How to Build a Deck over Your Unsightly Pool

Preparation

• Before you begin, assess the swimming pool for safety. Ensure the walls and bottom of the pool are not damaged, as any weakness could cause it to collapse. Repair damaged or cracked walls before you cover the pool with decking. Because you do not want mosquitoes to breed in any water that remains in the swimming pool, make alterations to the pump system so it is used as the sump pump that removes pool water.

Joist Installation

• You will need to run joists across your pool to support the decking. It is easier to run the joists across the shorter sides of the pool as opposed to the longer sides. Determine the length and width of your deck. Make sure to measure several feet past the edge of the pool, preferably onto the patio or deck around it, to avoid the danger of the edges crumbling due to their weight. Cut joists for every 16 inches along the length of the pool.

Decking Frame Installation

• Lay a 2-by-8-inch piece of lumber, that matches the length of the pool, on the pool’s deck or patio to form the outer frame. Although you may not get a single piece of lumber to span the entire length of the pool, the fewer the pieces, the better. Add a double joist across the swimming pool wherever there is a joint. Attach the joist to the frame at every 16 inches using joist hanger brackets. At every third joist, stand 2-by-8-inch legs in the center of the pool from the base of the pool until they are even with the joist top. Secure these legs to the joists with screws. These distribute the weight and prevent sagging. For composite decking or pools wider than 8 feet, space two rows of legs from the pool’s center.

Decking Installation

• Place the decking across a corner of the pool, and attach it to the joist with three screws. Use the rows that you install as a platform to access the middle and then the other side of the pool, until it is completely covered. Space the decking rows 1/8 inches apart. Whenever possible, use full-length lumber, leaving the overhang until you complete the decking. Ensure the ends of the boards meet as close to the joist center as possible for added strength. Cut the overhangs with a circular saw.