Fiberglass / Coping Issue

[Poolguy2021]

We installed our fiberglass pool in 2020. We are not happy with the coping and wanted to see what people would suggest we can do to smooth out the rough parts (where pool wall meets the coping). One proposal is to parge it somehow using a special compound.

Second to that, our hot tub section has a crack as per the image that we just found in May (yellow paper on image shows where crack is).

It will now need to be covered with pavers as the surface crack is not covered by warranty.

Nobody told us that it is recommended that the hot tub surface area should be covered with pavers/concrete as well. Any thoughts on either on these and how to best have it fixed?

Do we ask the coping to be ripped out to be uniform with the hot tub section?

Please feel free to give any ideas.

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! I suppose there is more than one way to do all you are requesting. I have a similar mortar applied where the pool lip and coping meet, but it's push inwards a little bit more and troweled flush and smooth. My pool build in my signature. I suppose that if that mortar was cut out of there, other products besides mortar are available that could be used depending on on that gap. For the spa, if the fiberglass crack deep and long I'm assuming a structural repair is required first huh? If it is only cosmetic, then whatever coping you chose will simply cover the crack from above right?

 

[keithw]

I would consider tiling the pool up to the lower indention on the coping.

 

[Poolguy2021]

Welcome to TFP! I suppose there is more than one way to do all you are requesting. I have a similar mortar applied where the pool lip and coping meet, but it's push inwards a little bit more and troweled flush and smooth. My pool build in my signature. I suppose that if that mortar was cut out of there, other products besides mortar are available that could be used depending on on that gap. For the spa, if the fiberglass crack deep and long I'm assuming a structural repair is required first huh? If it is only cosmetic, then whatever coping you chose will simply cover the crack from above right?

The warranty does not cover a crack on the hot tub surface but I guess I could ask the pool company to do a structral repair which I assume would mean draining the pool and fixing the foundation?

 

[Poolguy2021]

I would consider tiling the pool up to the lower indention on the coping.

I guess we could do that too but didnt want tiles initially.

 

[Poolguy2021]

Any tips @jimmythegreek or @bdavis466

 

[Winger 03]

I seem to think I have seen gray pool caulk that can be used in that groove. I am surprised they left it looking that way.

 

[robertwest]

We installed our fiberglass pool in 2020. We are not happy with the coping and wanted to see what people would suggest we can do to smooth out the rough parts (where pool wall meets the coping). One proposal is to parge it somehow using a special compound.

Second to that, our hot tub section has a crack as per the image that we just found in May (yellow paper on image shows where crack is).

It will now need to be covered with pavers as the surface crack is not covered by warranty.

Nobody told us that it is recommended that the hot tub surface area should be covered with pavers/concrete as well. Any thoughts on either on these and how to best have it fixed?

Do we ask the coping to be ripped out to be uniform with the hot tub section?

Please feel free to give any ideas.

We used "drop-faced" coping that hides that mortar gap and gives a clean appearance w/o the need for tile to hide it.

 

[chazas]

I had issues in the same place. There’s actually TOO much concrete in the coping, it pushed under the molds and covers the edge of the fiberglass, and there were voids and other inconsistencies in the edge. They chipped it off from the pool shell in a number of places, parged the edge, and laid a big line of caulk under the coping. Looks better and seems to have held up over the winter, but I’m assuming I’ll have issues with it again sometime. If I had it to do over I would have done a paver coping.

 

[jimmythegreek]

The bottom of the coping can be touched up and made to look better. They did a sloppy job setting the form and didnt finish it well. As for the spa section it can be capped with stone or tile coping and it would probably look richer that way in the end. Just have to take care to blend the ends into the existing coping shape

 

[Poolguy2021]

I had issues in the same place. There’s actually TOO much concrete in the coping, it pushed under the molds and covers the edge of the fiberglass, and there were voids and other inconsistencies in the edge. They chipped it off from the pool shell in a number of places, parged the edge, and laid a big line of caulk under the coping. Looks better and seems to have held up over the winter, but I’m assuming I’ll have issues with it again sometime. If I had it to do over I would have done a paver coping.

Can you post some images?

I seem to think I have seen gray pool caulk that can be used in that groove. I am surprised they left it looking that way.

Yes I was very unhappy but told this is standard which I found is not true.

The bottom of the coping can be touched up and made to look better. They did a sloppy job setting the form and didnt finish it well. As for the spa section it can be capped with stone or tile coping and it would probably look richer that way in the end. Just have to take care to blend the ends into the existing coping shape

What would you use for the touch up?

A guy suggested this product (see image) Sika Monoatop is the name. Should I be asking why the spa section outer surface has a crack and what caused it? Pool has only been in a year.

 

[jimmythegreek]

That is good stuff but will be a dark grey color. They likely used a 3500 mix so I would buy 2 bags of concrete. One high strength and one regular mix. Screen out the rocks and mix a container 50/50 from both bags amd you will have a mortar mix the same color. I'd add a little bonding agent and fill it in. Cant skim coat it wont stick long term, have to focus on the large gap mainly

 

[FlapjackMcCoy]

We installed our fiberglass pool in 2020. We are not happy with the coping and wanted to see what people would suggest we can do to smooth out the rough parts (where pool wall meets the coping). One proposal is to parge it somehow using a special compound.

Second to that, our hot tub section has a crack as per the image that we just found in May (yellow paper on image shows where crack is).

It will now need to be covered with pavers as the surface crack is not covered by warranty.

Nobody told us that it is recommended that the hot tub surface area should be covered with pavers/concrete as well. Any thoughts on either on these and how to best have it fixed?

Do we ask the coping to be ripped out to be uniform with the hot tub section?

Please feel free to give any ideas.

 

[FlapjackMcCoy]

What company manufactured your pool shell?

 

[Poolguy2021]

What company manufactured your pool shell?

Leisure Pools

 

[Poolguy2021]

That is good stuff but will be a dark grey color. They likely used a 3500 mix so I would buy 2 bags of concrete. One high strength and one regular mix. Screen out the rocks and mix a container 50/50 from both bags amd you will have a mortar mix the same color. I'd add a little bonding agent and fill it in. Cant skim coat it wont stick long term, have to focus on the large gap mainly

What do you think of just using glass tiles instead of trying to fix it with sikatop?

 

[Poolguy2021]

I would consider tiling the pool up to the lower indention on the coping.

We are thinking of glass tiles. Any thoughts?

 

[Poolguy2021]

The bottom of the coping can be touched up and made to look better. They did a sloppy job setting the form and didnt finish it well. As for the spa section it can be capped with stone or tile coping and it would probably look richer that way in the end. Just have to take care to blend the ends into the existing coping shape

Any way to directly contact you?

 

[keithw]

Any way to directly contact you?

If you click on his contact on any of his posts you can choose "Start a conversation" that will send an email to his inbox.

 

[Poolguy2021]

I had issues in the same place. There’s actually TOO much concrete in the coping, it pushed under the molds and covers the edge of the fiberglass, and there were voids and other inconsistencies in the edge. They chipped it off from the pool shell in a number of places, parged the edge, and laid a big line of caulk under the coping. Looks better and seems to have held up over the winter, but I’m assuming I’ll have issues with it again sometime. If I had it to do over I would have done a paver coping.

Can you upload some pictures?