Creative engineer/deck builder for removable deck over an above-ground pool (how much, house)

[LaurenAndDave]

Any recommendations on a deck company or perhaps even a structural engineer for a deck rebuild project? We just bought a house with a ratchety deck surrounding our above-ground pool. We completely need to rebuild the deck (which is the easy part), but as we're getting married here next year, we want to create removable panels that will go over the above-ground pool, flush with the deck, to extend the use of the deck and be sturdy enough to hold 60 people/tables and chairs.

We've got one deck company recommended by a friend coming out to take a look and do a quote next week, but I've always heard you should get multiple quotes.

[m378]

Do you plan on using this deck for large groups of people in the future? I'm having trouble wrapping my head around why you would want to do this. It's going to be expensive and provide zero resale value.

Get rid of the pool and build a big deck if you want a big deck.

Edit: I also doubt you could get this permitted.

[RedZin]

Originally Posted by m378

Do you plan on using this deck for large groups of people in the future? I'm having trouble wrapping my head around why you would want to do this. It's going to be expensive and provide zero resale value.

Get rid of the pool and build a big deck if you want a big deck.

Edit: I also doubt you could get this permitted.

Mind you, I'm not a decking contractor, but I am also having trouble sorting out how this could be done for a reasonable price and be permitted work.

I'm certain that ANYTHING can be done with enough money, but when I picture an above-ground pool, I don't picture feats of engineering with no cost spared.

[DPK]

It's definitely possible and there are numerous solutions to this depending on just how much money you want to spend on the problem. Here are some neat retractable options that completely hide the fact there's a pool.

Grass lawn on top and cover retracts under wooden deck:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLy4GN8YVWs

Circular pool and concrete "cover" raises and lowers into pool, forming a patio when not in use:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L8aMI2dwf4

"Wood" decking raises and lowers into pool, forming a patio when not in use:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up79t-KcT1M

Here's a company that specializes in his sort of things:
http://www.agor-eng.com/

There's a bunch of cool examples in their "movable-floor" gallery here:
http://www.agor-eng.com/agor_galleri...movable-floor/

Here's another company:
http://www.hydrofloors.com/

Here's a neat article from the WSJ on the concept:
http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-supe...ool-1443018218

This is probably at the high end of the spectrum though in terms of cost.

TLDR ~ It's definitely doable, but it's going to cost you a pretty penny. If it were me and I were doing this, I'd get a quote for a few sections of deck that would span the pool and then try to figure out how to position that on a set of casters/rails such that it could be slid underneath another section immovable decking.

Such that the section on the left below is the pool (uncovered) and the section on the right is your deck, regardless of pool covered state. The "equals" signs is the retracted deck cover sitting underneath said deck.

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