Living with Stone – Around the Pool

Summer is not far away, and some of us will be dreaming of sitting by the pool with a cool drink and a good book.   On the other hand, some of us might be in the middle of a nightmare, looking at their stained, cracked or decaying paving. 

Pools are no longer just a place for a ‘quick dip’; they are now often the centrepiece of outdoor entertaining, with the surrounding paving and landscaping just as important as the pool itself. 

We are presented with a wide range of natural and engineered products for use as poolside paving.  Selection is primarily based on aesthetics but determining fitness for purpose of the right product is important to maintain the desired appearance.  Your selection process (whether it be natural or engineered stone) should include a review of the five S’s.      

• Stain resistance
• Slip resistance
• Salt tolerance
• Strength
• Stability

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MM: How did you get to where you are today?
BW: I began my career in Australia as a structural engineer 27 years ago and moved to Hong Kong in the early nineties where my passion for high-rise and facades evolved. We built a great facade business in Hong Kong, working in China, India, the Middle East and Australia. I bring this experience to the newly formed Inhabit Group, with a more integrated approach to building design, engineering, sustainability and the environment.

MM: What is the real appeal of using stone for construction?
I love stone because it is natural and ageless, with subtleties and variations that no other material can replicate. It connects us with humanity, from the Egyptian pyramids, The Great Wall of China, Roman aqueducts and massive medieval cathedrals it is the medium through which human endeavor is recorded. As a child I’d pour over books in the library and marvel at the stone buildings and bridges.  Stone demands our respect, as it will tell people about us as architects, engineers and builders long after we have gone.

Australian Stone Advisory Assocation

Discovering Stone

Master Builders Australia

Marble Institute of America