Help-small problem turning into big headache. Pool a bit higher than deck

[Watermom]

Pictures would probably help. Use Flickr, Picasa, Photobucket, etc and then use this button to link them into this thread:

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

[Jbourne]

Hi,
Thank You! I've been working night & day, so sorry for the late reply, it's really appreciated to get some help!

I've looked into this just a bit, but came here because no one I've talked to has any ideas, not even the pool stores.

I've uploaded the pics to Photobucket.

"Ideally", I would like to somehow "protect" the rail. I know that where the "wedding cake" stairs are, that putting something there will be a challenge. So it's easier to get the kids to learn to step over there, but it's the rest of the rail as well. It would be nice to not have to worry about the kids friends or even adults who haven't been told and don't know not to step on the rail.

I've read people have built "over hangs" or something like that. In the pics you can see that the pool rail is close to the deck boards. In one of them you can see how there is a circular cut in one board which was from the old pool. This pool sits about 2-3" higher than the decking boards. I saw on here that someone posted a nice pic of their deck and then they had a piece of trim that covered the small space they had, so that would be helpful, just because it doesn't look great with the space. I also had to trim the boards back because the installer left it so the rail was sitting on the deck boards in some spots and it wasn't level...
If I could make something so even the kids could step on it that would be great! Letting them jump off of it as well. I let them jump off the deck, so they just stand in front of the rail and step back once or twice and then jump in. But their friends don't know better and I also don't want them to trip or something.


Thanks again!
Jay

[Jbourne]

Hi,
Thank you! I apologize for the late reply! I've had to work 18-20 hour days

I appreciate the help as it's hard to find good forums these days and this site is great! I did some searching and I can't find anything that is like what I'm trying to do, there's posts but no info or pics.

I had to get the pool replaced when a tree fell, so the other people that had the house put up the pool and deck. The deck was cut to fit the supports of the old pool, so that it fit tight.

But the installer I used screwed me by charging a fee to "work" with the deck for this pool, and all he did was put it close, then left it so the rail sat on the deck boards in "some spots", which was wrong because the rail wasn't sitting level. Then the caps weren't put on right, so I got new ones.
I had to trim back the deck boards and I did it as carefully as possible. It came out pretty good, but of course the boards aren't perfect, and then as you'll see there's a few that have a cut where the old rail was. I want to at least make that "edge" or area where the deck boards meet the pool look nicer, I've read people put a piece of trim along that space?
"Ideally" I want to protect the railing, my kids are being good, stepping over the rail to get in the pool, I got the "wedding cake stairs". But they do jump off the deck "always supervised", and feet first, nothing with running or whatever. But their friends come over or even adults that don't know or don't listen, I don't want the rail getting ruined or worse. I've read people do an overhang or something. It would be great if the wife could sit on it or the kids, or even just if it will keep them from hurting themselves or the rail. They stand in front of it now and then jump in sometimes.

Any ideas are very much appreciated!

Thank You!

[Watermom]

Pictures? See post #2.

[Jbourne]

Pictures? See post #2.

Thanks, sorry about that, I tried to post the URL to photobucket the last time, hopefully this works. I'm under the gun now, have the kids party coming up and the wife isn't giving me a "honey do list", the word isn't Honey!

http://s1377.photobucket.com/user/vi...arped/library/

[Watermom]

When new members post, their post goes into a moderation queue and doesn't appear until one of us reads it and mods it in. We are on and off the forum all day long and try and clear the queue multiple times each day so usually it doesn't take too long before it appears.

[PoolDoc]

Wow.

If it was me, I'd leave it alone. *LOTS* of pools are intentionally build pretty much that way.

Trying to lower the pool 2", or raise the deck that much, seems to me to be a huge amount of work with no particular benefit.

. . . . membership updated.

[Jbourne]

Ok, thanks. So originally the installer (in my humble opinion), did a hack job. The reason I say that is because he didn't trim back the boards the way they are now. He left them and put the rail on top of the deck which put it at a slight angle and it was resting on the deck boards. At first I thought "that's good", because then the deck would support the rail and if anyone stood on it.

Then after reading, researching, and talking to the pool store, it seemed like that was bad as it was tilted a bit higher on the back edge, and also there would have been no way of getting the cable for the cover back there.

I'm not worried about making it level, it's more "keeping people off". I know FOLLOW THE RULES!. But my kids are very, very good, but when they have friends over or for instance a party coming up, I'm worried about the other kids. They are always supervised, but there's only so much you can control and I'm worried about it given it's brand new, I don't want anyone getting hurt, and ideally it would be good to have some sort of step there. Also stepping over the railing to get into the pool isn't "ideal", when little kids go in, they have a big step to get in.

I've read people make something that goes over the rail or overhangs, is there anything like that which would work?

[PoolDoc]

Also stepping over the railing to get into the pool isn't "ideal", when little kids go in, they have a big step to get in.

It's not visible in the pictures, but I assume that there's no gate onto the deck area? If so, that's a genuine hazard that probably needs to be fixed.

I've read people make something that goes over the rail or overhangs, is there anything like that which would work?

Again, I'm not really sure what you're referring to, but I assume it's something NOT visible in the pictures.

[Pappy]

It wouldn't be pretty (I'n not sure a pretty way exists), but maybe you could use plastic paver or landscape edging to border the pool. That would make you have to stand completely on the pool edge or step all the way over. Also, a red stripe along the top of the rail would be a visual incentive to stay off.

Pappy