order to provide maximum protection against salt damage and staining, a material should be as non-porous as possible. Materials with fine, closely packed grains are therefore ideal. High-quality concrete pavers provide the perfect solution as they are generally treated against staining and are designed to be near impervious to liquid. Concrete pavers also offer a huge variety and can be used to replicate a natural surface while providing supernatural strength and durability.
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Granite
Granite is another ultradense material excellent for withstanding the rigors of salt and water staining and damage. Granite is further desirable as a poolside paving material as it has a rough but pleasant non-slip texture. The speckled surface of granite is attractive and hides surfaces stains well, but because of it’s low porosity, these can be very quickly and easily hosed off.
Slate
Slate has a density very similar to granite, making it equally resilient to pitting and staining from salt. Slate’s smooth surface might make it impervious, but it can also be quite slippery when wet. To counter this, a slate with a roughly textured surface should be chosen. Slate’s gray and dark gray coloring is excellent for achieving a modern look for your swimming pools, but can also be used to complement the classical shapes of Grecian and Roman style pools.
Flagstone
Although more porous than slate and granite, flagstone remains an attractive poolside option. Flagstone is relatively immune to pitting from salt and won’t stain too deeply. Surface salt stains can be scrubbed away quite easily as well. One word of caution however, what is more likely than saltwater from your pool causing damage to your flagstone is it cracking and damaging the jointing between the stones over time, causing the flagstone to ‘pop’ out. This can be managed by regularly hosing down the flagstone during swimming season and through normal jointing maintenance.
Sandstone
Sandstone’s relatively loose grain places it last on the list. While it’s characteristic gold and light brown coloring won’t show up salt stains to any noticeable degree, sandstone can be prone to pitting from salt damage. However, if well-managed, some weathering of a sandstone surface can actually contribute to its character. However, if this is a concern to you, talk to us about possible sealing solutions as a preventative measure.