Fun and Functional Texas Patio and Pools: Get Inspired!

There isn’t one “best way” to build Texas patio and pool spaces. From eclectic home styles in Austin to Houston humidity, clay soil in DFW to UV concerns in San Antonio, the best pool deck and patio design for you depends entirely on where you call home.

That’s why Allied Outdoor Solutions curates expert local design-build teams for each of these diverse Texas cities and their suburbs. We deliver fun, functional and lasting patio and pool deck spaces that our clients confidently use and love for decades.

We crafted this guide for you to find enjoyable custom solutions for outdoor living spaces that succeed where you live. 

• Texas patio and pool design must reflect your unique location. Austin, DFW, Houston and San Antonio have vastly different architectural styles, climate conditions, and ideal material and construction strategies.
• Find the right material for your outdoor living space. We compare and contrast popular materials like Carvestone, natural stone, brick, porcelain and plaster.
• Browse our Texas patio and pool deck design gallery. Discover 4 unique success stories. Learn how we built them to be beautiful, durable and long-lasting spaces.

Elevated Texas Style: Local Design Principles for Patios and Pools

Allied Outdoor Solutions has transformed over 25,000 Texas backyards into elevated outdoor living spaces. 

We serve homeowners in Austin, DFW, Houston and San Antonio with local design-build teams. Each region has unique needs and challenges, and our contractors have the local knowledge to serve their residents thoughtfully.

Let’s look at local design, material selection and construction principles that deliver lasting style and success in each of these diverse Texas metro areas.

Austin Patios and Pool Decks

We think Austin, Texas has the most diverse variety of home styles of any city in America. From central ATX Queen Annes to North Austin ranches and rustic Hill Country estates, there’s an architectural style to fit every taste.

Material selection is crucial to a successful patio and pool deck layout in Austin. Choose rustic brick and natural stone for older homes, versatile concrete or porcelain tile for contemporary East Austin houses, and classic limestone to pair with Hill County homes.

A city with this much architectural diversity requires an experienced design-build team with a great eye for materials, layouts and patterns. Our ATX outdoor living designers and contractors work hand in hand to deliver cohesive spaces that reflect your existing home’s style.

Dallas-Fort Worth Patios and Pool Decks

Function and durability are top-of-mind for DFW outdoor living spaces. The region’s combination of shifting clay soil, hail events and brutal summer heat mean your patio materials must withstand a variety of climate concerns.

Modified concrete overlays like Carvestone offer the heat, pressure and moisture resistance to tackle all of DFW’s local challenges. They also offer the design flexibility to mimic brick, flagstone and sandstone while providing superior durability.

With the average lot size in DFW shrinking, trust our thoughtful design-build teams to deliver intelligent outdoor living solutions that maximize your usable space. Gabled patio covers provide classic Dallas style to cover your outdoor kitchen and grill.

Houston Patios and Pool Decks

Heat, humidity and moisture. Houston’s a hot, wet place to live — but we still love getting outside for drinks, swimming and grilling. Houston patio and pool deck materials must provide the heat resistance to stay cool underfoot, and the moisture resistance to limit rot, mildew and cracking issues.

Non-porous flooring materials like modified concrete and porcelain do well in outdoor living spaces here. They mitigate humidity concerns and don’t absorb heat like other materials. Make sure your pool deck materials are properly sealed to protect against chlorine damage.

From New Orleans Colonials to Craftsman to modern farmhouse styles, Houston homes feature large porches and gorgeous woodwork. Make your porch the statement piece your home deserves with an attached roof structure. 

San Antonio Patios and Pool Decks

Whether you’re in a sprawling Spanish Colonial estate or a smart ranch home, San Antonians all battle the same outdoor living concerns. High UV levels and oppressive summer heat combine with unpredictable annual rainfall levels to make outdoor construction tricky.

Smart design-build teams utilize durable, versatile materials like modified concrete to ensure maximum protection no matter the weather. Covered patio and pergola spaces are a great idea in San Antonio — especially when you may see 15” of rain one year and 40” of rain the next.

San Antonio pool deck materials need to resist UV exposure. Sealed Carvestone and light-colored limestone protect against fading and UV degradation.

Smart Material Selection for Texas Patio and Pool Design

What good is a stylish outdoor living space if it falls apart in 3 years? The right outdoor construction materials deliver the right blend of curb appeal and premium durability to your patio, pool deck and swimming pool surfaces.

Here’s a quick guide to preferred materials for your Texas outdoor spaces — as well as links to our deeper dives on patio, pool deck and pool resurfacing material selection.

Patio Materials

• Carvestone concrete overlays resist up to 6,000 PSI of pressure, and provide strong heat and moisture resistance with proper sealing. Use them to emulate flagstone, brick and other textures and colors.
• Natural stone is easily sourced from local Texas quarries, but may still cost more than concrete. Limestone is popular in Austin and San Antonio, while sandstone is more prevalent in DFW designs.
• Brick pavers are best suited to rustic patios and covered porch spaces on ranch and bungalow style homes. They offer great heat resistance, but keep an eye on your grout or polymeric sand for weeds and mildew.
• Porcelain pavers are a premium material at a high price point. Despite the cost, they deliver incredible moisture protection and chip resistance, as well as a luxurious finish.

Pool Deck Materials

• Carvestone performs well against water and chlorine damage when properly sealed. Apply sealer every 2 years for optimal results and a fade-free look. Light-colored overlays stay cool underfoot in the heat.
• Natural stone is beautiful, but porous. If your heart is set on using stone, pay a bit extra for travertine — while it isn’t local, it performs better against water damage when sealed. An added benefit: natural stone waterfalls and custom fire features are gorgeous.
• Porcelain tile is the “glamorous” pick. You’ll pay more upfront, but your long-term maintenance requirements are much lower. Its glossy finish is elegant at poolside. Make sure to add texture to the porcelain’s finish to reduce slip and fall risks.

Pool Resurfacing Materials

• Blue quartz plaster is a strengthened plaster aggregate with quartz and limestone. Its blue hue looks beautiful against your swimming pool water, and its far more durable than regular plaster.
• Pebble finishes are textured and finished for a resort-style look and feel. Make sure your installer has direct expertise with these materials, or you’ll risk pebbles loosening and falling away from your pool shell and walls.
• Glass tile is stunning, especially on the edges of your pool and custom water features. Use glass tiles on vanishing edges and infinity pools for a dramatic effect.
• White marcite plaster is the best of your “standard” plaster options. Durable, clean and bright, it’s a popular pick for swimming pool shells with large surface areas.

Inspiration Gallery: Texas Patio and Pool Transformations

You’ve met our local design-build teams and gotten valuable advice about material selection for your outdoor living space.

Now, get inspired by real Allied Outdoor Solutions patio and pool deck transformations.

We curated this gallery of 4 unique outdoor living spaces that reflect a variety of homeowner needs and design solutions. We’d love to know which ones inspire you most!

Seamless Oasis

This beautiful backyard oasis delivers a cohesive design from the back door to the property line. It begins under a classic “chickenfoot” gabled patio cover attached to the home, with natural stone column supports flanking a custom-built outdoor bar island.

Light-colored Carvestone emulates natural stone from patio to the pool deck, where the natural stone from the patio supports is mirrored in an elevated circular spa. Guests relax around a custom fire pit and look out over the lush lawn to the treated wood privacy fence.

Key Considerations

• Seamless design. Colors, textures and materials are echoed throughout the space. Tans, browns and rich reds define the space and give it a warm, natural feel.
• Durable materials. Carvestone extends from under the patio cover to the pool deck. It provides excellent heat and moisture protection against pool water and the elements.

Spring, TX Stunner

This Spring, TX outdoor living space oozes with custom craftsmanship. Cream-colored Carvestone provides durability and excellent heat resistance throughout the space, from the patio seating area all the way to poolside.

Custom natural stone accents are everywhere. The lush custom stone waterfall pairs with tropical plants to create an island resort vibe, while the stone surrounding the elevated spa connects it with the landscaping.

Key Considerations

• Natural accents. Our clients wanted an airy, natural space with plenty of design elements rooted in nature. Custom stone water features and big tropical trees provide an elevated outdoor entertainment aesthetic.
• Heat resistant materials. Light colored concrete and natural stone materials reflect heat away from the pool deck and spa, ensuring it stays cool underfoot for guests to enjoy.

Terra Cotta Tranquility

This dazzling retreat in the San Antonio suburbs is rich in Spanish Colonial and Mediterranean tradition. Textured terra cotta colored pavers anchor the space around a Roman swimming pool design that blends circular arcs and geometric angles.

The statement, of course, is the dramatic custom stone waterfall feature and accompanying waterslide. Clay, rust and red hues are used throughout the space to pay tribute to the Spanish roots of the existing home’s architecture.

Key Considerations

• Spanish Colonial style. Handcrafted terra cotta pavers, tans and reds adorn the space. The custom pool deck is sealed and reinforced for added moisture and heat protection.
• Dramatic elegance. Every design element in this outdoor living area invites the eye to explore. Of course, fun had to be built in — the grand waterslide accomplishes that task.

Riverside Escape

Rest on the vanishing edge of this freeform swimming pool and gaze out past the boat slips onto the peaceful river. This patio and pool deck layout creates a sense of endless calm.

Circular natural stone planters complement the unique stone arc seating area next to the custom fire pit. Durable deck chairs provide extra space to relax on the durable tan Carvestone pool deck.

Key Considerations

• Rest and relaxation. Every facet of this outdoor design inspires calm. From the pool bubblers and infinity edge to a cozy fire feature, there’s no shortage of places to relax.
• Premium durability. The heat, moisture and UV resistance of sealed Carvestone overlay materials inspire further peace of mind.

Want even more patio and pool deck inspiration? Visit our updated project gallery.

Happy Texas Homeowners Talk About Their Dream Backyards

We’re proud of the beautiful, durable outdoor living spaces we’ve delivered to our clients. We’re even prouder of how they describe working with us.

"WOW, that's literally all I can say about our experience with this incredibly professional, customer and quality oriented team at Allied Outdoor Solutions! We had a complete patio addition and extension in our backyard, also build and install outdoor kitchen, and leveled out the current patio to one even level with Carvestone overlay. We are beyond thrilled with the end product.” – Benita F.

"We had our pool deck and front sidewalks redone this past week using Allied Outdoor Solutions and their Carvestone overlay product, and the finished product looks incredible. Their crew was probably one of the more professional construction crews that we’ve ever utilized when doing remodel work. We couldn’t be more pleased and feel we’ve definitely added value to our home. Highly recommend these folks." – Rick H.

Ready to Bring Your Texas Outdoor Oasis to Life?

Thoughtful, customized patio and pool deck design is the backbone of an outdoor living space you’ll love for decades. 

Whether you live in Austin, DFW, Houston or San Antonio, our design-build teams have the local expertise necessary to meet your neighborhood’s specific challenges and exceed your expectations.

Love the Texas patio and pool designs you saw in this article? Are you ready to have one to call your own? Talk to us — we’re ready to make your outdoor dreams a reality.