When installing pavers, you need a base material to draw away the water that will soak in between the cracks. This will add to the height.

The bull nose coping around the pool should be mortared in place too.

So pavers, @ 2.5 to 3" plus 1" sand/mortar equals about 4" additional height.

From the top of the existing deck, how far is it to the water line? Now add the coping height. Your pool will look sunken and you will still see the canter levered decking as a 4" line between the bond beam and coping.

As an alternative, you might want to consider a dry laid travertine on a 1" base of black paver base.. Be careful here though as some of it is slippery when wet. Travertine is typically sliced thinner than pavers.

If you go this route and you have a safety cover, when reinstalling, you must use a core drill, anchor in pipe, and beauty rings/masonry collars. The holes may chip when the cover is on and a snow/rain load exerts added pressures to the springs. The beauty rings help to cover the chipping that can happen in that scenario.

How many square feet is the deck?

Get a couple of estimates for each of the options and then decide.

If you are close to Florida check out Thindex pavers, only 1 1/4 inch thick if I remember correctly, they have bullnose to match but you will have to demo off the old cantilever to fit properly. Or look at NPT (National Pool tile) they have 2 gorgeous styles of pavers with bullnose to match. Gothicstone or Durango stone, just hope you have a wallet to match the look. Barb

I have a question concerning cantilever decks. I know the bond beam has to havea slip joint between it and the deck, but do you have to have an expansion joint around the perimeter of the pool to keep the deck from cracking? If have seem where a joint is around the pool and some not. Can the deck crack from one portion sitting on the beam (hard surface) and the other part sitting on dirt? What if you rebar in the deck all the way close the the cantilever edge so its less likely to crack over the beam? Please be nice , my PB can seem to give straight answers.

Also, I live in Ga. Red clay all the way. Is it very expansive?