Description
Piedra is a Carobbio paving with a soft relief and tones reminiscent of warm beach sand. The dimensions are 59.5 × 30 cm with a thickness of 3.2 cm, and the weight is 14 kg. The reconstituted stone does not heat up, so even on the hottest days you can walk on it barefoot.
Appearance and shape
The rectangular slab has a slightly embossed surface. The smooth version is easier to clean, while the sandblasted one has slip-resistance class A+B+C. A Piedra coping stone with the same relief is available for the pool edge.
Technical data
| Manufacturer | Carobbio (Italy) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer code | PPDR.5930.BIA.LIS |
| Series | Piedra |
| Slab size | 59.5 × 30 cm |
| Thickness | 3.2 cm |
| Slab weight | 14 kg |
| Surface | smooth or sandblasted |
| Material | reconstituted stone with selected marbles |
| Properties | athermal, frost-resistant |
| Unit | 1 slab |
Format, colours and consumption
There is only one format – a 59.5 × 30 × 3.2 cm slab that covers about 0.18 m² (approximately 5.6 slabs per m²). White, yellow, pink and brick colours are available both smooth and sandblasted, while grey is sandblasted only. The Active shade is darker and costs more. The Platinum (Madreperla, Tahiti, Oceanic) and Crystal (Artic, Sahara, Tenerife) series stand out for a grainy and a sparkling stone structure respectively. The range also includes Active, Platinum Madreperla, Platinum Tahiti, Platinum Oceanic, Crystal Artic, Crystal Sahara and Crystal Tenerife.
What you get with Piedra paving
- The surface stays cool even under direct sun, so you can walk on it barefoot.
- The slabs withstand cold and winter temperatures without consequences.
- The non-slip finish has been tested to the UNI EN 13451 standard.
- The base is reconstituted stone made from natural aggregates, selected marbles and pigments.
- The shades match those of the coping stones and overflow grilles from the same manufacturer, so the surround looks uniform.
- The product is Italian and eco-friendly, and the manufacturer has fifty years of experience.
Installation step by step
- First lay out the slabs without adhesive to see where cuts will be needed.
- The substrate must be solid, dry and fully settled; the working temperature is from 5 to about 30–35 °C.
- Bond the slabs with a special stone adhesive.
- For areas over 16 m², take slabs in turn from the different pallets so that the shades blend.
- The joints are filled with Carobbio grout, and any excess is wiped off immediately.
- If building work around the pool is still going on, protect the paving with a cover until the work is finished.
Materials for installation and maintenance
- Adhesive for slabs and coping stones – a 25 kg bag, enough to cover about 20 slabs.
- Grout – a 25 kg bag, available in white, grey, pink, yellow and brick shades; enough for approximately 12 m² of paving.
- Caroprotec water and stain-repellent sealer – a 5 l pack for about 25 m² of paving.
- Two cleaning liquids – Deter-AC (after installation) and Cibermac (seasonal): 5 l packs, each for about 25 m² of paving.
Care after installation
After installation, wash the surface with a post-construction cleaner and then treat it with a water- and stain-repellent sealer – untreated stone absorbs dirt. Avoid powerful water jets on smooth surfaces, strong chemicals and spreading salt when it freezes. In the first months after unpacking, damp patches may appear on the slabs; they are normal, and the colouring evens out completely after about half a year.
Things worth knowing
Because the material is a mix of natural aggregates and pigments, the colour and the degree of sandblasting may differ between batches. The permitted size tolerance is ± 5 mm. Light and, more rarely, brownish deposits (efflorescence) are sometimes visible – a natural reaction of cement-based materials that fades over time. The manufacturer's warranty covers replacement of a defective slab that has not yet been installed, so inspect the goods before laying. Colours on screen are indicative – ask for a sample to see the exact shade.
About the manufacturer
Carobbio S.r.l. is a family-run Italian company based in Sorisole, near Bergamo. For five decades it has been making coping stones, paving and finishing elements from reconstituted stone for swimming pools, and it is now run by the second generation. The company is also the creator of the patented RockPool system for prefabricated pools.
See also: Wellness, Pools and Equipment, Cladding and Paving, Pools, Pool Chemicals, Pool Accessories.
