Avoiding Pool Deck Maintenance Hassles with NewTechWood

Challenge – Having to redo practically everything thanks to a different pool format

When Jaime and her beloved Pierre decided to buy back Pierre’s parents’ house, they took on a big, wonderful project: to put a personal stamp on the place that had seen all of Pierre’s family grow up. It also opened the door to Jaime’s worst nightmare: renovations. “When it comes to renovation, I find it difficult to visualize the whole thing. More than anything I see the different parts that do not align yet. That stresses me out, even if I am surrounded by experts”, explains Jaime.

No sooner had Jaime finished work on her former abode, than she threw herself into renovating her new one. The thirty-year-old pool really needed to be replaced; it was broken. The hiccup? Its 27-foot format was not industry standard. So Jaime had to remake the pool deck so that it would properly frame the swimming area. Since she wanted to preserve visual harmony by avoiding patchy additions in different materials, the work took on a larger than anticipated scope.

In figures:

Decision – Take the plunge and remodel it, with an eye on the long term.

The pool makeover project cast a light on other pressing needs: to change the pool surround, preserve the visual harmony of the deck, update the deck layout, enclose the pergola, fence off the swimming area, etc.

Jaime came to a decision:

• The pool must be replaced with one in an available standard size: 24 feet.
• The resurfacing of the pool deck must be done entirely in wood composite.
• The pool deck’s planking must match the pergola’s, using the same composite wood.
• The deck’s frame must be redone to hold up as long as composite would.
• The outcome would maintain its appealing appearance for a minimum of 25 years

Why choose composite wood?

The columnist already had experience with composite wood and had come to embrace it as a building material. So, the question was, why stick with composite wood: for longevity, to put a limit on the renovation work, and to avoid the “mental burden” of ongoing maintenance (we loved Jaime’s way of putting this).

Could she have seen it work with a material other than composite? Her grimace spoke louder than the pause in her reply: “The price of wood is going up. We would have had to see, but…”

Is wood expensive? Yes, it’s starting to be.

“Boards are finished on both sides, making them perfect for two-stories high decks and partition walls. NewTechWood is THE ONLY ONE that offers this.”

-Yann Gagnon, building contractor

 

The NewTechWood composite boards make up the pool surround and the flooring of the entire deck, including the pergola.

Finally, the deck had to feel comfortable in bare feet and be naturally puddle-resistant. UltraShield technology, a hallmark of NewTechWood products, makes the boards water and mildew resistant. You could even use our wood composite on a floating dock.

Wood composite won’t scorch your skin. That said, like any other material, it will surely get hot if exposed to direct sunlight during peak hours. Consider a shading solution, such as a screen, and wear light sandals if necessary. Most importantly, choose a lighter colour if your setup is likely to warm up during heat waves, no matter which material you choose. How concerned are you about keeping the temperature under control? Read on, we’ve addressed your concerns about how hot composite actually gets.

Hollow perforated boards are less hot than solid composite boards.”- Yann Gagnon, building contractor

Getting the job done

There were many twists and turns in the works. The pandemic caused delays in all aspects of the project: material supplies, availability of experts, and execution of the work.

Timeline

• The project began in the summer of 2020.
• The new pool was in place by June 2021.
• The deck was finished by Christmas 2021.
• The project was completed on 23 June 2022.

Pool deck

The pool deck consists entirely of UltraShield Naturale composite wood boards. It tightly frames the above-ground pool and even slightly overhangs it. This crisp outline has a very modern feel to it. Jaime chose the colour Roman Antique, a light shade that matches the pool’s edge.

In figures

The result? “We can’t wait to invite the family.”

A satisfied client? Yes.

• Quality product
• Ease of installation
• Working with a composite wood expert
• Durability of the material
• Minimal maintenance

The columnist also learned a lot: “I wish I could have assessed the thing so I could have made my decisions with all the information in hand before I started work.” We also learnt from Jaime… Safety rules for pool areas vary from one municipality to another. In Sherbrooke, Jaime chose to install a solid 48-inch glass panel pool fence. This material enhances the elegance of the deck. It is also a nice windbreak feature.

Next steps

If, when it comes time to replace the regular wood, Jaime and her partner want to use composite wood, they can do so. Our Australian Red Cedar boards would even let them keep within the current colour range.

For now, Jaime is focused on landscaping her backyard and decorating her deck. Composite wood boards offer a sturdy yet hollow base that allows plenty of room for creativity. The columnist is also considering her options for a pool ladder or maybe a submerged staircase. We invite you to reach out to her to share your best ideas.

NewTechWood Canada, a proud partner of Jaime Damak’s renovations. Thank you, Jaime, for choosing us. We wish you everything we created our products for – lots of time to spend on things other than renovations or deck maintenance.

Photos: Stéphanie Guertin