I have been told we can't use the flagstone we have because of rust stain...I guess depends on the color.

We have flagstone decking around our existing fountain and in parts of our back yard (we are just planning our pool so none yet). I have Cameron. It is a lovely color but it flakes and rusts and falls apart with water exposure.

I would really recommend NOT using flagstone. Go with a harder stone like quartzite. Ours around the fountain in the entryway is totally flaking and looks warped from the water. The flagstone area where 2 planters sit are also in terrible shape after the water exposure.

None of our PBs would even consider using it as decking near our pool. Everyone we talked to said we needed a harder, more hearty stone for constant water exposure. So we are going with a matching quartzite instead. Funny that you say you are getting conflicting reports. We have had about 6 or 7 bids on our pool and all of them said the same thing to us.

Katherine

We have some flagstone pieces as a walkway to our pool equipment. It gets extremely hot and burns like the dickens. I have to slip on my flip-flops before going to the equipment.

If you search this forum a few of us had a discussion a few years ago about different decking and how hot it was. I actually put a variety of decking out in the 105 degree sun here in Vegas for a week. Flagstone got too hot for my taste although a neighbor used it. It does flake as well. Quartzite was ROARING hot, travertine in a light color was "walkable" in bare feet. I wanted to do either a Durango or Gothic stone from NPT but its pricey so I held off,but that was my choice for our pool. Barb

We have flagstone coping (Pennsylvania Bluestone) and, while it doesn't flake or rust, it is HOT!

If you have a SWG and you keep your pool Ph where it should be, do you have problems with the saltwater causing your flagstone to erode??

I have been told that if you take care of your pool you should not have any problems with SWG and flagstone.

We had flagstone coping as well as a 400 sq ft patio - hated it - flaked, got too hot, left grit in the pool, stained, etc. Did a sealer that made it slippery then flaked off with the stone. There are softer and harder versions/colors, obviously we had softer. Doing second owner/builder this time - just put in walnut travertine coping - LOVE IT.