PLEASE, FOR THE SAFETY OF YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES, NEVER USE TECHO-BLOC PRODUCTS! I would like to…read morepreface this with the statement that I have never written an online review before, but I felt it necessary to do so to warn other people from making the same mistake we made.
After a long, tedious, and frustrating 2-year long process, we recently had an in-ground pool installed in our backyard. We were originally going to go with stamped concrete around the pool, but fell in love with Techo-Bloc Borealis pavers. They were advertised as suitable for pool decking, so, even though they came at a premium price, it seemed like a no-brainer. When the pavers were installed, they looked absolutely gorgeous, we were very happy with them. HOWEVER, the first time we used the pool, we noticed two things: one, the pavers got extremely hot and burned your feet, and two, THEY WERE EXTREMELY SLIPPERY WHEN WET. Now, we could have forgiven the hot pavers, but the slippery surface is a huge safety issue, and non-negotiable around a pool.
The pavers do not absorb water so in addition to the pavers themselves being slippery, the layer of water on top makes the perfect conditions for someone to hydroplane.
We contacted Techo-Block, only to be sent numbers from scientific testing that shows that the pavers meet ADA standards for pool decking. That is great, but the swinging pendulum with a skin like surface that they described that is used in testing is not real life.
We have kids, and we had some of their friends over to go in the pool. Unfortunately, just as suspected, MULTIPLE CHILDREN SLIPPED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. They weren't even being rowdy. One child was literally standing, got startled by something and his feet slipped out from under him and he fell backwards! Thankfully no one was hurt...this time. However, as a mom, and as a moral human being, I was beyond upset.
After this incident, we finally got someone at Techo-Block to grudgingly come look at the patio. They just spouted the same information about the ADA testing, they felt the pavers and said they had some kind of protective surface on them. They refused to even let us demonstrate what happens when the pavers are wet. (Maybe because then they couldn't hide behind their "study"). We asked the Techo-Bloc replaced the pavers with non-slippery pavers. They refused. They left, restating the standard response that there is nothing that Techo-Bloc would do. They said these pavers have been out for three years, and they have never had a complaint. I asked how many people have installed them as pool decking? They could not answer and would not provide any information regarding the matter.
I cannot, in good conscience keep these pavers in my backyard around a pool, and I cannot fathom how a company can take an issue such as this so lightly. I would think that Techo-Bloc wouldn't want to advertise a product that is dangerous. I would also think that replacing slippery pavers would also be nothing for a successful company to do when its product has proven to be dangerous in reality, despite what it says on paper. I will NEVER buy a Teco-Bloc product EVER again, and I urge you to do the same.
Even though not all of their products may have this issue, the fact that they are willing to advertise pavers as pool decking based on a scientific study technicality instead of real life issues, and put their customers and others in danger speaks volumes for the type of company they are, and it is not moral or ethical. How many people will have to get hurt in order for Techo-Bloc to pay attention? In my opinion, one person is one too many. Please keep yourself, your loved ones, and others safe and NEVER BUY TECHO-BLOC!
***UPDATE*** After another continuous month of slips and falls and failed attempts to deal with techo-bloc and being ignored, we received a response from the company stating the same facts about their scientific study. Their response to our concerns regarding people slipping and falling is that "they hope there are no more falls at our residence". It is extremely disheartening that these big businesses can get away with taking advantage of people and providing a subpar quality product without the decency to even attempt to make things right. Unfortunately this is the world we live in, but if this review can prevent at least one person from buying techo-bloc and saving them the stress and financial issues that we are going through, then it's better than nothing. I reiterate, please keep yourself, your loved ones, and others safe and NEVER BUY TECHO-BLOC!