You’ve finally purchased that pool so you and your family can wile away the summer in its soothing waters. The problem is that an above ground pool can make it difficult for children to climb out of the water and down to the ground some feet below. This can be a dangerous, slippery venture. It would be in your best interest to construct an above ground pool deck to ensure that your children can lift themselves out of the water without the risk of falling to the ground.
You may have already considered deck. Perhaps you’ve seen a picture in a home and garden magazine of a happy family frolicking in a pool surrounded by a beautiful deck and thought to yourself that you would never be able to construct something as beautiful. Such a deck design isn’t as complicated as you may think, especially if you have the right tools. Many homeowners have built their own pool decks with great success. All they had to do was find and follow an established plan or use deck design software to create their own plan. If you are willing to tackle building your deck from design to construction, you should consider the following things.
What do you need? Do you want space around the pool for deck chairs? Do you require a walk up to your pool or are you extending an already existing deck? Do you have space considerations that will define the shape of the deck?
When you design your deck, you need to check the weight tolerances of the material you are using to ensure that you build a frame that provides the support needed. You can find the correct joist placement by checking deck-building codes at your local lumberyard. In considering your frame, you must decide whether you will bore and fill cement footings for your frame. This procedure is usually too complicated and time consuming for the average weekend builder, so to meet current building codes, you should consider a floating frame with prefab cement. This will provide the proper support without you needing to rent an auger.
Another consideration is the deck’s exposure to the sun and water. Some builders buy ordinary wood, and then stain and seal it. This does work for a time, but it requires frequent reapplication. Your best bet is to find and purchase pressure treated lumber. You will still have to stain and seal it, but it will last much longer. It is also recommended that you add some sort of deck grit around the edge of the pool to prevent wet feet from slipping. This grit can be purchased in paint form from any paint outlet or in adhesive strips that you stick to the deck itself.
Remember you should always consult building manuals to be sure that you are following established safety specifications when constructing your deck. If you take due care and attention when you build your pool deck, you will be able to give your family years of safe, outside fun.