Looking for another pool deck option that can ride out ground movement while offering stylistic flair? Pavers—those brick or tile-like stones that are precast from concrete—may be just the answer. They come in all variations, from the basic model you might find at Home Depot to more deluxe versions that resemble weathered-looking tumbled pavers, concrete varieties with pebble and sea shells mixed in, or those cut from stone.

These pieces fit together into puzzles that vary in complexity from a grid pattern to intricate mosaics established by the designer. In between lay interlocking pavers, with a built-in decorative line.

Practically speaking, this material offers several benefits. Paver decks are less subject to cracking than monolithic slabs, says Irv Chazen, president of Miami-based Custom Pools. He uses them on about 75 percent of his projects. “Problems seem to have diminished when the pavers were used in place of [monolithic] concrete,” he says.

A paver deck has built-in joints throughout, so installers don’t have to try to predict where cracking will occur, says Dan Essig, president of Artistic Paver Manufacturing Inc. in North Miami, Fla. Essig, who also builds pools, adds that a heavy rain or ground movement can cause a piece or two to pop out, but they’re easily replaced. They also make for speedier installation, because the decks can be placed piecemeal, so you can interrupt the job during rain.

But like any product, pavers have their drawbacks. Some are very porous, making them rough on the skin and prone to staining, mildew, algae, and even freeze/thaw problems when water gets trapped in the nooks and crannies. Pavers may also experience color variations from batch to batch.

A Little Forethought. If your client wants to use pavers, keep a few design considerations in mind.

First, make sure the selected material is comfortable against the skin. After his clients select a paver, Chazen has them walk barefooted on it to make sure the surface isn’t too rough. “I tell them, ‘If you think it’s too coarse, then don’t pick it,’” he says.

Also in the interest of comfort, look for pavers with beveled edges, Essig advises. Individual pieces will lift slightly out of the ground from time to time. When this happens, beveled varieties are less likely to ruin the look or cause stubbed toes, because they lack a hard corner.

When choosing a product, keep the pieces to scale. Small to medium sizes work best for most homes. Reserve the largest pavers—such as Essig’s 24-by-24-inch version—for unusually large areas.

Smaller varieties also work best with smaller pools, because you can pitch them away from the vessel without having to cut around corners and contours. “When you come to a corner, one side might pitch to the right and the other to the left,” Essig says. “Paver doesn’t bend, so you can’t get it to pitch in two different directions. If you have a 24-inch paver, it could be difficult.”

Some manufacturers offer matching coping. If you choose this option, use shorter, narrower pieces when working with freeform shapes. They are easier to manipulate around the curves and require less cutting. When placed around a radius, thicker copings can spread too far apart at the edges, leaving large, pie-shaped joints.

Also consider the direction of the grid. If the pool will sit parallel to the house, Essig recommends pointing the lines diagonally toward the vessel, rather than perpendicularly. “Either the house or the pool isn’t going to be perfectly straight,” he says. “If you run the [grid] straight to the pool, the paver cuts will show any imperfections in the house, the pool, or both. But if you use a diamond pattern, or offset, you don’t see imperfections as easily.”

This is especially important with rectangular pools. Freeform decks allow a little more flexibility, because there’s no straight line to give you away. You can also use the grid pattern to highlight architectural elements of the home, such as a living room window.

If the brand your client prefers varies in color from batch to batch, try to order everything you’ll need at once, Chazen advises.