Wet decks and tanning ledges in Dubai

A wet deck, also called a tanning ledge or sun shelf, is a flat platform built into the pool a short depth below the water line. Instead of the pool going straight from the edge to swimming depth, part of it becomes a shallow area where you can put a lounger in the water, sit with a drink, or let small children play within arm's reach. In Dubai, where the pool is often the coolest place in the garden for half the year, a wet deck turns it from somewhere you swim into somewhere you spend the afternoon. It suits family pools, pools that are mostly used for cooling off rather than laps, and villas where the garden is too small for both a pool and a separate lounge area.

A wet deck takes space from the swimming area, so it needs to earn its place.

• Depth of the ledgeShallow enough for a lounger to sit in the water, deep enough to keep you cool. This is set with you in the design stage.
• Size against the poolHow much of the pool you give up for the ledge, and whether the remaining length still works for swimming.
• Position and sunWhich end gets morning or evening sun, and where shade can come from.
• Entry and safetyHow the ledge connects to the steps and the deeper water, and how the change in depth is marked so it reads clearly.
• FinishA lighter finish on a shallow shelf makes the water glow turquoise; the surface underfoot should be comfortable to sit and stand on.
• LightingLight along the edge of the shelf shows the change in depth at night.
• LoungersIf you want in-pool loungers, the shelf is sized around them.

A ledge can sometimes be built into an existing pool by raising part of the floor, which shortens the deep section. Whether that works depends on the structure, the depth and where the steps and returns sit. We check this on the site visit and, if it suits, include it in a wider pool renovation together with a new finish and lighting.

• New pool or existing poolBuilding a ledge into a new pool is simpler than altering an existing floor.
• Size and shapeA full-width shelf with a bench is more work than a corner ledge.
• FinishesThe interior finish and edge detail you choose.
• ExtrasWater features, lighting, and shade over the ledge.