ag pool deck

[kanane]

Hi I am planning to build a 20 x 8 deck on the side of my 15 x 30 pool. I was going to use pressure treated plywood for the decking and cover it with grey indoor outdoor carpet. The deck will will be even with the top rail of the pool not on top of it. Does any one have any pros or cons. or just some helpful advise.

[Poolidiot]

My personnel thought on this (i built a deck for mine a couple years ago) I would NOT build it even with the top of the pool, I would build below the coping, reason being it will make it ALOT easier to put your cover on

[jenpen400]

We are also thinking about installing a deck on our pool. This site has free plans and lots of pictures http://www.deckplans.com/index.html. I found this product called deck rails and they replace your existing top rails looks pretty cool. http://www.deckology.com/DeckRails.htm They sent me a sample and it looks very sturdy.
Good Luck
jennifer

[Poolidiot]

Your deckplan url is the site i used when i built my deck. In fact I even won deck of the month

[Poolidiot]

I lookded at your deck rail sit also, looks real nice but how do you put a cover on?

[Watermom]

My deck is right above and even with the top rail of my pool, but it does not sit on the rail. There is space between the rail and the decking boards for some 2x4s. The decking boards are screwed into the 2x4s. The 2x4s keep the ends of the decking boards from 'giving' when you step on the edge. We did it this way because I like the look of the deck flush with the edge of the pool and because I don't particularly like the way the top rails on an AG look. Then, when we close the pool, we can remove the 2x4s and easily put the cover on.

[Poolidiot]

WOW!!!!! you take ALL them boards off every year?!?!?

[Watermom]

No, not all of them. Just the five or six 2x4s that are laying flat along the top rail under the decking boards. If you look at the top of the picture, you can see a few of them under the decking boards. It takes a cordless drill and about 5 minutes to take the screws out and then we're done.

[JoshU]

In addition to needing room for a cover also consider these factors:

Replacing A Liner: Your top rails will need to removed so that you can change your liner.

Replacing Your Pool: Say 10 years down the line you replace your pool. If you built it to fit a 48" pool, then a 52" or 54" pool won't work with your old deck.

Josh

[CarlD]

I do not like the idea of pressure-treated as a pool deck. I know there have been some discussions about this, but pressure-treating is a process in which highly toxic chemicals are forced into the wood--arsenic, I believe.

Now you are going to expose it to a lot of water (which is OK), which will leech some of those chemicals out--and much if it will run back into your pool.

I strongly suggest you use another material (that synthetic plastic decking that looks like wood may be a good alternative) or build your deck so it's lower than the pool and run-off from the deck doesn't go into the pool. Another good alternative decking is cedar--it's naturally weather-resistant.

That's my advice--never use P/T where it's above the edge of the pool. Others will vehemently disagree with me--That's their choice.