What are good deck materials?

To keep up your property values, you want rich decking that goes with the theme and design of the pool. Avoid smooth or shiny—it’s dangerous when wet. Dark colors get hot when you’re trying to walk with bare feet. If you think you might ever want one of those bolt-on elephant-type safety covers, be careful. Some decks, like pavers set in sand, are really difficult or impossible to use with the bolts. Normally, safety covers require a minimum of three feet of solid concrete all around 90% of the pool. Best bet: get the pool builder to quote the safety cover at the same time. You don’t have to buy it then, but quoting it will force the builder to deal with making the pool design work with the cover’s requirements.