When you plan a pool, the water draws all the attention, but what you step on every day is the flooring around it. At TRM Tarimader, we’ve spent years observing which materials withstand the sun, chlorine, and the constant traffic of wet feet, and which ones fail. Let me tell you how to choose wisely.<\/p>\n\n
The flooring covers more visible surface area than the water itself. It frames the pool, connects the house to the garden, and determines whether summer is enjoyed peacefully or with a constant worry about slips. That’s why the decision shouldn’t start with color<\/strong>, but with a few very practical questions: who will be using this area, how many hours of sun does it receive, and how much time do you want to dedicate to maintenance?<\/p>\n\n A private villa where four people swim is not the same as a hotel with a visitor count that multiplies in August. In the former, you can prioritize aesthetics; in the latter, durability and safety are equally or more important.<\/p>\n\n Around a pool, the material works hard: direct sun for months, constant splashes, chlorine or salt, storm rains, and temperature swings between night and midday. A floor that holds up fine on a regular terrace can be severely punished here, with joints opening, pieces staining, or surfaces swelling.<\/p>\n\n On paper, you have several options: natural stone, ceramic tile or stoneware, microcement, artificial grass, gravel in garden areas, or wood decking and its synthetic versions. Each responds differently to water and heat, which is why it’s important to consider the entire perimeter: the pool coping, the walkway, the shower corner, and even the pool fence, which often forces a decision on where one material ends and another begins.<\/p>\n\n This is the most frequently asked question when someone is looking for flooring for this area, and for good reason. The adjective “non-slip” alone doesn’t say anything: what matters is the measured data. One common reference is the pendulum test according to standard BS 7976-2, which provides a PTV value for both dry and wet conditions.<\/p>\n\n For Millboard Decking Weathered Oak, the technical sheet shows 41 PTV in wet conditions and 54 in dry conditions<\/strong>, with reports available upon request. It’s worth noting that PTV is the value used in the UK. In Spain, the UNE standard classification is used, and this value is equivalent to Class 3<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n My advice is that, no matter what you’re comparing, always ask for this data and don’t just rely on marketing claims. And evaluate it in wet conditions, as that’s where safety is paramount.<\/p>\n\n In a terrace, garden, or facade project, the most common profile today is that of a landscape designer or exterior designer, two increasingly precise terms for outdoor work. They are the ones who conceive the pool as part of a whole: the garden, the house, the access points, the shade, and, of course, the flooring that connects everything.<\/p>\n\n Whoever is leading the project, the goal is the same: for the living room, terrace, and pool to read as a single space. When the living room opens directly onto the garden, the design doesn’t end at the sliding door, because the gaze passes through the glass, and if the outdoor flooring doesn’t harmonize with the indoor flooring, the house and the pool feel like two separate worlds.<\/p>\n\n The functions of a landscape or exterior designer in a pool area go far beyond choosing something pretty. They select materials and finishes, coordinate colors with the facade and furniture, distribute living, sun, and shade areas, and advise you on how much maintenance each decision will require.<\/p>\n\n Among their main responsibilities is also saying no to ideas that look great in a photo but cause problems after two summers.<\/p>\n\n Continuity is key. If you have warm parquet indoors, the exterior designer will look for an outdoor tone, grain, or texture that dialogues with it, without necessarily copying it. The same applies to the patio and terrace: the goal is for the transition from one area to another to be natural, with the same levels when possible and with careful transitions when not.<\/p>\n\n The work begins on paper, designing the plan with measurements, slopes, and usage zones, but it doesn’t end there. Suppliers and installers must be coordinated, deadlines monitored, and it must be ensured that what arrives on site is what was planned.<\/p>\n\n This is where the difference of working as a team is noticeable. When the architect, landscape designer, and installer communicate from the first sketch, the structure, levels, drainage, and final finish are considered simultaneously, not one after another. This coordination saves you corrections once the work is underway<\/strong>, and it’s also what we demand of ourselves at TRM Tarimader when a client consults us about material: to understand the project before recommending anything.<\/p>\n\n Working outdoors requires specific knowledge: how a material expands with heat, how a surface drains water, what base it needs to remain stable. Those who work daily outdoors understand these behaviors and consider them from the design stage, which is not always the case with profiles designed only for indoor spaces.<\/p>\n\n It makes sense to hire a landscape or exterior designer when you’re building a new pool, renovating a large terrace, or wanting to update the area around an existing pool that you’re no longer happy with. Also in hotels and accommodations, where the space’s image is part of the business.<\/p>\n\n What they offer you is expertise, a coherent project from start to finish, and almost always, savings in time and doubts about materials.<\/p>\n\n A good landscape or exterior designer shows a portfolio with real outdoor projects, not just catalog gardens. They speak about materials with knowledge, bring physical samples so you can see the color and texture in your garden’s light, and coordinate with the architect and installer, instead of working independently.<\/p>\n\n Be wary of anyone who promises results without visiting the site or without asking you how you actually use the area.<\/p>\n\n If you’re looking for a genuine and timeless look, natural materials are still the first choice in almost everyone’s mind. They have a visual quality that is hard to match, although each comes with its own demands as an outdoor floor.<\/p>\n\n Natural stone has an immediate appeal: coolness underfoot in the middle of August<\/strong>, a solid appearance, and an aging process that usually looks good. It’s a very elegant option for Mediterranean and rustic styles.<\/p>\n\n On the downside, it’s very heavy and requires a well-prepared base. Joints need periodic review, and its slipperiness depends entirely on the finish: a polished piece near the water is a bad idea, while a flamed or bush-hammered finish performs much better. If you’re torn between stone and ceramic tile, look at the same two pieces of data: the non-slip value and how hot it gets in the midday sun.<\/p>\n\n Natural wood flooring brings warmth and an elegance that no other material achieves so easily. Wood decking next to a pool is an image almost everyone has in mind.<\/p>\n\n The price of that beauty is consistency: it needs periodic varnishing or oiling, vigilance for splinters and cracks, and it resignedly accepts that the sun will turn it gray if you don’t care for it. If you enjoy the ritual of maintaining it, it’s wonderful. If you prefer to install your terrace and forget about it, it’s better to know that before buying.<\/p>\n\n Brushing highlights the grain and gives relief to the surface, and that texture is what turns an ordinary board into something with character. A dark finish also conveys a sense of luxury, while light tones provide brightness and a more coastal feel.<\/p>\n\n The appearance changes greatly depending on the time of day: what is a deep brown in the early morning becomes warm and golden at sunset. It’s advisable to view any sample in natural light before deciding.<\/p>\n\n Composite wood decking, also called WPC (Wood Plastic Composite), is designed for outdoor use. It combines the look of wood with much higher durability and without the routine of sanding and oiling every year. Among the pros and cons discussed about synthetic decking, I want to be clear about both sides. The advantage is resistance and low maintenance. The drawback is that not all are the same: some boards look artificial, while others, like Millboard Decking, have a finish that is hard to distinguish from real wood.<\/p>\n\n What I like most about Millboard Decking is how it’s made. Each board is hand-molded from century-old oak planks<\/strong> and hand-colored, which gives the grain a realistic look. The core combines natural minerals, polymeric resin, and reinforcing fiber, and the UV-stabilized Lastane surface is soft to walk on and splinter-free.<\/p>\n\n Manufacturing this way, board by board, takes time, and it shows in the attention to detail: it’s made in the UK.<\/p>\n\n We’re talking about the Weathered Oak range from the Millboard brand. The board measures 200 mm wide, 3,600 mm long, and 32 mm thick, with a weight of 12.9 kg and 1.36 boards per square meter. It’s available in three colors: Driftwood, Vintage, and Embered.<\/p>\n\n Among its technical characteristics, in addition to the non-slip data we saw earlier, the sheet shows a flexural strength of 12.8 MPa. These are numbers that help you compare with any other option using the same criteria.<\/p>\n\n I won’t sugarcoat anything here: like all composites, this surface gets hotter than wood in direct sunlight<\/strong>, and dark colors even more so. That’s why the manufacturer recommends wearing shoes when walking on the surface during the hottest hours, as is the case with any intensely colored outdoor flooring.<\/p>\n\n If your terrace is very exposed, a light color like Driftwood is the most comfortable choice. A simple test: order a sample and leave it in the sun for an afternoon to see how its temperature and color behave in your garden.<\/p>\n\n A well-designed pool area is rarely just flooring. There are retaining walls, enclosures for privacy, the shower area, or a small porch, and all of that also forms part of the final look.<\/p>\n\n To extend the same aesthetic to the wall, there’s Millboard Cladding, with the Envello range, a ventilated facade cladding that maintains the look of wood. According to the data sheet, the system has a Euroclass D-s3, d0 fire reaction classification, although its suitability depends on the height, distance to the boundary, and regulations of each building. This validation is always done by the project engineer, which is why I insist that the architect be aware from the beginning.<\/p>\n\n The finishing touches make the difference between a correct job and a perfect one. For Weathered Oak, fascia (146 x 3,600 x 16 mm) and bullnose (150 x 3,600 x 32 mm) are available in the same three colors as the boards, so that the edges and stair nosings don’t break the aesthetic. The screws are A2 stainless steel, designed for humid environments.<\/p>\n\n With the material chosen, comes the fun part: giving it personality. There are as many ways to design this space as there are homes, but some combinations almost always work.<\/p>\n\n Driftwood evokes driftwood left by the sea and fits a coastal, bright, and relaxed style. Embered is the dramatic, dark-toned option, ideal for a more modern and striking design. Vintage has a country garden or urban patio feel and combines well with a rustic style.<\/p>\n\n If you want something more graphic, the Modello range allows you to play with geometric patterns in ten colors, although it requires planning and an experienced installer. And everything is complemented with plants, a bit of grass or gravel in garden areas, and screens or slats that provide privacy without blocking the view.<\/p>\n\n Elegance on a waterside terrace is built with a few well-chosen elements: a single continuous material, warm ground-level lighting, sober and quality furniture. It’s the logic of understated luxury, premium without being pretentious.<\/p>\n\n As a reference, the Newent project, with a pool and Embered decking, clearly shows how a dark color can make the water the protagonist.<\/p>\n\n A good material poorly installed yields worse results than a modest one well-placed. That’s why installation deserves as much attention as color selection, and it’s advisable to have it done by a professional installer, with the design validated by the architect or engineer.<\/p>\n\n Many people ask if it’s a click system. Millboard Decking is not a click system: it is screwed to a substructure with Durafix stainless steel screws, and there is only one installation system. Joists are placed 400 mm apart for residential use with boards at 90 degrees, and 300 mm if the area is for commercial use or if the boards are laid diagonally. A 4 mm gap is left between boards on the side, 1 mm at the ends, and 10 mm to any vertical element.<\/p>\n\n As for the base, it needs a solid and stable surface, such as a concrete slab or a walkable roof, never directly on soil. For the substructure, there are options in recycled plastic (Plas-Pro), which allows contact with water and is suitable for pool areas, and in aluminum (DuoSpan), which is lighter and straighter.<\/p>\n\n The routine is simple: clean twice a year with a soft brush, like a clothing brush or similar, warm water, and detergent<\/strong>, without sanding or oiling. The brush should not be abrasive to avoid damaging the surface, and it will help remove accumulated dust and sand. If using a pressure washer, do not exceed 2,000 PSI, with a 40 to 60-degree fan nozzle and at a distance of about 30 cm.<\/p>\n\n During the first 6 to 8 weeks, it may appear somewhat shiny due to the release agent, which disappears with weathering and faster if scrubbed with soapy water. Avoid direct braziers on the boards, protect furniture legs, and if algae appears, which occurs where dirt and moisture combine, water and a soft brush are enough to remove it.<\/p>\n\n No photo replaces having the material in hand. Seeing how the color changes with your light, feeling the texture, and checking how it behaves in the sun in your garden prevents surprises and makes the purchase much easier.<\/p>\n\n You can request Millboard Decking samples<\/strong> and view them in your own outdoor space, next to the pool edge or against the wall you plan to clad. Click on the TRM Tarimader sample request form, and we’ll send them to you so you can calmly compare colors and finishes.<\/p>\n\n If you have a project underway, tell us about it, and we’ll help you with measurements, substructure, and color selection. And if you’re still planning your renovation or pool, write to us anyway: the sooner we discuss the flooring, the better it will integrate with the rest of the work.<\/p>\n\n To summarize the essentials:<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When you plan a pool, the water draws all the attention, but what you step on every day is the flooring around it. At TRM Tarimader, we’ve spent years observing which materials withstand the sun, chlorine, and the constant traffic of wet feet, and which ones fail. Let me tell you how to choose wisely. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2181,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2180","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sin-categoria"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/trmtarimader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2180","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/trmtarimader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/trmtarimader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trmtarimader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trmtarimader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2180"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/trmtarimader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2180\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trmtarimader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2181"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/trmtarimader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2180"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trmtarimader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2180"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/trmtarimader.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2180"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}A resistant and durable outdoor floor: what it must meet<\/h3>\n\n
Non-slip surface in wet areas<\/h3>\n\n
The landscape designer and the exterior designer: what a landscape designer does for a pool<\/h2>\n\n
Functions of a landscape designer and main responsibilities<\/h3>\n\n
The work of an exterior designer in the patio and terrace<\/h3>\n\n
Responsibilities of a landscape designer: from designing the plan to coordinating the work<\/h3>\n\n
What being an exterior designer for pool projects entails<\/h3>\n\n
When to hire a landscape designer and what they offer you<\/h3>\n\n
Good pool landscape or exterior designer: how to recognize them<\/h3>\n\n
Natural flooring around the pool: stone and wood<\/h2>\n\n
Natural stone: advantages, appearance, and limitations<\/h3>\n\n
Natural wood flooring and wood decking: warmth and maintenance<\/h3>\n\n
Brushed wood and dark finish: a luxurious look<\/h3>\n\n
Composite wood decking: the most resistant material for outdoors<\/h2>\n\n
How the decking is manufactured: hand-molded with a mineral core<\/h3>\n\n
Brand, thickness in millimeters, and technical specifications<\/h3>\n\n
Dark colors and heat: the truth about the surface in the sun<\/h3>\n\n
From floor to wall: matching cladding and finish<\/h2>\n\n
Exterior wall cladding for the patio<\/h3>\n\n
A coherent finish: flooring, edges, and trims<\/h3>\n\n
Modern design ideas for around the pool<\/h2>\n\n
Coastal, rustic, and contemporary style<\/h3>\n\n
Elegance and luxury on a waterside terrace<\/h3>\n\n
Installation and maintenance of outdoor wood flooring<\/h2>\n\n
Substructure, screw, or click: how it’s installed<\/h3>\n\n
Maintenance and cleaning for a durable surface<\/h3>\n\n
Request samples and information about flooring for your pool<\/h2>\n\n
Request decking samples<\/h3>\n\n
More information and personalized advice<\/h3>\n\n
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