Plaster cracking, coping coming off

[SR71P52]

Hi all, had my pool re-plastered with gunnite around 12 years ago. I’ve noticed over the past few years that there been several raised spots, small “potholes” and crack type areas on the floor and walls. Have also noticed that the plaster under the coping has begun to fall apart in some areas and the coping sounds hollow underneath. Below are some photos of the issues and general area. Please let me know what I can do!

 

[ajw22]

The cracked grout around your tiles needs to be repaired using something like …

E-Z Patch® 4 (White) Pool Tile Grout Repair

E-Z Patch® 4 (White) Pool Tile Grout Repair is our above water mixture. Grout repair products and tile grout repair.

e-zpatch.com

I would closely examine your expansion joint and see if it needs to be replaced…

Expansion Joints and Coping - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

The potholes and crack in the plaster I would just leave alone. They are not a problem if the pool is not leaking water.

 

[SR71P52]

Thanks for the suggestions. the expansion joint meaning the caulk like material between the coping and the cement patio? If so, that definitively needs to be replaced. Do you have any suggestions for that? I believe you are suggesting that water ingress could have happened in the area and frozen under the coping to lift it and cause cracking? Is there any way to fix the lifted coping, as it definitely sounds slightly hollow when knocking on it. Or just repair the grout and the expansion joint and leave it?

 

[ajw22]

Thanks for the suggestions. the expansion joint meaning the caulk like material between the coping and the cement patio? If so, that definitively needs to be replaced. Do you have any suggestions for that?

Scrape out the old joint seal, ensure you have a gap between the structures, put foam baccker rod in the joint and then top with Deck-O-Seal or Sikaflex 1A.

I believe you are suggesting that water ingress could have happened in the area and frozen under the coping to lift it and cause cracking?

Could be.

Is there any way to fix the lifted coping, as it definitely sounds slightly hollow when knocking on it.

Only way to fix the coping is to lift it off and see what is going on under it. Then replace in Type S Mortar.

Or just repair the grout and the expansion joint and leave it?

I would not remove the coping based on sound. If it becomes loose enough to wiggle or lift off then deal with it.

Fix the expansion joint and grout cracks before you have more serious problems of tiles coming loose.