Thoughts on plaster replacement, tiles, coping etc

[gundan]

Hello

I live in NJ and my almost 20 year old pool is showing its age. I have a gunnite pool. A lot of tiles have started to fall off, so I am getting quotes to replaster, replace tiles etc.

I got one quote which includes replacing the plaster, tiles, tiles, coping. This guy also proposed removing the existing pavers around the pool and replace it with concrete., but this adds a significant cost to the project. HIs point was the pavers tend to sink etc and water gets in between the cracks and causes tiles to pop. He feels going with concrete all around the pool would prevent this.

The vast majority of tiles are ok, it is just the tiles in the wall between the pool & spa which have fallen off.

I wonder what peoples thoughts are? I am waiting for a couple of more estimates.

Thanks much!

G

 

[ajw22]

I don't buy what the guy is selling about replacing pavers with concrete.

Tiles crack in pools in our area for a few reasons:

1. Lack of proper winterization. Water gets behind the tiles during the winter and the freeze thaw cycle cracks them. Same thing that creates potholes in roads.
2. Lack of maintenance of the grout. Grout gets hairline cracks due to the movement of the pool structure and ground. If you don't fill those hairline cracks it lets water in and you get the freeze/thaw cycle.
3. Not maintaining or having the proper expansion joint between the deck and the bond beam allowing ground movement to put pressure on the bond beam and cause tiles to crack.

Losing tiles on the wall between the pool and spa is caused by cracks in the grout, likely around your spa spillover, allowing water to get behind the tiles and erode the thinset adhesive and the winter freeze/thaw pop crack them or pop them off.

None of this has to do with your pavers. Water draining between your pavers outside your pool shell is not going to affect your tiles on the interior.

What you do need to be concerned about is your pool expansion joint and how that is constructed. See Expansion Joints and Coping - Further Reading

I go around my pool every season examining my grout and repairing any cracks. I still have the original 20 year old tile.

Spa Spillover Grout Repair

If you have a spa attached to your pool how often have you looked carefully at the grout around the spillover and on the spa walls for cracks? A few years ago I had some tiles come loose from my spa wall. I realized that the grout around the spillover had cracks allowing water to get behind...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[gundan]

Thank you very much for that Allen, although I have taken care of this pool for almost 8 years now, I am new to the actual pool construction tech and now that I am looking at re-surfacing I am starting to do my research.

Are you familiar with any good companies that will come down to central NJ to resurface my pool?

G

I don't buy what the guy is selling about replacing pavers with concrete.

Tiles crack in pools in our area for a few reasons:

1. Lack of proper winterization. Water gets behind the tiles during the winter and the freeze thaw cycle cracks them. Same thing that creates potholes in roads.
2. Lack of maintenance of the grout. Grout gets hairline cracks due to the movement of the pool structure and ground. If you don't fill those hairline cracks it lets water in and you get the freeze/thaw cycle.
3. Not maintaining or having the proper expansion joint between the deck and the bond beam allowing ground movement to put pressure on the bond beam and cause tiles to crack.

Losing tiles on the wall between the pool and spa is caused by cracks int he grout, likely around your spa spillover, allowing water to get behind the tiles and erode the thinset adhesive and the winter freeze/thaw pop crack them or pop them off.

None of this has to do with your pavers. Water draining between your pavers outside your pool shell is not going to affect your tiles on the interior.

What you do need to be concerned about is your pool expansion joint and how that is constructed. See Expansion Joints and Coping - Further Reading

I go around my pool every season examining my grout and repairing any cracks. I still have the original 20 year old tile.

Spa Spillover Grout Repair

If you have a spa attached to your pool how often have you looked carefully at the grout around the spillover and on the spa walls for cracks? A few years ago I had some tiles come loose from my spa wall. I realized that the grout around the spillover had cracks allowing water to get behind...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[ajw22]

Are you familiar with any good companies that will come down to central NJ to resurface my pool?

My pool builder is out of Chestnut Ridge NY and I don't think they go down that far.

@jimmythegreek may be able to give you some recommendations.

 

[jimmythegreek]

Where in NJ are you?
If you do replace insist they use laticrete products for the thinset. Back when yours was built they used regular tile thinset. The newer products hold like crazy glue. But always remember as Allen pointed out a pool is yearly maintenence. A good builder or pool guy looks the pool over closely when closing and openimg the pool for simple maintenance. In freeze country it's a yearly thing to caulk etc.

 

[gundan]

Hello @jimmythegreek

I live in Marlboro right off Rt 9.

Thanks!
G

Where in NJ are you?
If you do replace insist they use laticrete products for the thinset. Back when yours was built they used regular tile thinset. The newer products hold like crazy glue. But always remember as Allen pointed out a pool is yearly maintenence. A good builder or pool guy looks the pool over closely when closing and openimg the pool for simple maintenance. In freeze country it's a yearly thing to caulk etc.