3 Important Considerations for Pool Decking

In the Pacific Northwest, surrounding an above-ground swimming pool with decking is a popular way to create a built-in pool without digging up your backyard. When building a pool into a deck, it’s important to put in extra planning on the front end to avoid making costly mistakes that can leave you with an unsafe deck.

While cedar decking remains one of the most popular Portland decking materials, it isn’t an ideal choice for pool decks for several reasons. Here’s a look at the top three considerations to keep in mind when choosing the best Portland decking materials for your pool deck:

1. Slip resistance.

Some decking materials become extremely slippery when wet. Composite and cedar decking, for example, are both prone to mildew growth, which can cause the surface to become slick. The last thing you need is for guests to climb out of the pool and have their wet feet slide out from under them. Consider choosing a composite or PVC decking material with an embossed wood grain or other surface that provides extra traction.

2. Water resi

In the Pacific Northwest, surrounding an above-ground swimming pool with decking is a popular way to create a built-in pool without digging up your backyard. When building a pool into a deck, it’s important to put in extra planning on the front end to avoid making costly mistakes that can leave you with an unsafe deck.

While cedar decking remains one of the most popular Portland decking materials, it isn’t an ideal choice for pool decks for several reasons. Here’s a look at the top three considerations to keep in mind when choosing the best Portland decking materials for your pool deck:

1. Slip resistance.

Some decking materials become extremely slippery when wet. Composite and cedar decking, for example, are both prone to mildew growth, which can cause the surface to become slick. The last thing you need is for guests to climb out of the pool and have their wet feet slide out from under them. Consider choosing a composite or PVC decking material with an embossed wood grain or other surface that provides extra traction.

2. Water resistance.

A pool deck will be exposed to lots of extra moisture, which can cause warping and accelerate rot in cedar decking. A synthetic material such as PVC decking provides the best protection against water damage, as it’s impervious to moisture and won’t rot or warp.

3. Heat.

On hot summer days, the nails or screws used to fasten your deck boards can heat up and become painful when stepped on. When installing composite or PVC decking, use hidden deck fasteners, such as deck clips, to eliminate exposed hardware and create a more comfortable surface for bare feet.

By carefully choosing your Portland decking materials, you can build a pool deck that’s safe and comfortable for everyone.

stance.

A pool deck will be exposed to lots of extra moisture, which can cause warping and accelerate rot in cedar decking. A synthetic material such as PVC decking provides the best protection against water damage, as it’s impervious to moisture and won’t rot or warp.

3. Heat.

On hot summer days, the nails or screws used to fasten your deck boards can heat up and become painful when stepped on. When installing composite or PVC decking, use hidden deck fasteners, such as deck clips, to eliminate exposed hardware and create a more comfortable surface for bare feet.

By carefully choosing your Portland decking materials, you can build a pool deck that’s safe and comfortable for everyone.