Deck Edge...

:confused: With our new pool installation we had to meet up to an existing deck. Unfortunately, we weren't able to go under the top rails OR over them... The deck met the pool level to the edge but about an 1.5" away (to accomodate the winter cover) I'm not impressed with the look of it. Any ideas on how to finish the edge (like a fascia) that would look nicer than just cut off deck boards?? I'm looking for a more professional looking edge but don't really want it routered. Any ideas on finishing that edge??

I'm curious why you don't want the edge routered. That would probably be the cheapest and least obtrusive method (no raised edge to stub a toe on) if you use a round-over bit.

Peter

Well..I guess that the edge looks fairly far away from the top rail as it is and my thought was that routering might make it look even worse. I would like to narrow the gap a bit by maybe adding a touch like a board nailed perpendicular to the ends. I'm not sure if they make a finish piece shaped sort of like an angle that can be nailed down. I'm just not sure what to do. The guy who finished it angled the boards around the upright top piece and it just looks bad to me.

My thoughts on this are the following: (I hope you can get under the deck or else nothing much will work)
Where the last deckboard is, screw a 2x2 or 2x4(on end) under the last deck board, flush with the front face/edge.
Crawl under the deck and from behind, fasten deck board (5/4" x6") flush with the top of the last deck board - essentially you will drive screws through the 2x2 or 2x4 you just finished mounting into the backside of the decking you're putting on as a fascia board - use appropriately sized screws so tehy do not come through the wood.
The end result should look pretty good and leave you a 1/4" gap which is perfect.
I have placed a cross sectional diagram below:

I see. I think it would be hard to nail into the sides of the deck boards if they are level with the pool so you might have to use small blocks that you first fasten to the finish piece then fasten the block to the deck underneath when the finish piece is in place. You also would probably have to remove these pieces every year to put the winter cover on and re-install them every spring.

One thought - they sell white rubber material for the sides of garage doors to cover the gap between the door and the wall to keep rain snow out etc. I wonder if this would be wide enough (and look good enough) to bridge your gap. Since it's rubber, you could probably still get your cover on and off with them in place. It might be worth a look next time you're at a hardware store.

Peter

Peter, this is why I stated to drive the screws from behind from under the deck through the 2x2 or 2x4 (essentially the block) , nothing will go into the fascia board from the front because of the pool.
Building the block and fascia before installing won't work since it will be too thick to fit through the 1.5" opening - you could however, slide it in place from underneath, hold it up from underneath while someone else drives screws through the last flat deckboard into the block to hold it all.
Yes, to put a winter cover on the pool, the whole rig would have to be removed, however, if there are little or no trees around, I would not bother with a winter cover since it's more work and aggravation and can damage your pool if done wrong in comparison to throwing the cleaner in come spring time.

Hi Matt,

Since our posts came out close to the same time, I was responding to csevel's post and didn't see yours.

I was thinking of exactly what you were describing only I was installing it the opposite way - attaching to the fascia first then to the deck.

Sorry for the confusion.

Peter

oops, i thought the "see" was wrt the pic i posted....
Great minds think alike!

Thanks guys for replying... I'll give this some more thought but I like your suggestions.:)

Had the same problem. Took a piece of decking cut each side at a 45 angle rounded the edge and put on top of my deck following the pool edge.
http://img397.imageshack.us/img397/5866/deck4le.jpg
Final look
http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/1415/img32826ut.jpg

That looks great! I might have to try something like that.

Cheers!

My first pool deck (my first deck I have ever built) and had the winter cover delimma. Didnt quite get my center line on decking aligned to the upright cap but I dont think it turned out too bad for some one who hadent built any thing in a few years. Gonna do a 12x18 deck on the back of the house in the next few months. I got a air framing nailer and it was the best tool for that job and a 12x16 shed I built. Post a pic when you get done.
Thanks
Steve