MCM for Swimming Pool Surrounds: Ando Cement Real Photos of Water-Resistant Solutions

Release time : November 06 2025

Blending durability, safety, and timeless design for your outdoor oasis

There's something inherently joyful about a well-designed pool area. It's more than just a place to swim—it's a retreat where mornings start with the sound of water, afternoons unfold with laughter, and evenings glow under string lights. But to keep that magic alive, the foundation of your pool space—the surrounds—needs to work as hard as it looks. It has to resist water, stand up to sun and rain, feel safe underfoot, and complement the natural beauty of your home. For years, homeowners and designers have grappled with materials that lack personality, fail to endure. Enter MCM (Modified Composite Material), a game-changer that's redefining pool surrounds. Today, we're exploring how Ando Cement, fair-faced concrete, and flexible stone are leading this charge—turning ordinary pool decks into extraordinary, long-lasting spaces.

The Hidden Demands of Pool Surrounds

Designing a pool surround is a balancing act. On one hand, you want it to feel inviting—warm, textured, and in harmony with your outdoor decor. On the other, it needs to be a workhorse: water-resistant enough to handle splashes and humidity, slip-resistant to prevent falls, and durable to withstand years of foot traffic, chlorine, and weather. Traditional materials often stumble here. Natural stone, while beautiful, can be porous and prone to staining from pool chemicals. Wood, though warm, requires constant sealing to avoid rot. Even standard concrete, a go-to for many, can crack under thermal expansion or become slippery when wet. That's where MCM steps in—engineered to address these pain points without sacrificing style.

Why MCM? The Case for Modified Composite Materials

MCM isn't just another building material—it's a fusion of nature-inspired aesthetics and cutting-edge engineering. Unlike traditional stone or concrete, MCM is crafted by bonding natural minerals with high-performance polymers, resulting in a product that's lightweight, flexible, and hyper-resistant to the elements. For pool surrounds, this translates to three big wins: water resistance (no more mold or mildew in porous crevices), durability (it bends, not cracks, under stress), and design freedom (it mimics the look of natural materials but with customizable textures and colors). And within the MCM family, a few stars shine especially bright for pool applications: Ando Cement, fair-faced concrete, and flexible stone.

Ando Cement: Minimalist Elegance, Maximum Performance

If pool design were a language, Ando Cement would be its most poetic dialect. Named after the iconic Japanese architect Tadao Ando—renowned for his masterful use of concrete—this MCM variant captures the raw, understated beauty of poured concrete but with a modern twist. Available in ando cement(light grey) and ando cement(dark grey) , it's a study in contrasts: bold yet subtle, industrial yet warm.

What Makes Ando Cement Perfect for Pools?

Waterproof by design: Unlike traditional concrete, which absorbs moisture and can crack over time, Ando Cement's polymer-infused core repels water. Spills, splashes, and rain simply bead up and roll off—no sealing required.
Gentle on bare feet: Its matte, slightly textured surface offers just the right amount of grip (no more slippery disasters after a swim) while still feeling smooth underfoot on hot days.
Color stability: The light and dark grey hues resist fading, even under intense sunlight. Imagine ando cement(light grey) reflecting the sky on a cloudless day, or ando cement(dark grey) mirroring the pool's blue depths at dusk—both retain their richness year after year.

One California homeowner recently shared, "We chose Ando Cement (dark grey) for our pool deck, and it's become the focal point of our backyard. The way it looks at sunset—warm lights against the cool stone—feels like something out of a luxury resort, but it's low-maintenance enough for our busy family." That's the Ando Cement promise: beauty that doesn't demand constant upkeep.

MCM vs. Traditional: How Ando Cement Stacks Up

You might be wondering: How does Ando Cement compare to fair-faced concrete —another popular choice for modern pool designs? Fair-faced concrete is celebrated for its "raw" aesthetic, with visible aggregates and subtle imperfections that feel organic. But where it falls short is in weight and fragility. Traditional fair-faced concrete slabs are heavy, making installation labor-intensive, and prone to cracking when the ground shifts (a common issue in pool areas with uneven terrain).

Material	Weight (per sq.m)	Water Resistance	Slip Resistance	Best For
Ando Cement (light grey)	8-10 kg	★★★★★	High (R11 rated)	Modern, minimalist pools
Ando Cement (dark grey)	8-10 kg	★★★★★	High (R11 rated)	Dramatic, evening-focused spaces
Fair-Faced Concrete	20-25 kg	★★★☆☆	Medium (R9 rated)	Industrial, low-budget projects
Flexible Stone	6-8 kg	★★★★☆	Very High (R12 rated)	Curved edges, rustic themes

Ando Cement solves these issues with its lightweight composition (just 8-10 kg per square meter) and flexibility. It can be installed over uneven surfaces or curved edges (think pool coping or circular seating walls) without cracking, all while retaining that coveted "unfinished" concrete look. For pool owners, this means faster installation, lower structural stress, and a deck that stays beautiful for decades.

Flexible Stone: Where Texture Meets Versatility

If Ando Cement is the minimalist poet, flexible stone is the storyteller of MCM materials. Designed to mimic the look of natural stone—think travertine's pitted surface or slate's layered texture—it adds depth and warmth to pool surrounds, turning a simple deck into a tactile experience. What sets it apart? Its flexibility. Unlike rigid stone slabs, flexible stone can bend up to 30 degrees, making it perfect for wrapping around curved pool edges, lining raised planters, or creating custom inlays that define zones (like a sunbathing area vs. a dining nook).

Imagine a pool with Ando Cement (light grey) as the main deck, bordered by flexible stone in a warm travertine finish along the edges. The contrast of smooth and textured surfaces adds visual interest, while both materials work together to keep the space slip-resistant and water-tight. It's design harmony in action.

Design Ideas: Bringing Your Pool Vision to Life

MCM's beauty lies in its adaptability. Whether you're drawn to modern minimalism, rustic charm, or coastal serenity, there's a combination of materials that fits. Here are a few ideas to spark your creativity:

Modern Zen

Pair ando cement(dark grey) with bamboo accents and minimalist planters. Add a water feature with a fair-faced concrete basin for a calm, spa-like vibe.

Rustic Retreat

Use flexible stone in a weathered travertine finish for the deck, with Ando Cement (light grey) for pathways. Add wooden lounge chairs and string lights for cozy evenings.

Coastal Cool

Combine fair-faced concrete with flexible stone in a pale limestone shade. Add blue mosaic tiles along the pool rim and driftwood decor for that beachy feel.

Why Homeowners (and Designers) Love MCM for Pools

Beyond aesthetics, MCM offers practical benefits that make it a favorite among homeowners and architects alike:

Lightweight & easy to install: No heavy machinery needed—MCM panels can be cut on-site and installed with basic tools, saving time and labor costs.
Low maintenance: Unlike natural stone, which needs regular sealing, MCM resists stains, mold, and mildew. A quick hose-down is all it takes to keep it looking fresh.
Eco-friendly: Many MCM products, including Ando Cement, are made with recycled materials and require less energy to produce than traditional concrete or stone.
Longevity: With proper care, MCM pool surrounds can last 30+ years—far longer than wood or standard concrete.

Your Pool, Reimagined

At the end of the day, a pool surround isn't just a functional space—it's a reflection of how you live, relax, and connect with the outdoors. MCM materials like Ando Cement, fair-faced concrete, and flexible stone don't just meet the practical demands of pool life; they elevate it. They turn "just a deck" into a space where memories are made—where your kids learn to cannonball, where you host summer barbecues, where you unwind after a long day.

So if you're dreaming of a pool area that's as beautiful as it is durable, look no further than MCM. With Ando Cement's timeless elegance, flexible stone's texture, and the reliability of fair-faced concrete, you're not just building a deck—you're creating an outdoor oasis that will stand the test of time.