The top pic is our pool design. The other 3 are my inspiration photos for pool decking and color.

This is the Indiana limestone pic I like

I used limestone tiles/pavers on my patio in CA and around our hot tub. It was not the best product to use and some of the tiles started to flake/peel after only a couple of years. CA is pretty dry, so the damage would be accelerated in a more wet/humid climate or one with freeze/thaw cycles..

I would want to see older installations of the Indiana limestone to see how it wears over time.

These are projects with Indiana Limestone set in cement, not dry laid like a paver.

First pic is 2 years old. Remaining are over 10 years old.

We have no issues at all with using Limestone for our pool patios. These jobs are in freeze/thaw climates in New York and New Jersey.

There is a proper method to setting Indiana Limestone "wet", as explained in this article I wrote for a trade magazine. https://aquamagazine.com/features/builder-blunders-failure-to-damp-proof-limestone.html

We have an upcoming project where we will setting the Limestone dry, like a paver stone.

These stones are 1.5" thick. When we set them wet, they are 1" thick

We have a preference for Limestone for it's attributes of color range to coordinate with pretty much any other material on site, plus in direct sunlight it's cool to the touch.

It's a very classic and also a modern material.

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Mystic Pools- I’m very interested in using Indiana Limestone. My landscaper has provided me with some info on Indiana Limestone - it seems to be called full color blend - does that seem correct? I don’t think he uses this product much. He most often installs TechoBloc Pacers. His supplier gave him the link for Polycor Hardscape and Masonry that he passed on to me to look at.

Looks like the coping material in the brochure is bullnosed. If we get it flat instead of bullnosed can it be filed/smoothed?

Polycor is a major supplier of natural materials that my own supplier buys from.

What they deem as Full Color Blend, is what we use on our projects. There are color variations of blues, grays, browns and tans-very beautiful.

We don't use bullnose on any coping anymore. We use what's referred to as Limestone Treads for the coping. That's flat. It usually comes with a rock face edge which we trim off to make a clean edge.

Treads, are exactly what they mean. They are used quite often on entry steps into a home.

The lengths, widths and thicknesses vary. We use 2" thick material and a 14" minimum width for coping. Sometimes wider. The lengths are 6', 7' or 8' depending on the pool size.

On a rectangle pool, the longer lengths give a clean, classic and formal look with less mortar joints.

Setting Limestone dry like a paver, requires a minimum of an 1.5 thick material.

Our preference is to set it wet. This method is more expensive than setting it dry.

The material thickness is 1" for this method.

Check availability on Techo Bloc. Last time we checked in May, they were 2 months out on delivery. Don't take a partial delivery if you go this way. It's best to have the material come from the same batch for color consistency.

Thank you Mystic Pools. When I go to the supplier I will ask them if they are able to get the 1” thickness. I saw in the Brochure that it is 1.5”. My pool is freeform so there won’t be any straight edges. I guess that means a lot of cuts unless there is a different option in the limestone? My husband does not want to use pavers - he wants natural stone, which is why I’m looking into the limestone. We will also have a raised spa area that will also need stairs so I’m sure the treads with the rock face would look great. Do you have any photos of freeform pools you have done with the limestone? If the limestone is set dry is it more likely to crack? What are the pros and cons? I know you mentioned you had an upcoming dry set job.

Dry laid must be 1.5". When we set the material wet, in a mortar base, the material is 1".

Yes, on freeform pool there will be many cuts no matter what material used.

I would have to look for patios we've done in Limestone for freeform pools.

The Limestone won't crack if the sub-base is set properly.

Upcoming project is weeks out. We just completed the excavation.

Since our pool is freeform curvy what would be your advice on using limestone treads as coping? The PB is contracted to install coping, so I probably need to set expectations with them. They gave us a material credit for not using their coping options.

I'm partial to the Limestone for it's color range and that it stays cool even in the hot sun.

In order to install Limestone as coping for a curvy pool, templates must be made up to reflect the shape.

We use tempered hard board/masonite to make up the templates. Generally we shoot for lineal lengths of at least 30". The width, front to back, 14".

It's time consuming and each tracing must be cut carefully with a jig saw and numbered to allow for proper location on the pool.

The Limestone pieces chosen will be bigger than the template and there will be waste after cutting them. But you still pay for the entire piece, not what you used. Some very tight radius areas require a large piece.

We trace the template onto the stone and cut with a demo saw or sometimes a circular saw with a diamond blade.

We get as close as we can to the lines and then after setting the stones we use a belt sander and a circular sander to true the stone.

The longer stones look nicer as there are less joints. Many joints, say on brick coping, is too busy to me.

Using Limestone, or any stone for that matter this way is expensive as the labor to get the finish is intensive. Limestone itself is reasonably priced but you must buy large pieces to make up the curves. You pay for a large piece and only use part of it.

Limestone must be set in a particular method. Here's an article I wrote on how to properly set Limestone.

https://www.aquamagazine.com/builder/article/15122892/builder-blunders-failure-to-damp-proof-limestone

Some stone suppliers offer a service to template and cut the stones for pools or any project. We do it ourselves as time is of the essence.

Thank you for all your responses Mystic Pools. Any chance you would work with us on our pool landscaping? Coping, patio, grotto. We are in central NJ. Or do you have any recommendations for landscapers who are familiar with Indiana Limestone and work in this area?

You are welcome.

Where in central NJ are you?

Montgomery Township