Flagstone coping done before concrete deck??

[Heather32]

So we are doing owner builder pool and subbing out each phase.
We are trying to decide if we should do the flagstone coping before or after the concrete deck?
My husband owns a concrete company but they don’t typically do pool decks.. they seem to think we should do the concrete first and then the coping.. to me that doesn’t make sense.
Please HELP! ?

Thank you!

 

[Newdude]

I did a patio, but they did the coping around the pool first, the outside border next and the laid the actual patio. Using forms for the cement would basically make the same edging so it’s probably half a dozen or 6. And then butt the coping to the patio afterwards. There’s probably a million opinions on this like everything else.

 

[Rich D]

Would they also start painting a floor at the door And work their way into the room??

The coping will set the elevation for everything else around it.

You want everything to drain away from the pool therefore you should start at the pool.

Why would you want to work on top of your nice finished concrete deck if you don't have to?

You absolutely want to set the coping first.

 

[Newdude]

The coping will set the elevation for everything else around it.

You want everything to drain away from the pool therefore you should start at the pool.

There is actually a thread or 2 going right now about height screw ups. It can happen like anything else, but any professional worth their salt can handle it without having the coping done first. Give them one tile/piece and they can figure it out from the measurements.

Im totally with you on the working over the brand new slab tho. They could lay down a protective layer of some kind, but they probably won't.

 

[jimmythegreek]

With stone natural stone coping yiu lay it first dont let anyone tell you otherwise. You cannot make demo saw cuts to round the backside for curves with concrete in the way. It can be done but ita not by choice way more work. Coping thickness and setting bed thickness varies you let coping set the elevation and work from there as was mentioned above. You want 1/8" pitch away from pool in all directions and plan ahead for drainage

 

[Neto]

Definitely coping first, then add an expansion joint between coping and deck. The coping guys will use a laser level to find out if the pool beam is level, sometimes they have to add more mortar on one side of the pool to compensate the other... The deck should be level with the coping, however you should add a 1/2" joint between coping and deck. The standard slope on decks from what I have read is 1/4" / foot.

 

[jimmythegreek]

1/4" is too much you notice it with chairs and tables. With concrete its smooth and water runs easy an eight inch is good you can goto 3/16 and the latter is better for pavers or segmented stone decking

 

[Rich D]

If this is a gunnite pool you also want to be sure to do tile before coping.

 

[Heather32]

If this is a gunnite pool you also want to be sure to do tile before coping.

Yes! We did the tile already!

 

[jimmythegreek]

Table in the pool is a hot thing these days. Looks good so far

 

[Palpatine]

Interesting... just reading some similar threads to one I have going on RE my pool remodel. My contractor did the coping first and then the tile. What would be the reason to do the tile first? Doesn't seem to make sense to me?!?

 

[Rich D]

Interesting... just reading some similar threads to one I have going on RE my pool remodel. My contractor did the coping first and then the tile. What would be the reason to do the tile first? Doesn't seem to make sense to me?!?

Simple logic is you always build from the bottom up not the top down. In a pool you want the tile to set perfectly level so the water line looks correct all the way around the pool. If the coping is set unlevel then they need to adjust the tile and the seam in between the tile and coping will not be uniform and basically throw the whole tile install off.

My guess with your PB is that the the coping or the contractor was ready to go before the tile so to keep things moving he did the coping first.

It can be done either way however if you ask the actual installers I think most of them would prefer the tile first then coping.

 

[RMcGirr83]

Coping first

44650952_10215962013502177_3563496067267821568_n.jpg

• RMcGirr83
• Feb 6, 2019

 

[Heather32]

Coping first

44650952_10215962013502177_3563496067267821568_n.jpg

• RMcGirr83
• Feb 6, 2019

We are currently doing our coping first.. def made more since. Did you do your tile before or after your coping? We did our tile line first and while doing the coping there is def thicker areas of mortar which show in the pool.. I know they have to do it because stone is different level of thickness and they need to make it level. But now I’m having a hard time deciding on grout color.. they recommend grey for the reason about. BUT we are doing a tan patio and I’m not sure I like that. I wanted more of an cream/tan grout line. What are you going with?

 

[RMcGirr83]

Our pool is done, I'll snap pics and post them. The tile line was done prior to the coping. Water is a bit chilly now but it's not bad once you go numb. ?

 

[Heather32]

We are currently doing our coping first.. def made more since. Did you do your tile before or after your coping? We did our tile line first and while doing the coping there is def thicker areas of mortar which show in the pool.. I know they have to do it because stone is different level of thickness and they need to make it level. But now I’m having a hard time deciding on grout color.. they recommend grey for the reason about. BUT we are doing a tan patio and I’m not sure I like that. I wanted more of an cream/tan grout line. What are you going with?

This is a sample he did for us...
I think the light color is too light and I want a little darker.. more light tan cream.
Making decisions are so much harder than I thought it would be.

 

[Heather32]

Our pool is done, I'll snap pics and post them. The tile line was done prior to the coping. Water is a bit chilly now but it's not bad once you go numb. ?

how exciting! I would love to see pictures.
Thank you!

 

[RMcGirr83]

This one shows the color of the grout (zoom in). Our flagstone is different than yours, we don't have little pieces just big ones that were then cut to shape. There are more photos in my media on here if it helps. If you want more pics just ask for the ones you would like to see and I'll see about getting them posted up later today after work.

44679950_782290405436038_2134145682896846848_n.jpg

• RMcGirr83
• Feb 6, 2019

 

[Heather32]

This one shows the color of the grout (zoom in). Our flagstone is different than yours, we don't have little pieces just big ones that were then cut to shape. There are more photos in my media on here if it helps. If you want more pics just ask for the ones you would like to see and I'll see about getting them posted up later today after work.

44679950_782290405436038_2134145682896846848_n.jpg

• RMcGirr83
• Feb 6, 2019

I like your grout.. I just text my husband a picture of it. I’ll show the stone guy and see if he can do something similar.
All this stress on grout color and trying to decide on the color and brand for the insides of the pool. ? I can’t wait for it to be done.

 

[RMcGirr83]

Yeah it's pretty close to matching the color of the stone.