The concrete cantilever coping above the tile line in our 18 year old fiberglass pool has been cracking significantly in all 4 corners for several years now. Each spring when we open up our pool, we find small chunks of concrete on the bottom of the pool that have come off during the winter. We’ve been told that the cracking is likely caused by settlement and the pool was likely backfilled with sand instead of gravel which is causing the settlement and cracking to occur.
We cannot afford to get the pool re-set in gravel or get the coping and decking replaced so we are trying to figure out what needs to be done to patch the damage so tiles don’t start popping off. There are no pool renovation contractors in our area and I’m having trouble getting concrete contractors to come over here to give me an estimate. I’ve sent pictures to several local concrete contractors who have given me different opinions on what needs to be done but none of them are available to do the work before we close the pool next month. One contractor says that the cracked areas can be filled with concrete and the coping and decking around the pool can be re-stained so everything matches. Another contractor says that the cracked areas should be filled with caulk instead of concrete because caulk won’t come off as the pool moves like concrete will. This won't look as attractive as filling in the cracked areas with concrete and staining the deck and coping to match, but this contractor claims that caulk is the best solution to our problem since it won't come off as the pool settles some like concrete will.
I’m trying to figure out what needs to be done next year to fix the damage to the coping since none of the contractors I have spoken to have availability until after closing. I also need to figure out if there is anything that we need to do now before we close the pool to keep tiles from popping off during the winter and to prevent more cracking. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
We cannot afford to get the pool re-set in gravel or get the coping and decking replaced so we are trying to figure out what needs to be done to patch the damage so tiles don’t start popping off. There are no pool renovation contractors in our area and I’m having trouble getting concrete contractors to come over here to give me an estimate. I’ve sent pictures to several local concrete contractors who have given me different opinions on what needs to be done but none of them are available to do the work before we close the pool next month. One contractor says that the cracked areas can be filled with concrete and the coping and decking around the pool can be re-stained so everything matches. Another contractor says that the cracked areas should be filled with caulk instead of concrete because caulk won’t come off as the pool moves like concrete will. This won't look as attractive as filling in the cracked areas with concrete and staining the deck and coping to match, but this contractor claims that caulk is the best solution to our problem since it won't come off as the pool settles some like concrete will.
I’m trying to figure out what needs to be done next year to fix the damage to the coping since none of the contractors I have spoken to have availability until after closing. I also need to figure out if there is anything that we need to do now before we close the pool to keep tiles from popping off during the winter and to prevent more cracking. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
