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Submitted by: Susan

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Hi, When you are building a swimming pool, there are two areas that will be priced separately, although the contractor may lump it all together. The first is the pool decking...the general paving area. The second is the pool coping. The coping is more expensive because it is always mortared in place and sometimes the paving material needs to be cut, particularly if the pool is curvilinear. Although I am quite familiar with paving prices, I have lost touch a bit with coping prices. Last time I worked with those figures, I believe it was $10 per linear foot. I am sure it is more now. I admit I am a little confused with your figures since bluestone is always more expensive than pavers, no matter how it is installed. Pavers for the swimming pool decking should cost roughly $15.00 per square foot, perhaps a little more or less. Therefore, a 1200 sf area would be about $18,000. (This is quite a large amount of square footage.) In addition, there is the cost of the coping. Bluestone can be dry laid or wet laid in mortar. Typically around swimming pools, bluestone is mortared (set in concrete). This is one of the more expensive choices. I would figure at least $60 per square foot, and then there is coping cost again. You might consider cutting down on the square footage of the pool decking. A nice way to do this is to cut out one or two areas along the pool edge for planting beds. Here is a guide to help you visualize square footage spaces. The area for a dining table and chairs should be a minimum of 15 feet in all directions. Chaise lounges will fit in spaces a minimum of 10 feet deep. If I might make a suggestion. Consider hiring a professional Landscape Designer or Landscape Architect to design the area for you. He/she will work with you regarding design, needs and budget. They work strictly for you without trying to make money on paving materials for profit. They will also design the pool, plantings and any other landscape elements. They will set the pool elevation where it is optimal and locate it to flow with the design in the best way possible. One other thing. Bluestone is very hot on the feet, which is why it is not used often is pool areas. You might consider travertine pavers. They are more expensive than pavers but MUCH less than bluestone. Like pavers, they are dry laid. Yet they are cool to the touch.....and unbelievably beautiful. Landscaping costs are always more expensive than people realize. It is not difficult to reach $100,000 for a swimming pool landscape design for the pool, paving, landscaping, walkways, etc. It adds up quickly. My pages on Paving Costs and Travertine Pavers will give you detailed information. I hope this was helpful. You can always get in touch with me through my contact page. Good luck! Susan

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