Do you find yourself thinking that old pool in your backyard just ain’t what it used to be? Many homeowners find themselves wondering what their options are to retire their aging or unused pool. We asked Rosie Certified Partner, Jeff Getz of Freedom Decks from Retire My Pool (formerly Deckover), this same question. Jeff has developed a system to retire the Pool and regain usable space in your backyard. Through trial and error, Jeff has developed a deck system that will make an excellent option for homeowners who don’t want to deal with that backyard pool anymore.
Why Retire My Pool?
Jeff tells us that there are many reasons why folks want to retire their Pool. The most common reasons are:
- Nobody uses the pool anymore | When the kids were young, the pool was a hub of activity, but now that they have grown, backyard pool parties are a memory.
- Upkeep | Keeping the Pool, fence, and surrounding areas clean and maintained can be time-consuming.
- Expense | Electricity to run the pool motor and chemicals to condition the water can run hundreds of dollars a month.
- Repairs | When equipment breaks, replacement parts can be expensive if you can get them.
Environmental concerns are becoming a popular reason for retiring a pool. Folks are concerned about several issues:
- Water consumption | Most of us live in a desert environment in our state. Water is known to be a precious resource that is limited in supply. The desire to use less water is becoming a popular reason to rid the yard of a pool.
- Chemicals | Some chemicals used to maintain the pool water clarity are less friendly to the environment than some folks would like. By retiring the pool, the contributions of these chemicals to the environment are diminished.
- Power usage | Pools consume electricity. By retiring the pool, there is a dollar savings and less strain on the power generation system.
The Deck Option
Retire MY Pool’s solution to unwanted pools is building a deck over the pool. Typically, the deck is constructed to fill the water space and be flush or continuous with the surrounding pool deck. This solution offers several advantages for reusing the pool space.
- All the parts and pieces associated with the pool, except the water, do not have to be removed; they are simply disconnected. This technique saves money.
- If there are unique features associated with the pool, such as rock outcroppings, spas, and alcoves, they can be incorporated into the deck design and continue to enhance your outdoor living space.
- The deck extends the outdoor living space in your yard.
- There are other features that can be incorporated with the new deck.
Other amenities can include:
- Below deck lighting | LED lighting below the deck can create some beautiful effects to enhance the ambiance of your outdoor living space. Various colors and intensities can be employed to that end.
- Sound systems | The space below the deck is a convenient place to add a sound system to enhance the backyard setting.
- Fans | The air below the deck in the old pool space is naturally cooler. Using fans to transfer this cooler air to the seating area makes sense. Also, the breeze can help some with insect control.
Construction
Being the Cajun carpenter he is, Romey was interested in how the deck is built, after all, how many square pools have we seen?
Constructing the deck faces several challenges, as Romey suspected. Pool walls are never square, and pool floors are never level and gently sloped for drainage.
Jeff acknowledges the difficulty. Building inside of a pool requires an innovative approach. Standard framing methods just don’t cut it. Essentially, you are building inside a circle. Jeff has several patents for his framing techniques, which he refers to fondly as works of art. All the framing systems used have been engineered and can be applied to the many variations of pool shapes. There are several choices for the framing material of the deck system:
- Wood | Lumber is the most common and economical material in the below deck frame.
- Metal | Two types of metal can be used: cold-rolled and galvanized steel. A metal frame will outlast wood, probably by several centuries. Steel studs are standard in commercial interior framing applications. Jeff mentioned there have been several changes in the availability of this material over the last few years. Not surprisingly, this shortage has caused the pricing to go up. A ballpark estimate puts the cost at about 50% higher for steel over wood materials.
- Decking | The deck itself is made of a composite material. Composites withstand the rigors of sun and bad weather. It also requires far less maintenance, which solves one of the reasons why we closed the Pool to start with!
By turning your pool into an extension of living space and forming a custom fit deck to sit inside the pool area, Retire My Pool allows a home to maintain the value a pool holds. Visually appealing and functional, we love this “see you later” option for Arizona pools!
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CONTENT PARTNER | FREEDOM DECKS by RETIRE MY POOL
Pools that sit unused are a drain on your finances. Maintenance, electricity, water, and chemicals are all ongoing costs that offer little to no return. By converting your pool into a deck, you eliminate these costs and gain valuable outdoor living space. Contact Freedom Decks today for a free estimate and start reclaiming your backyard!
PODCAST
Your in-ground pool not getting used enough anymore? Put a Freedom Deck over it! Jeff Getz of Freedom Decks can install a sturdy deck over an empty pool. Turning it into a functional space for just about anything. Save on water, electricity and regular maintenance. He discusses the construction process that exceeds building codes for a smooth even finish that turns pools into property space.
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PHOTO CREDIT
- Freedom Decks by Retire My Pool
- IStock
