Pool deck, build or buy/move?

[aczlan]

The wife wants a deck out next to the pool. Looking at either building a 15x20 (all pressure treated, $2500ish plus the time to build it) or buying a 13x17 deck with Trex decking and moving it (seller is asking $1000ish for the deck, a pool and various pool parts, figure $1500ish by the time all is said and done).
Anyone have an opinion? I really like the Trex decking and the thought of not needing to assemble a deck.

Aaron Z

 

[Code54]

Just make sure the curve/bend is the same as yours or it could be a real pain. You also may want to look up some of the problems with Trex and some of the other composite decking - seems a lot of people complain about them but others love them. Also check on how it is built - Mostly use 12" on center and not 16" with the composite decking.
I would think the other advantage of building one is the ability to anchor it to the ground - not sitting it on top of the ground. (as in placing the posts in concrete)

 

[aczlan]

It is on a 24' pool, ours is a 28' but the way its layed out, it shouldn't be a big deal to trim it to fit our pool.
Its currently on 4 4x4s, I plan to sink 4 4x6 posts (in concrete) and put it on those.

Aaron Z

 

[rswyan]

No experience with composite decking, but based on my experiences with PT - which doesn't seem to hold up in the long run - I'd say concrete patio and call it done ...

 

[aczlan]

Concrete patio at 4' in the air would be difficult to make work...

Aaron Z

 

[rswyan]

Concrete patio at 4' in the air would be difficult to make work...

Aaron Z

Yeah ... I was wondering if it was an in-ground or above-ground ...

If I were doing it myself for the long haul and I had the budget, I'd check into using black locust.

These guys are around 100 miles or so (?) south of you, but there are other sources as well:

Black Locust Lumber, U.S.A. - Home

 

[EddieWalker]

I would be very hesitant buying a used deck. 90 percent of every deck that I've ever seen was poorly built. Using 4x4's for the posts indicates a poor quality build to me. I only use 6x6's for my posts because they are the only post that remains fairly straight when they dry out. 4x4's and 4x6's twist too much. It is also very difficult to notch a smaller post to support your beams.

With composite decking, you need to have your joists closer together. As mentioned, 12 inch centers is needed.

Another thing that I find wrong all the time is the span of the beams and joists. They are almost always 2x6's maxed out or over extended.

When building a deck around a pool, I've found you have to increase the number of posts to have the extra beams in place to support joists that fit close to the pool so you can deck it securely.

I forget the size of this deck, but I big the materials at $1,500 and I came in a little under that when I was done. It took me five days to build it, including tearing down the previous deck that was falling apart after five years. I never use nails on a deck. Only screws and bolts.

 

[newbury]

No experience with composite decking, but based on my experiences with PT - which doesn't seem to hold up in the long run - I'd say concrete patio and call it done ...

I can't afford composite decking but about 10 years ago managed to buy enough of the decking I needed for a 12'x8' platform for about half again what the PT price was. It's lasted outside in Northern Virginia for that 10 years with no treatment and looks about like new.
However I've read since that many people have had problems with the product.

The wife wants a deck out next to the pool. Looking at either building a 15x20 (all pressure treated, $2500ish plus the time to build it) or buying a 13x17 deck with Trex decking and moving it (seller is asking $1000ish for the deck, a pool and various pool parts, figure $1500ish by the time all is said and done).
Anyone have an opinion? I really like the Trex decking and the thought of not needing to assemble a deck.

Aaron Z

Are you going to be able to move it in one piece? 2 pieces? Total tear apart?

 

[aczlan]

My plan would be one piece (after removing the rails), put it at an angle on a 18' landscape trailer

Aaron Z

 

[radioman]

i see decks for sale all the time from previous pool owners around here and they always sell it way too high. most i tried to contact to move for my pool deck they always seems to be admandant on how its to be done , not my way thats the best way . i always ask for less then half since i know it has to be modifed anyway ad the work involved to move it and they always turn me down. ok . I rather build new if for same or close of amount of money .

 

[aczlan]

There is one that is actually in your neck of the woods that I want to look at (if they will return my calls). The price is right (free) if its built right.

Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

My plan would be one piece (after removing the rails), put it at an angle on a 18' landscape trailer

Aaron Z

Wow. How heavy is it going to be and how are you going to tip it and brace it, etc...?

 

[txdon]

I would go for the Trex. That is what I have around my above ground pool. I don't have to worry about splinters or staining/painting.

 

[MossRoad]

There is one that is actually in your neck of the woods that I want to look at (if they will return my calls). The price is right (free) if its built right.

Aaron Z

We've got some squirrely neighbors that had a HUGE deck built around their 24' above ground. Its more SQ footage than their house. Anyhow, they used it about 3-4 years, and its sat for a good 5 years. This lady is nuts, and survives on alcohol and pain killers and is usually drunk by 10:00am. However, she did a really nice thing this year. She donated the deck to a veteran's group that goes around disassembling decks and using the wood to build handicap wheelchair ramps for veterans. How nice is that? :thumbsup:

 

[aczlan]

Back under, erect a triangle shaped support under one side at the "raised height", cut the posts out and let it drop to sit at an angle (one side up, one side down) and strap it in place.

When I get home, I can use the 3 point forks on the big tractor to lift one end at a time and set it on posts again.

Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

I would go for the Trex. That is what I have around my above ground pool. I don't have to worry about splinters or staining/painting.

We have pressure treated deck that I built about 18 years ago. It is starting to splinter and it does require staining and sealing every few years. So it is a maintenance item, for sure.

 

[MossRoad]

Back under, erect a triangle shaped support under one side at the "raised height", cut the posts out and let it drop to sit at an angle (one side up, one side down) and strap it in place.

When I get home, I can use the 3 point forks on the big tractor to lift one end at a time and set it on posts again.

Aaron Z

13' wide deck and there's room to back a trailer under it? I take it the posts are on the outer edges? What dimensions are the deck joists? 2x10? 2x12?

 

[aczlan]

13' wide deck and there's room to back a trailer under it? I take it the posts are on the outer edges? What dimensions are the deck joists? 2x10? 2x12?

I haven't looked at this one yet. The one I looked at the other day was a 13x17 deck and it had enough space to fit a trailer under.

Aaron Z

 

[MossRoad]

I can't remember the dimensions of ours. Its on a corner of a 24' above ground. As I recall, I built it with the intention of storing a couple rowboats under it. Anyhow, its overbuilt and not going anywhere should a bunch of people get up there for some reason. We've got a glass table that seats 6 and two side chairs. So the most that's ever on it is 8. It could probably hold several tons. I found some deck plans. Whatever size 2 X ? joists it called for, I added 2" to just to be sure. I used pressure treated lumber, carriage bolts, galvanized joist hangars and screws. No nails. The top boards around the railings cupped and started rotting after about 15 years. I replaced them with some resin-type boards last year. They look better and shouldn't cup or warp.

 

[CreekyB]

I would build the PT deck. Trex is ok but there is a lot of stuff that can be wrong with a Trex deck. You would be surprised at the number of Trex decks where people paid for the upgrade in material but used cheap fasteners or did not follow the joist spacing for it. Also Trex deck can be damaged fairly easy, and unlike an exotic hardwood deck, which actually costs less than Trex or even a pressure treated deck Trex cannot be sanded.

When we did decks for customers wanting composite we always tried to sell them on Ipe or Cumaru. Ipe and Cumaru pricing is,or was at the time often cheaper than composites. If you flash the deck structure properly you can have a substructure that will go the length of the life of the hardwood on top. 10 years down the road after some serious use you can sink the fasteners deeper on the hardwood and sand the deck to refinish. You cannot do that with Trex. A worthy consideration if there are dogs and kids, Trex gets soft in the sun and dog's nails can scratch it pretty bad.
You can also sink fasteners on a PT deck and refinish if needed. I would not recommend it on 5/4 decking but if you use 2x6 decking it can be done a few times. Provided the substructure was built to last.