A swimming pool is the centerpiece of many backyards, but choosing the right decking around it is just as important as selecting the pool itself. Your pool deck needs to withstand constant moisture, intense UV exposure, bare feet, chlorine or saltwater, and years of outdoor use while remaining safe and attractive.
Fortunately, today’s homeowners have more choices than ever before. Whether you prefer the natural beauty of real hardwood or the low maintenance convenience of composite and PVC decking, there’s a material that fits every budget and lifestyle.
Here’s a look at some of the best decking materials for pool decks and how they compare.
What Makes a Great Pool Deck?
Before choosing a material, consider the characteristics that matter most around a swimming pool:
- Slip resistance
- Resistance to moisture and rot
- Heat retention in direct sunlight
- Durability
- Maintenance requirements
- Appearance
- Lifespan
- Resistance to mold and mildew
Let’s compare the best options.
Hardwood Decking: The Premium Choice
For homeowners who want the beauty of natural wood with exceptional longevity, tropical hardwoods remain one of the best investments available.
Unlike pressure treated lumber, hardwood decking naturally resists rot, decay, insects, and moisture without relying on chemical treatments.
Ipe Decking
Ipe has long been considered the gold standard for pool decks.
Pros
- Extremely dense and durable
- Naturally slip resistant—even when wet
- Exceptional resistance to rot, insects, mold, and decay
- Lasts 50–75+ years
- Beautiful rich brown color
- Stays flatter and straighter than many other woods
Ipe is commonly used on luxury resorts, commercial boardwalks, and waterfront projects because of its outstanding durability.
If properly installed with adequate ventilation, Ipe makes one of the finest pool decking materials available.
Cumaru (Brazilian Teak)
Cumaru offers many of the same benefits as Ipe while typically costing less.
Benefits include:
- High durability
- Rich golden-brown appearance
- Excellent resistance to moisture
- Long lifespan
- Great value
Many homeowners choose Cumaru when they want premium hardwood performance at a lower price point.
Plantation Teak
Teak has been used around water for centuries.
Why?
Because it naturally contains oils that help repel moisture.
Advantages include:
- Naturally weather resistant
- Cooler underfoot than many other decking materials
- Elegant appearance
- Excellent dimensional stability
- Long service life
In fact, in our own outdoor heat testing, plantation teak consistently measured cooler than many competing decking materials during hot summer days, making it especially comfortable around pools where people are often barefoot.
Tigerwood
Tigerwood offers dramatic striping and exotic beauty.
Benefits include:
- Excellent hardness
- Good resistance to insects and decay
- Distinctive appearance
- Long lifespan
For homeowners looking for something unique, Tigerwood creates a stunning pool deck.
Garapa
Garapa is known for its lighter golden color.
Advantages:
- Naturally slip resistant
- Cooler color reflects more sunlight
- Excellent durability
- Smooth, elegant appearance
Its lighter tone makes it particularly attractive around modern pools and tropical landscapes.
Important Installation Note for Hardwood Pool Decks
Standard hardwood decking performs best when there is adequate airflow beneath the deck.
At AdvantageLumber.com, we generally recommend approximately 18 inches of ventilation beneath traditional hardwood deck boards whenever possible.
This is easy to achieve with most above ground decks.
However, many in ground pools are surrounded by existing concrete patios that don’t allow for sufficient airflow beneath traditional deck boards.
Fortunately, there’s an excellent alternative.
Hardwood Deck Tiles: Perfect for Concrete Pool Decks
If your existing concrete pool patio is cracked, stained, or outdated, hardwood deck tiles may be one of the best upgrades available.
Rather than demolishing and replacing the concrete, our hardwood deck tiles can be installed directly over many existing concrete surfaces.
Benefits include:
- Fast installation
- Minimal demolition
- Lower cost than replacing concrete
- Beautiful natural hardwood appearance
- Excellent drainage
- Available in several premium hardwood species
Many homeowners choose deck tiles as an affordable way to completely transform an aging pool deck.
Composite Decking
Composite decking has become one of the most popular choices for residential pool decks.
Made from recycled plastics and wood fibers, today’s composites offer much better performance than earlier generations.
Advantages include:
- No sanding
- No staining
- No sealing
- Excellent fade resistance
- Easy maintenance
- Wide variety of colors
AdvantageLumber.com carries composite decking from industry leading manufacturers including Trex®, TimberTech®, and Deckorators®.
Trex Decking
Trex remains one of the most recognized names in composite decking.
Popular features include:
- Low maintenance
- Wide range of colors
- Strong warranties
- Excellent durability
- Scratch and fade resistance
Trex is an excellent choice for homeowners who want dependable performance with minimal upkeep.
TimberTech Composite Decking
TimberTech composite decking offers realistic wood grain patterns with excellent durability.
Benefits include:
- Rich wood aesthetics
- Protective capped construction
- Low maintenance
- Good stain resistance
- Long warranties
Their Reserve®, Legacy®, Terrain+, and Prime+ collections provide options for nearly every budget and design style.
PVC Decking
PVC decking contains no wood fibers, making it especially well suited for wet environments like pools.
Advantages include:
- Outstanding moisture resistance
- No organic material to rot
- Excellent mold resistance
- Easy cleaning
- Lightweight construction
TimberTech Advanced PVC (AZEK)
TimberTech’s Advanced PVC decking is among the premium pool decking options available today.
Benefits include:
- No wood fibers
- Exceptional resistance to moisture
- Won’t splinter
- Highly fade resistant
- Beautiful wood look finishes
- Extremely low maintenance
For homeowners seeking premium performance with virtually no maintenance, Advanced PVC is hard to beat.
Deckorators Surestone™ Mineral Based Composite
Deckorators has introduced one of the most innovative decking materials available.
Unlike traditional composite decking, Surestone™ mineral based composite contains virtually no organic wood flour, helping improve dimensional stability and moisture resistance.
Advantages include:
- Exceptional strength
- Lightweight construction
- Outstanding stability
- Excellent slip resistance
- Minimal thermal expansion and contraction
- Very low water absorption
It’s an outstanding option for pool decks, especially in climates with changing temperatures and high humidity.
What About Mold and Mildew?
Pool decks are constantly exposed to moisture.
While today’s composite decking performs much better than older generations, traditional wood plastic composites still contain wood fibers.
In humid environments where mold and mildew are common, some homeowners prefer decking materials that contain little or no organic material.
Excellent choices include:
- TimberTech Advanced PVC
- Deckorators Surestone™ mineral based composite
- Tropical hardwoods like Ipe and Teak, which naturally resist decay and mold
Which Decking Material Stays Coolest?
No decking material remains completely cool in full sun.
However, several factors affect surface temperature:
- Color (lighter colors stay cooler)
- Density
- Material composition
- Air circulation
Generally speaking:
- Plantation Teak performs exceptionally well in hot weather.
- Lighter colored hardwoods like Garapa stay cooler than darker woods.
- Light colored composite and PVC boards stay cooler than darker colors.
- Medium and dark colored composites and hardwoods will absorb more heat during peak sunlight.
Adding shade structures, pergolas, umbrellas, or nearby landscaping can also dramatically improve comfort.
Which Pool Deck Material Is Right for You?
Choose Hardwood If:
- You want natural beauty
- You prefer premium materials
- You want a deck that can last decades
- You don’t mind occasional maintenance
- Cool on bare feet
Best choices:
Choose Composite If:
- You want minimal maintenance
- You like consistent colors
- You don’t want annual oiling
- You want excellent warranties
Great options:
- Trex
- TimberTech Composite
- Deckorators Composite
Choose PVC or Mineral Based Composite If:
- Moisture resistance is your top priority
- You live in a humid climate
- You want the easiest maintenance possible
- Low ventilation installs
Excellent choices:
- TimberTech Advanced PVC
- Deckorators Surestone™
Final Thoughts
The best pool deck depends on your priorities.
If you’re looking for unmatched natural beauty and longevity, tropical hardwoods like Ipe, Cumaru, Plantation Teak, Tigerwood, and Garapa remain among the finest decking materials available.
If low maintenance is your top concern, premium Trex composite, TimberTech composite or Advanced PVC, and Deckorators Surestone mineral based composite all provide outstanding performance around swimming pools.
And if you’re renovating an older concrete pool patio, hardwood deck tiles offer a beautiful, cost effective alternative to tearing out and replacing concrete.
At AdvantageLumber.com, we offer one of the industry’s widest selections of premium hardwood, composite, PVC, and mineral based decking products. Our decking specialists can help you compare materials, estimate your project, and choose the best option for your climate, budget, and design goals so your new pool deck provides years of enjoyment.