| Part 1 of this article describes how reinforced | | | | reinforced concrete slabs that are recommended in |
| concrete slabs should be used to support paving flags | | | | Part 1 of this article. Many so-called experts will |
| around a swimming pool. These slabs carry the | | | | recommend that decking can be installed on lots of |
| paving flags across the backfilled gap between the | | | | small pad footings and softwood timber framing. Well |
| back of the pool walls and the ground around the | | | | it can be - but it is very likely to be more costly and |
| original pool excavation so that they do not subside. | | | | the likelihood of settlement is high. There is just no |
| This article is designed to help choose between | | | | point in buying very costly decking and then |
| paving flags and timber decking and describes how | | | | supporting it in a way that will allow it to settle. |
| the decking around a pool should be supported in the | | | | You may also think that this is a very costly way of |
| same way as the paving flags. | | | | supporting timber decking. In practice it is not |
| The first question that needs to be answered is | | | | because you will find that if individual support pads |
| when decking should be used in place of paving flags. | | | | are used for the decking, they are very time |
| Decking is softer aesthetically and gives the | | | | consuming to install at exactly the right level. The |
| appearance of not being a form of hard landscaping - | | | | timber framework will also need to be made in |
| which of course it is! | | | | treated softwood, and even when treated, this will |
| If the pool is to be installed in the middle of a | | | | eventually need to be replaced before the costly |
| landscaped garden, decking may be a better answer | | | | hardwood decking starts to deteriorate. |
| then paving flags. However if it is intended to have | | | | There is one fundamental difference between |
| meals on the area around the pool then fully grouted | | | | installing decking for subsequently covering with either |
| paving flags are best because food that is dropped | | | | paving slabs or decking - the top level of the |
| can be properly cleaned up so that wildlife is not | | | | concrete slabs. |
| attracted to the pool area. | | | | Hardwood decking is normally 30 or 35 mm thick and |
| Another alternative is to have paving flags just at | | | | should be screwed down onto hardwood bearers 75 |
| the Roman End where the sitting / eating area is and | | | | x 50 mm in size. These are leveled up on mortar |
| to surround the other 3 sides of the pool with | | | | pads and then fixed down by plugging and screwing |
| decking. | | | | into the underlying concrete slabs. |
| When decking is being considered, the type of | | | | This requires the supporting concrete slabs to be |
| decking should be taken into account because of the | | | | kept 120 below the top level of the adjacent coping |
| cost involved. When decking is being used around a | | | | stones if a step is to be avoided. It is also very |
| swimming pool where people will be walking with bare | | | | important to make sure that these slabs have a |
| feet DECKING THAT CAN SPLINTER MUST NOT BE | | | | surface slope away from the pool of at least 1 in 50 |
| USED. This more or less rules out cheap softwood | | | | in order to shed rainwater. The hardwood bearers |
| decking and the more expensive exotic hardwoods | | | | also need to be supported by packer plates so that |
| have to be used in most circumstances. So do not | | | | rainwater can run beneath them. |
| make the choice between paving and decking until | | | | In most circumstances properly installed decking will |
| you have confirmed the cost and availability of | | | | be more expensive than paving flags and so an |
| appropriate decking material. | | | | over-riding aesthetic consideration might be the only |
| Decking should be supported by the same type of | | | | reason why it would be installed. |