Building Pool Deck

[matt4x4]

Hello,
I will be building a 16x16 pool deck real soon too.
Here are some things you have to consider when building a deck beside an AG pool.
First off - do you have frost??
If you don't EVER have frost, you can go over the top rail and put a fascia board along the front edge of the deck - this gives a really nice look, hides the rail behind it and you can climb right up on the deck without any worry of denting a top rail.
However, if you experience frost, then neither of your thoughts are a good idea, mainly for the following reasons:
(here I'm talking about a deck built on deck block)
Frost is unpredictable and the expansion encountered is relative to the moisture content in the soil - meaning you can have a spot that heaves 5" right beside a sopt that heaves 1" because there is a depression collecting water beside a hump that drains it.
So, your pool structure could heave more than the deck, so if the deck overhangs the pool, the structure will crush into the underside of the deck.
If your deck heaves more than the pool structure and you went under the lip, then the deck could tear your pool structure upwards.
The best way to do it in a frost area is to go beside the top rail leaving a 1/2 to 3/4" gap between the two structures.
There are also other factors, if you use footings that go below the frost line, the deck will not move, but the pool still will, you could go below the rail (never above) this way, but if frost heaving cause the ground to shift/settle, your pool may come down lower than it was last year and start to sit on your deck.
Go here for some nice pool plans, I'm going with the 16x16 side pool deck using composite as my floor likely picture framed around the perimeter since you can arc composite esily enough and finish it off with Aluminum Railing.
http://www.deckplans.com/Plans/PlanType.asp

[MaxxFusion]

I looked at deckplans.com and going to go off of their plans some what but I am not a big fan of the deck blocks. I at going into the ground.

I guess when I say go over or under I mean the deck floor sitting above the pool or below a bit. I wasnt planning to really go underneath the actual lip of the pool. I am planning on leaving a small gap between the deck and pool so I can get my winter cover on next year.

[matt4x4]

Ok, thanks for explaining!
I would go even with the top, aesthetically, I think it would be the best. WRT the winter cover, going under may make cover installation just a slight bit easier, but I don't think it would make a big enough difference to forego aesthetics..
I'm going with the deck block since my pool is over 100 feet from the house, if the deck were to be at the house I would use footings and tie it to the house, but it will be free standing.

[mrduffin]

I did a deck for a 24' round AG pool several years ago and I ran the deck boards underneath the 4" top rail.

It looked finished because the top rail hid any problems with the radius cuts on the end of the deck boards. If you leave the deck boards long and butt them up to the rail, you can transfer the radius to the boards and after the radius is cut, you can slide the board under the top rail to get your length.

Worked good for my application.

[IMherDad]

I did a deck for a 24' round AG pool several years ago and I ran the deck boards underneath the 4" top rail.

It looked finished because the top rail hid any problems with the radius cuts on the end of the deck boards. If you leave the deck boards long and butt them up to the rail, you can transfer the radius to the boards and after the radius is cut, you can slide the board under the top rail to get your length.

Worked good for my application.

I would love to see pictures of your decking if possible.

[mrduffin]

I would love to see pictures of your decking if possible.

That was 22 years ago but I might be able to find a pic if the ms will help me out. I'll see what we can do.

I now have a 20 year old IG that needs and coping/concrete rehab. I have a post in the forum about that also.