My wife and I are designing a pool which will have a planting area as a wall of the pool. The planting area will be covered with marble but we are not sure how the chemicals of the pool can affect the marble. If not marble what other durable choices we should consider?

Robert

Hello Robert,

There are several things to consider here. Some new pool systems clean the water without the need of routine Muriatic Acid treatments. If this is your design, then that eliminates one of the problems with using marble around pool areas. This acid is basic commercial granite Hydrochloric Acid. If your pool design requires this acid or any other acid that reacts with calcium carbonate (marble), then keep in mind that the acid(s) will literally dissolve your marble.

In addition, even sunlight and air pollution will noticeably damage the finish on marble within a year or two. If you do not desire an ancient weathered look, then do not use marble outside and especially not around water features that are designed to required acid treatments.

My recommendation is to use granite. Muriatic acid and sunlight will not harm granite at all. There are hundreds of colors that you can see on www.GraniteStock.com and I am sure you would find one that you like. Note, that a few exotic granites are coated with polyester resin at the factory. Do not use these granite colors outdoors because the resin will deteriorate and ‘yellow’ from sunlight. Just ask the supplier if the granite you like is resin coated or not.

Best wishes,
Tom Cordova

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