Can someone tell me what is the main purpose of building a cool deck (of any material) around pool? I don't want any more hard surfaces in my backyard! 99% of our patio is already cemented. My husband is telling me that we must have a deck to protect the pool' foundation from rain water, etc., he says that the coping alone won't sufice. Is this true? I always tought the deck was just for walking and decoration.