The Ultimate Guide to Raised Pool Decking Using Adjustable Pedestals

Traditionally, contractors solved height and slope problems with heavy gravel subbases, concrete steps, or timber structures. However, over the past few years, raised deck terraces around pools built on adjustable pedestal systems have quickly become the preferred method for homeowners, contractors, and landscape architects alike.

This guide explains how a raised deck terrace on pedestals works, why it outperforms traditional installation methods around pools, and how to plan a successful project from start to finish.

A poolside terrace does far more than just look good in the backyard. It serves as the main transition zone between the living space and the water, which means it has to meet several demanding conditions:

• Safety and walking comfort: Uneven pavers or sudden level changes pose a tripping risk, especially around water where people walk barefoot. A perfectly level terrace eliminates trip points and makes entering and exiting the pool effortless.
• Drainage and water management: Water splashes from the pool, rain falls, and standing water around a pool terrace creates slippery surfaces and causes water damage over time. Raised deck terraces allow water to flow directly through the open joints between pavers or boards, keeping the walking surface dry and safe.
• Aesthetics: A seamless transition where the indoor floor level matches the outdoor terrace level and runs uninterrupted to the pool edge creates a high-end, architectural finish that elevates the entire backyard.
• Durability: Terrace materials around pools are constantly exposed to chlorine, saltwater, intense UV radiation, and moisture. Raising the surface above the wet substrate prevents long-term rot, efflorescence, and cracking caused by freeze-thaw cycles.

The ground around pools is intentionally sloped to drain water away from the house and the pool basin. If you lay pavers directly on a sloped surface, your terrace will also be sloped. Pedestals allow you to create a completely flat, perfectly leveled top surface, while the substrate below remains sloped and drains water underneath.

When terrace pavers are laid on mortar or on a traditional concrete base, ground movement and freeze-thaw cycles eventually cause cracking, shifting, and joint damage. Because terrace pedestal systems are laid "dry", meaning no mortar or grout is used, the terrace surface can naturally expand, contract, and flex without damaging the tiles or the substructure.

Pools require an extensive network of hydraulic lines, electrical conduits, drainage, and lighting wiring. With a traditional concrete slab or masonry terrace, repairing a pipe leak means breaking it up with a jackhammer. With a terrace on pedestals, you simply lift the paver directly above the problem, carry out the maintenance, and put the paver back in place.

Before purchasing materials or excavating the ground, it is important to remember these basic planning principles:

Spacer connectors on the tops of pedestals typically create a 3 mm to 4 mm (approximately 1/8") gap between pavers. This gap is crucial — it allows water to drain immediately beneath the terrace. Additionally, since the perimeter pavers are not set on mortar, solid vertical perimeter walls or specialized edge restraint clips are needed to securely hold the outer row of pavers in place.

Installing a raised deck terrace on pedestals is faster and cleaner than traditional concrete work, but it requires precision when setting out the layout and preparing the substrate.

1. Prepare the substrate: The base under the pedestals must be structurally stable and properly graded with a slope. A stable concrete slab or a well-compacted bed of crushed aggregate works best.
2. Determine the target height: Use a laser level to establish the target height of the finished surface, ensuring it aligns with the pool edge or adjacent thresholds.
3. Set out the grid and the first row: Begin positioning the pedestals according to the dimensions of the paver. First set the corner and edge pedestals, using slope correction if needed so that the heads sit completely flat.
4. Lay the terrace surface: Place the pavers or joists directly on the pedestal heads. Continuously check the level with a straightedge or spirit level, turning the pedestal column up or down to achieve a perfectly flat finish.
5. Lock the perimeter: Finish the installation by securing the edge pavers with up to wall clips or side finishing closure plates so that nothing shifts laterally over time.

See also: Clever Level 80-200 mm pedestal, 3 mm for tiles & decking

Here are three common challenges in a home garden where pedestal systems save time, money, and hassle:

• The dilemma of a flush level with the pool edge: You want the terrace pavers to sit perfectly flush with the pool edge, but the concrete slab is set 4 inches too low. Instead of pouring a thin, crack-prone layer of concrete to raise the level, adjustable pedestals lift the pavers to seamlessly match the edge within a few hours.
• Hiding ugly installations: Skimmer baskets, inspection hatches, and junction boxes often spoil the clean lines of a terrace around a pool. With pedestals, you can lay pavers over these installation points and fit low-profile hatch covers or lift-up tiles, hiding pipes without losing access.
• Connecting old terraces with new pools: If you are adding a pool next to an existing concrete terrace, the levels rarely match perfectly. Pedestals allow you to build directly on old, cracked concrete slabs without the cost and labor of removing them beforehand.

One of the main reasons contractors recommend pedestal systems around water is how little maintenance they require.

Because the system allows water to drain immediately from the surface, you won't have to deal with pooling water, algae buildup in the joints, or white salt efflorescence on the pavers. Cleaning is as simple as occasionally washing the surface with a pressure washer or rinsing it with a hose.

Beneath the surface, high-quality polypropylene pedestals are resistant to rot, salt water, pool chemicals, and ground moisture, giving them an expected lifespan measured in decades. If a paver ever accidentally chips or stains, replacing it takes two minutes: lift it out and put in a new one.