New Pool with concrete issue

[jongig]

I just had a inground pool built late last year and at the time they poured the concrete it got very cold. I am not real happy with the way the concrete looks and in some places it looks a bit like lines in a puzzle. My guess is that I'll have some spalling.

The concrete goes to the edge of my inground steel pool with vinyl liner and alluminum comping.

Has anyone refurbished in a situation like this? My thinking is that I can put a product on top of the concrete but the problem will be the way it will sit against or on top of the coping (pool edge).

Any ideas and pictures please share.

John

 

[iPhone]

Did the PB do the pour or is this an outside after the fact vender?

Did they warranty their work?

If you have any recourse with the company that did the work, I would start there before looking at repair options.

 

[jongig]

It was done by a concrete contractor because it was nearly 1,000 sq-ft. I'm sure they will do what they can but I'm looking for ideas on how to correct the issue before giving them a call. I had been thinking of some form of tile or something but it seems like it would be nice to correct it without replacing the concrete.

 

[Bama Rambler]

I'd like to see a photo of what you're talking about.

You have a few options but only one of them is going to "fix" your problem.
First the one that will fix it!
1) Replace the decking.
Now for the rest of my ideas (in no particular order).
2) Coat the deck with Cool Step, etc.
3) Tile the deck. (this will leave the edge of the tile above the coping.)
4) Live with it. (not what I'd consider a choice)

 

[bk406]

Bama has it about right.

One question from me.
Did they pour the coping in one pour (i.e. under the aluminum and about a foot back), let that set up, then pour the deck? Or was the whole thing done in one pour?

 

[iPhone]

It was done by a concrete contractor because it was nearly 1,000 sq-ft. I'm sure they will do what they can but I'm looking for ideas on how to correct the issue before giving them a call. I had been thinking of some form of tile or something but it seems like it would be nice to correct it without replacing the concrete.

If you have a guarantee or warranty, then you mess with it or try this or that, when you're done and not satisfied, the Contractor is going to laugh and say, "Good luck with that, I am not responsible for what you did to it." Second the longer you wait to bring them in, the harder it is going to be to get them to take responsibility and fix it.

More importantly we are talking about cement here. Covering it up isn't going to fix a thing. It will look pretty or OK for awhile, but then things will start coming lose, moving, chipping, or flaking off. A bad pour, improper mix ratio, or any of a hundred things could be wrong with it meaning it will only get worse with age. At that point the Contractor will be over joyed because you let them off the hook and/or your warranty claim might not be enforceable anymore due to too much time passing or because you messed with it.

IOW, if its bad, have them come out now and fix it on their dime while you still can. That is my opinion and what I would do if it were me. But again, that's just me. When I pay for something, I expect it to be right. If its not, I am going to make them make it right especially if they should not have forced the job and waited for better weather.

 

[jongig]

I'll have a picture on here tomorrow morning.

The concrete was all poured at once and directly into the pool coping.

I aggree that they should fix or replace it and I will contact them soon but for now I'm just getting to understand the best way to proceed. I like these guys and I know they didn't mean for this to happen and if it can be fixed without a lot of cost I'd be helping both parties.

What is cool step?

 

[iPhone]

I'll have a picture on here tomorrow morning.

The concrete was all poured at once and directly into the pool coping.

I aggree that they should fix or replace it and I will contact them soon but for now I'm just getting to understand the best way to proceed. I like these guys and I know they didn't mean for this to happen and if it can be fixed without a lot of cost I'd be helping both parties.

What is cool step?

Don't get me wrong, I am all for being nice. But if its this bad already, think about it in 5 then 10 years. If doing anything to it voids your warranty, I would just call them and let them make suggestions until you both can live with it.

Kool Deck is mainly a cement pool deck finish and coping finish (depending on coping type). It seals the cement and is cooler to walk on then plain cement. If one has cracks that need filled, they can be filled and smoothed over with a silicone based cement repair product, then the whole deck covered with Kool Deck to give a uniform appearance. Our beach pool was built with Kool Deck treated coping and surround up to the were the wood decking starts.

 

[jongig]

Here is a picture of what I'm seeing on the top of the concrete.

 

[Bama Rambler]

Back off and give us a little wider view. That looks like surface mottling. If it is it can be rubbed out. If it's more than that, Kool Deck (thanks iphone) can be applied over it.

 

[jongig]

Here is a picture from about 4 feet. What look like puzzle pieces are about 1 inch accross on average.

 

[jongig]

This is up close and you can see what I would call a score mark along the white line. This does not show up throughout but is prevalent in some areas.

 

[haybird]

To me it looks like efforescence working its way out of the concrete mix. You see this (salty white film on pavers some times). Does it wash off. There are efforescence cleaners on the market.

I could be totaly off base but that's what it looks like to an untrained concrete eye.
Good Luck with the out come

 

[jongig]

As you mentioned I need to get in touch with the contractor. I thought instead I'd call the concrete company and to my surprise the owner actually came out and looked at it. He's not happy with the way it looks and he explained to me what is going on but he says the surface is good and will not spall. The surface will turn white when the weather gets better but will always have the lines show when the concrete gets wet. He didn't know about the products that I mentioned for the surface but he told me that I should wait before doing anything. He asked that I call him to remind him to come back and look at it after it's had more time to cure, maybe May. Makes me feel much better and at least I can continue to finish the project.