AGP Decking - Tips on Planners and Materials Lists

[HeidiP]

Hi there! I have a 12x24 AGP that I've had for 7 seasons. 8th season will start up in June (Canada!) and build season starts April/May.

I'm looking to build and trying to keep costs down by planning myself.

PLAN: Multi-level deck with small platform/mostly half height, to maximize privacy but get better view of pool.

If you have a good tool that was free (software or online planner) please drop your links here.

BONUS- if you've installed your deck for easy removal in case of pool maintenance - what did you do differently to make that happen? Cheers!!

 

[Mdragger88]

I don’t have a planner tool for you cuz we just kinda winged it but about the edge of the deck/pool …
I assume you use some sort of cover for the winter? If so you will need to still be able to get that between the deck & pool. We left a small gap to accommodate this. Are you planning on having a deck all the way around the pool? Ours only goes 1/2 way around so I am able to easily secure the cable/winch on the side that has no deck. The rest of the way I just slide it through the crack between the deck & pool.
Also, if you need to change the liner in the future & you don’t currently have a unibead liner you will need to be able to remove the top rails. For most this means making the top of the deck the same or lower than the top of the top rails.
We have an overlap liner so we went with slightly below the top rails while also maintaining a little gap for the cover & cable to slip into.
Removing the top rails also generally involves needing to access some screws from underneath to remove the post caps. How close will your deck be to the ground?
if you have a beaded liner (your liner sits in a bead receiver track) then you’re free to put your deck boards above your top rails. You would still want some gap to allow for settling & to get your cover/cable between the two.
If your deck goes all the way around you can also do like those with in ground pools do and use water bags to secure your cover. There’s one member here who uses a mesh winter cover & secures it directly to her wood deck.
Here’s some threads to get you going

Google search results

www.troublefreepool.com