The Brew Cabin

We want to lay about 70m2 of paving around a swimming pool that will be constructed during the coming winter. A contractor we contacted has suggested a 10cm reinforced concrete base for the paving over a sub-base of crushed limestone. This seems OTT to us given the relatively light useage the paving will receive. I should say that our land is about 1 inch of soil over limestone!

Do you have any recommendations for laying paving around pools?

Thanks in advance

Given the amount of disruption that takes place during construction of a swimming pool, and the subsequent backfilling, I'd say that your contractor is probably right.

It doesn't matter what the ground is like now - once the pool is built, it will be what we calll 'made ground', that is, it has been excavated and backfilled. So, if you want the paving to stay put, best use a concrete base.