Poolside paradise with a southern feel: this family's deck project ended up taking four summers
Their ambitions kept growing: first came the swimming pool, then the sauna, and finally the pergola. Netta Tanhola and Janne Valkama’s deck expansion project kept on growing with every new idea for the yard. The 100 m² (1,080 sq ft) deck ties everything together into one cohesive poolside haven.
Who lives here Netta Tanhola, Janne Valkama, children Voitto and Lilja plus two cats.
YARD The yard belongs to a former train station building from 1949, converted into a home in Akaa, Pirkanmaa in southern Finland. The 300 m² (3,230 sq ft) house includes a 3,000 m² (32,300 sq ft) yard with a 100 m² (1,080 sq ft) deck.
“It was just a tiny fenced-off pen,” recalls Netta, describing the couple of square meters (about 21 sq ft) of deck by her kitchen door. But now, when you walk out the door of the home she shares with her partner, Janne, you step onto about 100 m² (1,080 sq ft) of decking, complete with a swimming pool, a yard sauna, and a pergola furnished with rattan pieces. Lush greenery evokes the warmth of the southern sun.
The metamorphosis from a cramped enclosure into a summer retreat wasn’t preplanned—it took shape over several years, piece by piece.
The plan to enlarge the deck had been on Netta and Janne’s minds for quite some time. Ultimately, the project kicked off in summer 2020, when Netta came across a still-packaged swimming pool kit on Tori online marketplace.
“We wanted the pool in a central spot. It was large enough that we had to dig a proper hole and lay a solid foundation. At that point, it seemed logical to reorganize the yard and expand the deck to encompass the new pool,” Netta explains.
They removed the fence around the tiny deck, and Janne built an additional 50 m² (540 sq ft) in front of it. The deck’s translucent roof had been replaced a few years prior, during a facade renovation.
They dug out space for the pool in front of the deck. After preparing the ground, gravel and Finnfoam insulation boards completed the base. The next summer, the deck grew another 30 m² (320 sq ft), as the pool had looked somewhat disconnected from the deck.
This is what the yard looked like before:
Having learned from the previous expansion, Janne built the second extension of the deck on concrete, steel-reinforced foundation blocks.
The first extension went on helical piers, which turned out to be quite the ordeal, Netta says.
“The helical piers were tough to install in our hard, rocky clay soil. We twisted them in both together and separately using different tools, nearly driving ourselves crazy.”
Eventually, Janne rented a gas-powered driver, which allowed the piers to be sunk deep enough into the ground.
“Using foundation blocks was child’s play by comparison. If anyone’s thinking about using helical piers, I’d suggest hiring someone experienced to handle them. It’ll save time and spare your nerves,” says Netta.
“The most important part of building a deck is the foundation, foundation, foundation. Don’t cut corners there. Also, space the supporting joists close enough together so the deck is sturdy.”Netta Tanhola
Then Netta’s next lucky Tori find stepped into the picture. In spring 2022, she discovered a small yard sauna there, and she knew she had to have it.
“When the kids got chilled from swimming, they always wanted to head indoors for a shower to warm up. I thought it would be nice if they could warm up right by the pool in an outdoor sauna,” Netta says.
In the summer, Janne extended the deck all the way to the sauna. The movable, uninsulated outdoor sauna was brought in on a trailer.
The renovation wrapped up in summer 2023, when they used a crane to lift a pergola—previously unused in another corner of the garden—onto the deck. The family used to have a lightweight canopy tent there, but wind on the open property caused it to bend out of shape. With a translucent roof added, the pergola is now a perfect lounge area in any weather.
Yard dreams are still plentiful for Netta in the coming years.
“If the deck had been more systematically designed, the swimming pool would mesh more smoothly with the overall look. We dream of a permanent pool built with concrete blocks instead of our current frame pool—maybe if we win the lottery,” she says.
Between the kitchen door and the pergola, there’s enough room for a covered summer kitchen. Right now, a large grill occupies most of the covered deck alongside the house.
“We could set up a couple of lounge chairs there instead of the grill. Then again, the deck already works well as it is, so the summer kitchen remains only a plan for now,” Netta explains.
