Skimmer Install

[Capr]

I’m currently in the process of having a fiberglass pool installed. The pool is in the ground and running, thanks to a lot of information from this site. We are expecting the deck and cantilever coping to be poured within the next week. After speaking with the concrete contractor I realized we had differing ideas on how to pour the bond beam and deck around the skimmer.

We are doing a single pour for everything. Should we be entombing the skimmer in the concrete bond beam/deck or should we be putting fill around all sides of it to make future replacement easier?

Im worried that if we need to replace the skimmer in the future if it is set in a solid concrete beam under the top lip of the shell we could seriously damage the shell when try remove the concrete to replace it.

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Situations might vary based on location and builder, but in my case (below) the skimmer was packed with native soil and sand, then a base prepared for a concrete decking. Perhaps @jimmythegreek knows if there are other variations.

 

[jimmythegreek]

The skimmer needs to be supported.from underneath with stone or concrete for best results. I'm in the opinion of by the time the skimmer would ever need repair the concrete deck will get trashed getting to it. And if concrete has it's way there will be cracks by then if it ever happened. Properly installed skimmers last decades. The pool should not be damaged by repairs. These repairs get cut with a demo saw very little chipping takes place.

 

[Capr]

Thanks for the reply’s. I think I’m going to add some more stone and bring it up to the top of the skimmer.

What’s everyone’s take on pouring the collar? Should it be poured and allowed to cure before the concrete coping and deck or should I have it poured in a single pour?

 

[Texas Splash]

In my case, the main concrete decking was poured first, then the flagstone coping/trim around the skimmer was set in mortar last. But JtG may have other experiences.

 

[jimmythegreek]

I would pour the collar first amd then seperate the slabs from each other if the deck is a monolithic cantilever pour. Concrete expands and contracts with weather and can heave when it cracks. Does it freeze in your area?

 

[Capr]

I would pour the collar first amd then seperate the slabs from each other if the deck is a monolithic cantilever pour. Concrete expands and contracts with weather and can heave when it cracks. Does it freeze in your area?

We live in northeastern Maryland so it does freeze but rarely a hard deep freeze. The deck and coping is going to monolithic with cantilevered concrete coping.

 

[jimmythegreek]

In our climate the collar should be poured separately and am appropriate seperation fabric like tyvek should be used to keep the concrete seperate. Similar to a concrete pool and the bond beam/cantilever detail