How to Build a Solid Deck Over an Unused Pool

Drain the water from the pool. Allow the pool to dry out to prevent moisture issues.

Determine how high you want to make the deck and add half this distance to the height. If you want the deck 4 feet off the ground, for instance, add 2 feet for a total length of 6 feet. Cut four 6-by-6 posts to this length.

Dig a hole with a post digger at each corner around the unused pool to the same depth as the extra length you added to the posts, such as 2 feet for a 4-foot deck. Measure between the holes you dug. If the holes on the long sides of the pool sit further than 10 feet apart, dig another hole between them and cut two additional posts to size.

Place the posts that you cut into the holes. Mix up cement and fill the holes around the posts to ground level. Let the cement set up for the time recommended by the manufacturer.

Measure the distances between the posts that you placed. Cut boards down to these lengths and attach the boards between each set of posts at the tops of the posts to create a top perimeter. Nail the boards to the posts with 4-inch nails.

Measure down one side of the perimeter you created. Mark the side every 12 inches, and repeat the process on the opposite side to create marks across from each other.

Measure between the two opposite sides that you marked and cut a 2-by-6 board to this length for every set of marks you made. Place the 2-by-6 boards between the boards so they line up with the marks and nail them into place with at least two nails through the end of each board.

Measure the distance between the two side boards in the opposite direction across the deck’s top perimeter and cut boards down to this size. Place the boards directly next to each other so they lay perpendicular to the boards that you just put into place and secure the top boards with the boards below with nails.

Cover all nail heads with rubber cement. Waterproof all deck boards with waterproof sealer.