Issues with pool coping

[brianlhughes]

Hello all,

Looking for some advice here. Pool coping looked ok until we hosed it down after it got dirty 3 weeks after it was installed. When getting wet it looked like it was scaly or micro cracks until water eventually soaked inn then it was a solid color. Then after we had some rain the coping looks wet a week after. It seems dry just appears wet. We are not happy and trying to negotiate with pool builder on how to resolve it. I believe it needs to be ripped out and replaced. Has anyone see this before and know what happening here? Also what are your opinions on how to fix it.

Thank you for the Help!

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

I think what you see is the nature of the material you chose.

Maybe @AQUA~HOLICS has dealt with that material.

 

[kimkats]

What kind of material was used for the coping?

 

[brianlhughes]

poured in place concrete

 

[ajw22]

What you described is normal for poured concrete.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

As stated above, concrete will take on many different looks when wet and even differences within the same pour.
Not knowing the mixture, handling, timing and other factors it’s hard to pinpoint an exact cause.

 

[brianlhughes]

As stated above, concrete will take on many different looks when wet and even differences within the same pour.
Not knowing the mixture, handling, timing and other factors it’s hard to pinpoint an exact cause.

I agree. All I know is its not right. Pool builder agrees. We re working on how to fix it. I think it needs to be chipped out and re-done.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Total replacement is the only way to ensure uniform color and finish.

 

[brianlhughes]

After consulting other sub contractors, it was determined the sub that did my coping failed to put a waterproof barrier between coping and shotcete. They are going to chip out the coping, add a plastic barrier for waterproofing, and re pour new coping.

 

[brianlhughes]

New Pool Coping Came out great! So the difference is we had them bring concrete in on a truck instead of hand mixing, did a plastic barrier between shotcrete/coping per pool engineering, and we did an acid wash finish on concrete instead of broom. We now have no issues at all. When it gets wet its all the same color and it drys fast without staining. We are very happy! I hope this helps in case someone else has the issue we did. Don't settle for it! Make the replace it and do it right!

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

That finish looks familiar.

 

[ajw22]

Sounds to me like the inconsistency of the hand mixed batches of concrete were at the root of your problems versus a single consistent truck mix.

That is an important difference in the quality of “poured concrete”.

 

[AQUA~HOLICS]

Trucked and pumped for consistency.