ABOVE GROUND POOL DECK MAKEOVER

2 Materials
$50
2 Hours
Easy
*Thanks to Thompson’s WaterSeal for partnering with me on this above ground pool deck makeover*

So I had a mission: create a space that was easy to maintain, family friendly, yet could withstand all the rain & sun & pool water we could throw at it. Because what’s the point of an above ground pool deck if you can’t get it wet?
This is where we started. I’d love to be able to tell you exactly how we built what, however my job was to cut the wood and screw it down where I was told. My husband did the hard parts… like figuring it all out. At the end of weeks of building, I had a big, blank slate to work with. So this is where we begin.
My husband and I invested so much time, money and effort into building our dream deck, so we want to make sure it lasts as long as possible by waterproofing and protecting the wood from sunlight and mildew. Thompson's Water Seal WaterProofer plus Tinted Wood Stain available in clear, tinted, semi-transparent, and solid opacity in four colors: Natural Cedar, Desert Brown, Nutmeg Brown and Rustic Red (all available at Walmart). 


We chose the Tinted opacity in Desert Brown color because it  was just enough color to look natural, yet even out all of the inconsistencies of the  wood.
I have quite a few more tips to helping you get the best finish possible when sealing your deck, head over to my blog to grab those.
Once we were all finished with staining, then it was time to do the decorating! 


Usually I stick to a pallet of blue, gray, black & white. However the pool we wanted came with a tan top plate. So I embraced it and added in some tans. It worked perfectly with the floors!
I created a little seating area with a pergola so we could get a little shade from the hot summer sun. This is the perfect way to bring the indoors out, which is a super popular trend in home décor this year. We love the feeling of having a living room outside! 
Adding in a few plants and accessories made it cozy like our own little hidden oasis.
 
And using Thompson's Water Seal Fabric Seal Waterproofing Spray will help to protect the upholstery on our outdoor sofa and umbrella against water damage and color fading to make them last longer, too.


We now have a slice of paradise in our own backyard!



Suggested materials:
  • Thompson's Water Seal Water Proofer plus tinted wood stain   (Walmart)
  • Thompson's Water Seal Fabric Seal Waterproofing Spray   (Walmart)
Gina @ The Shabby Creek Cottage
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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  3 questions
  • Gaby Gaby on Sep 15, 2017

    Which part of this beautiful deck project was $50. ?

  • Julie Julie on Sep 16, 2017

    I use that too on my deck every year... But this year I was thinking that it could use a little sanding to bring back the natural color of the wood... Do you recommend a light sanding ? or should I bring out the big sander.? Or no sanding at all....?????

  • Wolf Wolf on Sep 16, 2017

    How many layers of waterseal did you put down?


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2 of 13 comments
  • Debbye Hicks Debbye Hicks on Sep 15, 2017

    Please tell us how you built your pergola. I want my husband to build on of these that does not attach to our house, but on our deck. I'm handicapped and not able to get out in the sun too often, but to get some fresh air would be amazing. Everything that you tackled in this piece is phenomenal!.

  • Ter11837984 Ter11837984 on Sep 16, 2017

    I love the deck and pergola. But the Thompsons just doesn't last more than 1 year. I got tired of always putting Thompson' on so we replaced the deck and rails with the vinyl covered decking and rails. Now we will not have to worry about treating the deck (hopefully)ever. You did a nice job.  Its an over the top deck and pergola.

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