Everything You Need To Know About Swimming Pool Decks
Swimming pool decking is the outer layer of material beside the swimming pool, located immediately after the water inside the pool, used for many activities and purposes to enhance the overall experience of swimming pool ownership. The benefits of this addition to your pool are huge and will immediately improve the entire look of your yard where the pool area is located in. There is an unlimited amount of pool decking designs that you’ll be able to choose from, and of course it’s possible for you to talk to a pool contractor and have a custom design concept sketched up for you to play with before making a final decision.
In general, your swimming pool deck will need to fulfill certain prerequisites for it to live up to its full potential and service you properly in the way that all decks should. The area will need to be very smooth so as to not scrape up your feet when you walk on it. Obviously a rough surface area would be a terrible thing to have on such a large area that will receive so much foot traffic from people swimming. If the design is made from wood, the type of wood shouldn’t be prone to causing splinters because so many of the swimmers who are walking on the surface will be barefoot. In addition to strolling past the walk way on the deck, most people will also like to lay out in the sun and catch a tan, so the smoothness factor applies to more than just feet. Taking continuous care of your deck is paramount to avoiding foot and other body injuries. This includes monitoring the small materials which might wind up on the deck, like small rocks and pieces of glass, which can simply be added into your standard pool cleaning regimen. It would also be very beneficial if non-slippery materials are used in the construction of the surface.
These are some of the most common factors you’ll need to take into consideration when you’re choosing the design of your above ground swimming pool deck.
The design of your pool deck can take many different shapes and sizes. Factors that contribute to the final shape and size of your pool are the shape of your yard and the amount of space available, as well as what the intentions of your deck and what sorts of activities the deck is going to be used for. For instance, would you like for it to be constructed with enough room to seat many chairs and tables for you to relax on those hot summer days? Or perhaps you want to leave a large area in the distance to fill with a picnic table and a grill in case you’d like to barbecue with your friends and family. Another popular concern to consider is whether or not you’re a sun person who can handle heat or if you’d prefer to have a shaded area in tact. If you’re the former, you should be fine without a designated area as the sun will heat up any place without cover. But if you’re the former who prefers a cool, shaded area to relax in on hot days, you’ll need to leave enough room for an area to be constructed that gives off shade instead of heat. It is very important to keep in mind the future pool accessories that will be stored in and around the pool when deciding how large the decking will be. Neglecting this issue might result in a much cluttered pool landscape in your yard if you should happen to purchase more pool furniture than you’re able to store properly.
When it comes to adding special objects into the area to make it more luxurious, lights in the area are a very popular addition. After all, swimming in your pool during the night is a very relaxing activity, and being able to see where you’re walking in the dark will result in less injuries.
Adding plant life into the back yard is another popular idea as it gives off a much more natural feel than a pool deck would be without bushes and shrubs. For the most part, adding plants and such around inground pools are generally considered to be a safe addition, but you must be careful when choosing specific types of bushes. Certain ones will have long stretching roots that may run into and damage your pool, a definite serious problem that should be avoided at all costs. Make sure to look for plants that have roots which grown downward in order to be safe. As a safe rule of thumb, keep all bushes and shrubs at LEAST 6-ft away from your pool.
When the construction begins for your swimming pool deck they will need to make sure the area is compacted properly before work can begin. Ensuring the ground you’re about to build your deck on is sturdy enough to support everything without incident is something every landscaper should do. If your contractor begins building before testing the soil for sturdiness then swimming pool deck repair will be something you’ll have to deal with a lot sooner than you thought.
When it comes to the actual choosing of the materials, there are many different types for you to evaluate and tinker with. If you’re on a budget and are in need of the least expensive material, concrete swimming pool decks are definitely the cheapest. Concrete is an incredibly cost effective material for this type of job and can still deliver great results for a bargain of a price.
If you’re alright when spending a little more money on your design than you might be interested in mixing colors into the designs. Your mortar mix can actually be blended into different colors and designs to create a beautiful, vibrant pattern on the deck itself. One of the most popular blends for this type of job is peach color and beige; when mixed together they exude a very slick and flowing design, making your back yard look incredibly elegant.
As well as different colored blends, your contractors can create patterns with geometric designs to suit your needs. Squares are one of the more popular shapes, but different ones can be substituted. Despite it being very pretty and cost effect, there are some warnings people should heed before choosing concrete over another, more expensive material. One such danger is that over time concrete will crack and there will be signs of visible damage in the pool deck surrounding your swimming area. This is a very natural occurrence and the process takes years for it to show, but you should definitely be aware of this before making a purchase. Concrete also becomes incredibly hot during the summer when the sun is beating down on the stone, so be sure to choose a different material if this will be a probably. A very beautiful substitute for concrete that doesn’t retain much heat from the sun is blue stone.
Above ground swimming pool decks are a very beautiful addition to the back yard or wherever your pool is located at. They are very customizable which a great thing is as it lowers the chances that you are unhappy with your final product.
- None Found