How to Build Waterproof Pool Deck Boxes for Storage

Waterproof pool deck boxes offer a great place to store things while ensuring they don’t become wet, either from the pool or the weather. You can buy them, but it’s easy and a great deal cheaper to make your own. You don’t need extensive carpentry experience to make the box look good, and the construction process is easy.

Step 1 - Decide on Position and Size

Begin by deciding where you want to put the boxes and the sizes you want them to be. Next, put concrete blocks at these locations to be both the bases for the boxes and the corners underneath them.

Step 2 - Cut the Pieces

You will need to cut the wood down to size for your boxes, so measure out the dimensions on the plywood, make marks with a pencil, and use the saw to cut out the pieces. You want all the sides as well as the top and bottom.

Step 3 - Assemble the Box Walls

Start putting together the walls of the box with waterproof glue on the ends of the long pieces. Attach these to the shorter pieces, press in place, and then use nails to secure even further. Wipe up any excess glue. You need to make sure that all the corners are square and that the sides are even. A carpenter's square and a level across the top of the sides will make sure of this.

Step 4 - Add the Box Bottom

To attach the box bottom, take one of the remaining pieces, lay it on the top of the box, and check with a level for evenness. Remove and then run a bead of glue all along the edge of the pieces before putting the wood back in place. Use nails to secure it there, wiping away excess glue inside and outside the box, and leave the glue to dry.

Step 5 - Reinforce the Corners with Braces

Turn the box over so that the bottom is sitting on the floor. Although you’ve joined the corners of the box, you need to give them greater stability. To do this, use the right-angled metal braces on each of the corners. You should have one close to the bottom on each corner, and another just below the top. Use 1/2-inch screws on the wood to secure them. This will ensure that the screw points don’t poke through the wood inside.

Step 6 - Attach the Lid

Lay the lid in place on the open face of the box so that it’s square with all the sides. Position the hinges so that one flap is on the back of the box and the other under the lid. Mark the place for screw holes on the lid. Remove and screw the hinges in place on the lid with 1/2-inch screws. Set the lid back on top of the box and secure the hinges to the back of the box.

Once the project is fully assembled, paint it or finish it with a waterproof sealer. Then, place the waterproof pool deck box on top of the concrete blocks to complete the job.