Benefits of Limestone Patio Pavers and Pool Copings

Limestone Patio Pavers & Pool Copings
A custom limestone patio designed by Gappsi

Planning to revamp your patio? Limestone patio pavers and pool copings are your best bet!

The material of patio pavers and pool copings matters because it affects everything, from convenience and aesthetics to budget and several other factors.

Although patio pavers and pool copings are available in many different forms, limestone has remained one of the most reliable paving choices in the market over all these years. Read on to find out why.

What is Limestone?

In simple words, limestone is a natural sedimentary rock formed of calcium carbonate, clay, silt, sand, and many other minerals. The deposits of this naturally beautiful rock are present all over the world.

Limestone is rightly described as universal and timeless; people have used it in many monumental constructions, like the Pyramids of Egypt, the Empire State Building, and the Houses of Parliament.

Due to the presence of minerals in limestone, it is available in various natural colors, including blue, gray, tan, green, beige, and red.

Want to know the main reason behind its high appeal and value? It’s the natural feel that radiates from this rock! It can complement both traditional and contemporary settings.

Benefits of Limestone Patio Pavers and Pool Copings

Expert Masonry designers and contractors in Nassau and Suffolk county, Long Island, NY, recommend limestone for patios. The reasons are as follows:

Gappsi's limestone patio pavers and pool coping
Limestone Patio and Pool Coping in Suffolk County

Hardwearing

Durability is the first thing people look for when constructing patios; limestone fulfills this requirement perfectly.

Limestone’s high durability may sound surprising because of its soft and elegant look, but this naturally-dense rock is impervious to elements. It doesn’t break or crumble easily under harsh weather conditions and extreme temperatures.

In fact, people have been using it in building things intended for heavy-duty use. This rock is not only suitable for patios but also ground floors, kitchens, and other interior parts of a home.

Aesthetic and Versatile

The best part about limestone is that it fits well with any style and color palette you have in mind. It is available in many colors, from dark to light gray, buff, white, blue, green, and even gold. Hence, you can easily match your patio with the interior of your house.

You can find limestone in different textures, amounts, sizes, and durability. Although most limestone pavers have a honed surface, some varieties can also be naturally split.

Experts usually heat limestone to a high temperature in a flame to create a smooth and uniform surface. They can easily chisel, tumble, split, or cut edges to match your requirements. Some textures are suitable for flat and smooth surfaces indoors, while others are perfect for patios and walkways.

Designers can help you choose from the limestone patio pavers and pool copings displays in showrooms. You can also get custom fabrication done by contractors in Nassau and Suffolk County in Long Island, NY.

An Effective Insulator

With its strong insulating properties, limestone prevents your patio and pool copings from getting too cold in the winter or too hot in the summer.

You can walk barefoot on the patio without worrying about burning your foot on hot and sunny days in Nassau and Suffolk County, Long Island, NY. Similarly, you won’t get cold feet while walking barefoot on the patio on chilly days.

Slip-Resistant Properties

Limestone has a little textured and riven profile, making it even more ideal for patios. How? Its texture facilitates underfoot resistance and reduces the chances of slipping to a great extent, even if your feet are wet or it has rained heavily.

With limestone patio pavers, you can let the children in your family run freely around the patio without having to worry about a bad fall.

An Eco-Friendly Choice

Limestone is one of the best options for environment-conscious people when it comes to remodeling the exterior of a house. This is because it’s a renewable stone and doesn’t increase your carbon footprint. Even if it gets damaged for any reason, its repairs won’t contribute to the already-high pollution levels of the nation.

Limestone Patio & Pool Pavers
Gappsi’s custom limestone patio pavers

Cleaning and Maintaining Limestone Patio Pavers and Pool Copings

One of the best parts about limestone patio pavers and pool copings is that you don’t necessarily have to seal them.

  • The first step to cleaning your limestone patio pavers and pool copings is to brush off the dust and debris from the surface with a broom. But be careful not to scratch the stone with your brush.
  • After removing dust and dirt from the surface, wash the pavers with warm water and non-acidic soap. You can soap the water and use a sponge mop to thoroughly clean all the grime and stains. After that, rinse with clean water and let the surface dry naturally.
  • Limestone is more susceptible to chemical damage than other building materials like concrete. Hence, you should never use any acid to clean limestone.
  • Acids cause chemical reactions and affect the colors and hardiness of the stone. So, always choose your cleaning products wisely.
  • Some soap scum and mineral stains may not come off easily. To get rid of them, pour a mixture of baking soda and warm water on a sponge and scrub well. If a stain still persists, you should let a professional paver cleaning service take care of that.

Schedule Your Free Consultation With A Gappsi Professional Today!

Gappsi has been providing masonry services to residential and commercial property owners for a long time in Nassau and Suffolk County, Long Island, NY. Being an integral part of the masonry industry in our region has enabled us to understand your requirements to the core and recommend the best possible ideas to remodel the interior and exterior of your home.

If you want to install, seal or clean your limestone patio pavers and pool copings, contact Gippsi today to let our experts handle that for you!

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Natural Limestone Patio And Pool Long Island NY

Choosing The Right Stone For A Pool Deck

Natural-Limestone-Patio-And-Pool-Long-Island-NYWhen choosing the right stone such as a natural limestone patio and pool Long Island NY it’s important to embrace some practical and aesthetic considerations.  Whether it’s an elegant light-colored limestone perfect for a hot summer day, a natural fieldstone emulating the feel of a deep woods swimming hole, or reclaimed granite with its timeless weathered beauty, the following points will help in selecting the best stone for a pool deck or patio area.

The Four S’s to Consider

  • Style – The overall appearance of a pool deck and patio may vary depending on style. It could be sophisticated versus a more rustic look and feel.  The sophisticated style generally has clean lines while a rustic style offers an earthy feel and look with more natural, rougher lines.
  • Surface –  The texture of the stone has a big impact on the look as well as the feel of your patio surface.
    • A split face surface, like a reclaimed plank paver, gives a rustic look to the area.
    • A natural cleft surface comes from stones that are split by man along a natural seam in the stone.  This gives the surface an organic feel with a flatter surface compared to a rough split surface.
  • Shapes and Patterns – Stone shapes, whether irregularly shaped or straight edge squares and rectangles, may completely change the design of a pool deck as different design patterns will also,
  • Scale – It is important to think about the size of the stones. Deciding on small, medium, or large stones determine the look and feel of a pool deck area.

PRO TIP: If the deck space is large, consider using larger-sized pieces to give it a grand feeling. Smaller pieces may be used for more intricate patterns and offer a more sophisticated look.

  • Color – Natural stone comes in a variety of colors in addition to color combinations. Deciding on the stone consider if the pool is in direct sunlight for large amounts of time, then a lighter-colored stone would be good to keep the temperature down. Choose a color or color theme that relates to your home, or office building, as well as other stones in the nearby area.

The Right Stone For The Right Condition

A complement to the surrounding landscape, natural stone pool coping is as practical as it is attractive. Natural stone is durable and resists freeze-thaw cycles.

  • Heat Underfoot – Comfortable underfoot is important when choosing a stone for a pool deck and patio. Which type of stone will help to keep the surface cooler? The answer is a stone with less heat absorption. In general, lighter-colored stones have less heat absorption.
  • Freeze-Thaw – If the pool will be located in a freeze-thaw weather zone, be sure to pick a stone with lower water absorption for the pool deck. Granites, basalts, and porphyry top the charts in this category and will hold up to all weather conditions. We have also hand-picked some freeze-thaw-resistant limestones and sandstones that will work well.
  • Slip Resistance – The last thing you want is a slippery stone for a pool deck and patio. Luckily, adjustments to surface texture and joints can make a huge difference when it comes to creating a slip-resistant deck.

In addition to considering the appearance of the texture, consider the effect it has on the perceived slipperiness of a stone. Man-made surfaces provide excellent grip and some split surfaces tend to be less slippery. In general, stone surfaces with indentations and irregularities provide a better grip.

Natural-Limestone-Patio-And-Pool-Long-Island-NY3WIDE JOINTS VS MANY JOINTS

Wide joints between pavers or joints that have grass or other vegetation growing between them make the overall pool deck surface less slippery.

When there are many joints, your feet are always touching multiple joints which helps you naturally grip the surface and it is, therefore, more slip-resistant.

Pool Deck Materials We LOVE at Gappsi

Limestone – The luxurious feel and look of limestone make it a great choice for a pool deck.

Sandstone – A sedimentary rock composed of sand-size grains of mineral, rock, or organic material. Many sandstone materials are great for pool decks as their split surfaces are naturally slip-resistant. Colors range from beige to brown to gray-blue.

Granite – A coarse-grained igneous rock, granite has a high content of quartz and feldspar giving it a speckled appearance. One of the most durable quarried stones from around the world, granite is nearly always massive, hard, and tough.

Bluestone – Bluestone is actually a sandstone with a deep blue color but also appears with other hues such as shades of gray and brown. Bluestone is known for its advantageous price point. Natural cleft bluestone is quite slip-resistant.

Travertine – A form of limestone deposited by mineral springs, especially hot springs. Travertine often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, cream-colored, and even rusty varieties.

Marble – Marble can have beautiful pattern movement within the stone and comes in a wide variety of colors from white to salmon to gray, blue, green, and black.

Natural-Limestone-Patio-And-Pool-Long-Island-NY2Limestone Patio And Pool Long Island NY

Kidney-shaped gunite swimming pools remodeled in Center Island NY. We installed new stairs across the shallow area and porcelain tiles in the water line. The pool was totally remodeled with new plumbing and a new finish. We used super blue diamond bright and tile markers on the edge of the steps. The patio consists of G44 limestone in a french pattern and two inches of G044 Marble Limestone all selected from the Gappsi natural stone collection. Very beautiful property, a very beautiful setting. The latest gunite remodels by Gappsi.

SCHEDULE A MEETING TODAY WITH GAPPSI
VIEW OUR VIDEO OF A NATURAL LIMESTONE PATIO AND POOL LONG ISLAND NY

 

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Marble Patios And Pools On Long Island NY

Marble-Patios-And-Pools-On-Long-Island-NY2Make a statement with your backyard; marble patios and pools on Long Island NY by Gappsi.  We designed and built a travertine wood-burning fireplace as well as a gunite pool renovation with a new design of the patio and landscaping in West Islip NY. We incorporated a new wood-burning fireplace and veneered it with multisize silver travertine tumbled veneer and capt with G040 two-inch coping. The patio consists of G040 marble pavers selected from the Gappsi natural stone collection. This stone is a very beautiful marble with many details. A key feature and benefit of marble pavers are they are very cool in the heat, with a sandblasted texture and tumbled texture perfect for around a pool or water.

The pool was remodeled with new porcelain tiles in the water line and new coping was added. Gappsi also built a raised area for the diving section and added two columns each with a led Pentair Water Ball spilling into the pool. The landscape includes some tropical plants, flowery plants, and evergreens. Our team did a very beautiful job, the waterview on the South Bay of Long Island NY is amazing to enjoy with a warm fire while enjoying from the comforts of your home.

Marble Patios And Pools On Long Island NY

One of the most versatile construction materials for pools is Gunite.  It is a simple mixture of cement, sand, and water.  To apply the Gunite to your framework contractors have 2 options; use a spray gun or blow the material onto the rebar framework.  The rebar offers strength and structure to the pool.

Gunite is porous and should not be used by itself to construct a pool. There must be a water barrier between the porous gunite and the pool water. Plaster is then applied to not only ensure a smooth touch on the pool surface but also to create a water barrier between the pool water and the gunite.

Winterizing your pool properly will help to keep your pool’s gunite/plaster structure intact.

Marble-Patios-And-Pools-On-Long-Island-NY1Painting VS Re-Plastering

Delaminations, stains, cracks, and generally dullness and lifelessness are reasons for wanting to give new life to your pool. Painting pools have been an option even before pool plastering came around. Back in the day, all pools were painted; it was an annual pool opening tradition. When the plaster for pools began to be used, pool owners appreciated the long-lasting and durable surface and the smooth white finish.

Longevity Factor:
Re-plastering a pool, when properly mixed, applied, cured, and maintained – can last 15-20 years. Pool paint, depending on the type of paint used, as well as application and curing factors, 2-7 years of life can be expected from a pool paint job.

Durability Factor:
Paints used for pools, spas, and fountains, are specifically made for underwater use and are quite durable against poor water chemistry, temperature extremes, and even rough treatment from pool equipment. Plaster, however, with its usual 1/2 inch thickness, can handle more distress than the thin layer of pool paint.

Appearance Factor:
Both the new plaster and new paint are looking good! Pool paint is shiny and reflective, and new plaster has a deep luster, like an eggshell. Of course, you can add colors and additives to plaster to create custom tones. You can do the same with paint, and could even paint a mural. Plaster may look the best for longer, but at least initially, and for the first few years, the appearance of both is fairly equal.

Travertine Veneer Wood Burning Fireplace

Marble-Patios-And-Pools-On-Long-Island-NY4Fireplaces are a natural gathering place and are often not just the focal point of a room, but often the focal point of the entire home or outside.  A fireplace provides a respite of warmth, conversation, and meditation from the outside world. Many agree that renovating a tired, worn out, and outdated fireplace has the same return on investment as updating a kitchen or bathroom, but with a much smaller price tag. Natural stone veneer panels are an excellent choice for such a renovation because they are cost-effective and incredibly easy to install.

Whether you’re envisioning a rustic, colonial, contemporary, modern, or Old World space, color and design add up to making your project look just right. Natural Stone Colors vary naturally, which is what makes it an authentic material to incorporate into projects.

Whether you’re renovating an old brick fireplace or building one anew, our world-class customer service team will walk you through the right process for you. During a fireplace renovation, you tend to encounter more obstacles than if you are building new. For example, is your existing fireplace built from brick? Is it flat drywall? There are different ways to handle each of these conditions. We welcome your questions, so please don’t hesitate to speak with us.

SCHEDULE A MEETING TODAY WITH GAPPSI
VIEW OUR VIDEO OF THE MARBLE PATIOS AND POOLS ON LONG ISLAND NY

Our showroom display also includes the most beautiful as well as unique imported natural stones for patios, walkways, and driveways.

We provide our services in the following areas of Nassau and Suffolk County. Glen Cove, Hempstead, North Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Babylon, Huntington, Islip, and Smithtown. Brookhaven, Southampton, Riverhead, East Hampton, Southold, Old Brookville, Old Westbury. Mill Neck, Nissequogue, Lloyd Harbor, Muttontown, Coldspring Harbor, and East Norwich
Gappsi’s knowledgeable and experienced personnel can help you create the yard of your dreams!

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Travertine Patios And Pools On Long Island

Travertine Patios And Pools On Long Island

Travertine Patios And Pools On Long IslandGappsi designed and completed the landscaping and Travertine Patios And Pools On Long Island recently in a home located in Yaphank, NY.  Gappsi installed a freeform vinyl pool with a gunite spa spilling into the pool. Three structures were built including a gazebo, a pavilion, and a pergola; since the property is surrounded by woods populated by deer we decided to screen the gazebo for bugs also.

Backyard Gunite Spa with G035 Travertine Pavers

The home’s backyard was built on two levels so Gappsi utilized natural stone borders to retain the hearth and create a more natural look as well. The freeform vinyl pool is 18 x36, with the deepest part of the pool only 5 1/2 feet. There is a gradual slope on the bottom with the walls being straight down. The stairs that were installed are in the shallow area and we added 3 built-in stools in the pool to sit and relax poolside.

The spa that was added is a gunite spa finished with super blue diamond brights. This pavilion was built to add a shaded area while relaxing near the pool with a pergola for a lounge chair. The patio was paved with G035 travertine selected from the Gappsi stone collection and the veneer on the spa is also G035 travertine. The entire backyard has a very beautiful setting and layout.  The homeowners will enjoy the backyard for many many years to come along with all the family members.

Why Consider a Travertine Pool Deck?

One of the best reasons to consider these pavers is purely aesthetic. They provide a unique look that, when compared with other pavers, makes your patio or pool deck stand out amongst others in your neighborhood! An essential part of buying a pool is thinking about the best pool deck for your family. Travertine tile pool patios are increasingly popular because they are slip, heat, and mold resistant.  Travertine is a natural form of sedimentary limestone. It develops around natural spring mineral deposits, leading to distinctive swirls throughout the limestone. Due to the travertine tiles’ layered, mottled texture and beauty, the ancient Romans favored it as a building material.

Travertine-Patios-And-Pools-On-Long-Island3

Travertine pavers are ideal because they stay cool to the touch; Perfect for Barefoot-in!.

Simply by designing the yard with travertine pool pavers the customer increased the safety of their pool area by providing a stable, slip-resistant surface. The porous stones are naturally rough and even more so when they are wet making the surface slip-resistant.

Use Travertine Paving Stones in the following places:

  • pool decks
  • patios
  • decorative walls
  • stairs
  • fireplaces
  • driveway

Benefits of Travertine Patios And Pools On Long Island

Travertine is eco-friendly
All travertine stones are eco-friendly as they adopt an environment-friendly manufacturing process as opposed to marble. In addition, this stone is super low maintenance; they stay intact much longer, thus avoiding the need to replace them regularly.

Extremely durable
Due to Travertiens’s ability to withstand heat and extreme temperatures, travertine pool pavers are known to be extremely durable, thus making them ideal for all outdoor projects.  For example driveways, walkways, patios, and pools; enjoy your barbeques and parties.

Water Absorbency
Concrete pavers do absorb some water where tiles do not, and neither does flagstone. Since water is constantly present around a swimming pool, especially if it is heavily used by children choosing travertine pavers is smart because it absorbs more water than other paving materials.

Non-Fading
Better paving materials today are fade resistant, but in the face of the sun, over the years even pavers do lose some color. Travertine pool decks are natural stones whose color is permanent versus dyes that are long-lasting or fade-resistant.

No Efflorescence
What is that? Efflorescence is a powdery white deposit that’s commonly seen on concrete surfaces and requires cleaning to remove it.

Travertine-Patios-And-Pools-On-Long-Island2

While this isn’t part of our list above of reasons for suggesting travertine for patios and pools the fact is that it is hugely popular. This isn’t a fad or trend; it’s been in big demand for patios and pool decks for several years now, and instead of showing signs of losing favor as a trend does, the requests for travertine paving in the backyard continue to grow.

Are You Ready To Level Up Your Yard?

When looking to remodel your pool deck, having a selection of colors and sizes to choose from makes the process all the more enjoyable. At Gappsi you can select from an array of travertine deck pavers’ colors, sizes, designs, and patterns. No matter your taste, finding the right paver for your style is simple!

Work With a Contractor For Maintaining Your Travertine Pool Deck

Although travertine tiles are water-resistant, they may gradually appear stained. Further, if your travertine pool deck is close to loose soil, dirt can become trapped in the natural pores.

Fortunately, you can easily prevent this by sealing your deck every three to five years. Although you’re not required to seal your deck, you’ll be grateful that you did so a few years down the road.  Your pool contractor can replace damaged tiles or may recommend a cleaning and sealing of your pool’s patio.

If you clean your travertine tiles on a regular basis, you shouldn’t need much help from a contractor to repair or replace them.

SCHEDULE A MEETING TODAY WITH GAPPSI

VIEW OUR VIDEO OF TRAVERTINE PATIOS AND POOLS ON LONG ISLAND

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Travertine Veneers Outdoor Cooking Island

Travertine Veneers Outdoor Cooking Island

Travertine Veneers Outdoor Cooking Island blog post

Travertine Veneers Outdoor Cooking Island setups are one of the most popular projects Gappsi works on.  It is a great conversation starter for its beauty alone!  The beauty of a travertine veneer on your outdoor cooking island is that it has the power to turn your grill island from ordinary into an accent piece.

If you want to have the best summer BBQs and make all the other neighborhood families jealous, then you are going to need the best outdoor kitchen ideas.

Aside from its functionality, an outdoor kitchen should offer durability and aesthetic appeal. Stone veneer masonry is a popular trend among homeowners and professionals on Long Island.  Travertine Veneers are chosen for their authentic beauty and robust composition, making them ideal for a stunning outdoor kitchen transformation.

Beyond installing the best grill on the patio, adding a grill station offers added conveniences that uplevel the entire barbecue experience.  Outdoor cooking islands can have:

  • built-in sinks
  • custom pizza ovens
  • wet bars
  • fireplaces
  • side burners
  • smokers
  • warming drawers
  • roasting pits.

It really is the next frontier of at-home entertaining. They also have extra electrical outlets to plug in small appliances, and even shelter from the sun and rain.

Outdoor Grill Station Ideas

An important consideration when designing the space for an outdoor cooking island is where to put it so it works best for the home and the people using it.  Some people may like to make sure the grill is close to the kitchen door and located such that you can keep an eye on the lid thermometer through the kitchen window.

An outdoor kitchen doesn’t have to be hardscaped into your backyard also keep in mind. If a built-in grill station isn’t in your timeline or budget this year, look for freestanding outdoor kitchen carts, islands, or cabinets to create your own custom grill area.

Do you consider yourself a true grilling enthusiast?  If you said yes then head on over to our store to check out our ‘Smokers and Italian Pizza Ovens which add their specialty cooking prowess.

Where Can You Use Stone Veneers?

Veneers are versatile and can cover almost every wall in your outdoor kitchen for this reason they are a popular choice among homeowners. Listed below are 4 of the most ideal places to use veneers.

  • Around the grill, – Around the grill veneers will provide excellent protection for the grill and ensure the section blends in seamlessly with the kitchen design.
  • Over the fireplace – If you like a vintage rustic-looking fireplace then place stone veneers around and over it. Your guests will think it was made out of solid stone blocks.
  • Pizza ovens – You can also get rustic-looking pizza ovens by installing stone veneers over them. The veneers will form a solid barrier around the oven and keep heat trapped helping the cooking process.
  • Counters – You can install stone veneers on the sides of the counters also and add a natural stone countertop to complete the organic appearance.

These are just some ideas, but if you are unsure how to incorporate a stone veneer into your outdoor kitchen? Don’t worry; Gappsi’s showroom offers inspiration and design ideas to help the project.

Additional examples would be adding a cooking island and seating area to your outdoor space.  A stone veneer cooking island is a great way to enhance the functionality of your outdoor living space and grow your outdoor living space.  The cooking island can serve as a food prep area or a place for your guests to gather around as you take care of the grill.  Who doesn’t like to enjoy those long summer nights with friends and family?

Start Your Stone Veneer Outdoor Kitchen Project Today With Gappsi!

Gappsi designed and constructed a 10×16 Pavilion built over a U-shaped outdoor kitchen.  Gappsi also installed all twin eagle appliances: grill, burner, sink, summit refrigerator, cabinetry, and the Primo Smoker. The island was built with Eldorado prefab cement boxes and veneered with Fiorito Travertine for the walls as well as the floor. For the countertop, Gappsi installed granite for the top of the counter island. The pavilion has a Mahogany stained color inside, finished with Azek and vinyl columns. 

SCHEDULE A MEETING TODAY WITH GAPPSI

VIEW OUR VIDEO OF A TRAVERTINE VENEERS OUTDOOR COOKING ISLAND

Our showroom display includes the most beautiful and unique imported natural stones for patios, walkways, and driveways.

Gappsi provides service in Nassau and Suffolk County and throughout Long Island.  Glen Cove, Hempstead, North Hempstead, Oyster Bay, Babylon, Huntington, and Islip.  Smithtown, Brookhaven, Southampton, Riverhead, East Hampton, Southold, Old Brookville, Old Westbury, Mill Neck, Nissequogue.  Lloyd Harbor, Muttontown, Coldspring Harbor, and East Norwich.  Gappsi’s knowledgeable and experienced personnel can help you create the yard of your dreams!

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