Pool decks maximize the comfort and enjoyment of your swimming pool. Not only will a swimming pool deck provide a place to relax and enjoy poolside, but a pool deck enhances the safety and ease of pool use.

Pool Deck Plans
A detailed set of pool deck building plans is essential before construction begins when building a pool deck.

Local home centers carry books with a variety of pool deck plans. Online sources are also excellent ways to locate a good pool deck plan set. Often, free pool deck plans can be found on pool associated websites as well.

Some free pool deck plans are quite comprehensive and offer well-thought out advice for building a pool deck, but others are less reliable, more of marketing tool for show. Regardless of the source of your swimming pool deck building plans, read the set thoroughly (or pass them by a knowledgeable contractor); look to see that a few key elements have been included and planned for, such as:

Pool deck drains

Pool deck drains are very important, especially on hard pool deck
Surfaces where accumulated water has nowhere to go. Look to see that pool deck drains (as well as supporting drainage) have been included in the design.

For those building a wooden pool deck, plans may not include an inlaid pool deck drain.. Often drainage is achieved on wooden pool deck surfaces through the spacing of floor boards instead.

Deck pool fence

Fencing should be an element included in any good set of deck building plans. Pool areas, whether surrounding inground or above ground pools, require this added safety precaution. Most local ordinances require fencing around all inground pools. Above ground pool decks require fencing as a fall precaution, but also to provide a way to gate and lock the pool deck now that the pool can be easily accessed by any small child from the ground.

Deck building materials

Though not necessarily a defined component within pool deck plans, appropriate deck building materials should be researched prior to purchase and construction. Material options range from traditional wood, brick, and tile, to more modern options designed particularly for pool decks. A number of new materials are targeted at keeping deck areas cool.. Deck pool surfaces are places where hot, wet feet will frequent in direct sun.. Taking time to plan a deck with solar heat minimizing materials will ensure that a costly, uncomfortable mistake isn’t made.

Building a swimming pool deck is a large project, but will greatly increase the comfort and enjoyment of any pool area. By taking the time to research every detail, such as deck plans, contractors, materials, and features, you guarantee yourself the new pool deck you imagined, complete with everything a new pool deck needs.