We are frequently asked questions about deck drainage for inground pools.
Some common questions are:
We’ll tackle these questions here and hopefully give you a better understanding of how deck drains for inground pools really work.
Pool patios should slope about one-quarter of an inch per foot, away from structures like the pool and your house. This helps keep water from washing debris into the pool. Deck drains divert water on the patio to another location, usually via strip drains (also called trench drains) or spot drains.
Pool patios, or pool decks as they’re also called, should slope at a rate of approximately one-quarter of an inch per foot.
So a section of patio eight feet wide for example, should have around two inches of fall.
The pool deck needs to slope away from the pool. Otherwise, water will wash debris into the pool on a regular basis…and that’s no fun. If the patio is surrounded by landscaping, it’s perfectly fine to allow the water to run directly off the patio into the softscape as long as that water has somewhere to go.
If the water becomes trapped in the area outside the patio for some reason, a french drain (12”x12” gravel filled trench) will usually remedy the problem.
If the pool patio does abut a house or other structure, there are several options:
Deck drains are designed to collect water from the patio and divert it to another desired location. There are basically two types of deck drains used in most pool projects: Strip drains and Spot drains.
Strip Drains (also referred to as trench drains) are basically long, narrow grates which water trickles into then flows through the underground trough away from the patio. Strip drains are perfect to place against a house or other structure and are also commonly used in the valleys we discussed earlier.
Spot drains are typically smaller single drains that are tied together underground by PVC pipe that carries the water away from the patio. Spot drains are perfect in areas where long straight trench drains won’t work. This makes them ideal for free form patio applications.
Well, that’s it! If you have any other questions or thoughts, please feel free to share them in the comments section below.
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Editor's note: This blog article was updated on March 26, 2020.
River Pools® manufactures fiberglass pool shells and does not install pools. Pools are installed by locally owned and operated dealers and franchisees. The relationship between the dealers and franchisees to River Pools® is that of an independent contractor. River Pools Franchising LLC (Franchising) provides independently owned and operated River Pool franchisees with the right to market the River Pools brand of pool shells as a franchisee. Franchising does not manufacture pool shells. Due to the unprecedented and historic growth of the River Pools brand, this website contains an abundance of information that has been created over the last decade. Some of the content on this site may reflect prices, perspectives, processes, entities, and names that were relevant at the time but may not be as relevant today.
Consumers should consult their local installer (independent dealer or franchisee) for the most accurate and updated information based on the unique conditions of their property. Consumers should verify specifications with the installing dealer rather than relying on the information on this website, which is not intended to be a final specification.