Timber Decking near pools does look great! We do get lots of enquiries for replacing rusted timber connectors in decking areas near pools (usually replacing with our Stainless Steel Timber Connectors), that's not to say don't do decking, just make sure its done right! You might be interested in this article... http://vuetrade.com/blog/timber-decking-around-your-pool-are-you-planning-a-saltwater-pool/ 

With the deck being quite narrow have you considered taking the timber to the edge of the deck and not using a coping stone. This will give you a sleeker more clean lined look. With regard 90 verses 140 decking. We use mainly 140mm now, but with the deck only being 2 metres wide this may look out of place. A lot will depend on your surroundings. If the deck hasn't been started yet I would also suggest that you run your decking the short length, this will draw your eye along the lines and give an illusion of the deck being wider than it is and looking up it not as long. With regard cupping it very much depends on the timber selected and you really need to screw down rather than nail. For almost all of our decking I specify and recommend Accoya for its stability. I am sure that it will be available in Australia.

Summer in Australia is all about the outdoors. For many homeowners, spending summer lazing around on the back deck or beside the pool is the best way to enjoy that Aussie sun. But which deck is the right deck? There are a few questions you need to consider when choosing a deck. Is the material fire safe? Does it have a great appearance? Will it resist salt and chlorine? What is the slip resistance? Is it safe to walk on? Is it pet friendly? DECO explored 4 main types of decking around pools and spas. TIMBER The three main types of timber decking available are Pine, Rainforest Merbau and Hardwood. Timber is a really beautiful decking material, however, it requires a lot of maintenance including painting/oiling every 6-12 months, stripping and re-sealing every 3-4 years, and over time it will deteriorate. A timber deck has great dimensional stability, although it is subject to shrinking and warping, as well as having a poor fire safe rating and poor resistance to salt and chlorine. COMPOSITES Composite decking is manufactured product from either China, Australia or America. Chinese and Australian composites are inclined to fade rapidly and have some dimensional stability issues. American composites have a higher plastic content, making them the most durable of the three. The plastic, however, retains a lot of heat and becomes impossible to walk on with bare feet in direct sun. All composites fail for slip and chemical resistance and have a poor fire safe rating. FIBRE CEMENT SHEET + TILES Fibre cement sheets and tiles are another decking option; however, they do not provide the traditional appearance of a timber deck. This material is a durable, pet friendly and water-resistant (although the decking will become slippery when wet) decking as well as maintenance free. This particular type of decking is a good option for bush fire zone areas (BAL FZ). ALUMINIUM DECO product DecoDeck combines the natural look of timber with the strength and durability of aluminium. The decking system features a strong box section extrusion, anti-slip polyurethane powder coating and allows for expansion and contraction. DecoDeck is manufactured using powder coating sublimation technology to achieve a beautiful natural timber appearance. There is no maintenance, painting, sanding or oiling required. It is comfortable to walk on and will not retain heat like other decks do. DecoDeck withstands harsh environmental conditions and is a non-combustible product. For more information on DecoDeck please visit www.deco.net.au

Just because your builder doesn't normally use a material doesn't mean it shouldn't be used. Builders often like to only use what they are used to and what they know will work well as they have used it on a previous job. Just make sure that your tile selection has a suitable edge for a pool, often called a coping tile, which is sometimes rounded and thicker. A standard square edge tile risks chipping if the square edge is exposed at the edge of the pool. Do your research, find some examples in real life and go with the best solution for the issue, which is not necessarily what your builder wants. Too often I meet unhappy homeowners who wanted one thing and their builder bullied them into something else (often as it was easier for the builder to install) to their long term regret. As long as your have researched it, and understand the issues so you can make an informed decision. After the job is finished your builder will probably never see your pool again, whereas you will see it every day. Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls/Dr Retro Virtual Visits