Expansion Joints

[EricsPool]

Hi everyone,

Quik question, do I have to fill in my expansion joints?
I have no problem filling them in, just wondering if everyone else does. If it's one of those "yes, you really should do that" things.

second, if I should fill them in, what should I use?
I have cantilever coping around my fiberglass pool, so I do have vertical expansion joints as well as your typical ones on top of the deck.

thanks for any help.

eric

 

[pooldv]

No, expansion joints should not be filled.

 

[EricsPool]

Thank you, it's spring time and I've been putting a lot of effort into the pool and just coming into these little sorts of questions that I'm on unsure of, so I really appreciate the forum, and all the help, thanks!

Eric

 

[Pyrodav]

Are you talking about expansion or control joints? Expansion joints are made with a flexible material. Control joints are Saw cuts or tooled lines to force concrete to crack.

 

[bdavis466]

Those would be control joints. A true expansion joint completely isolates the deck from another structure or object with some sort of compressible filler (usually styrofoam). These joints do typically get filled since they are usually 1/2"-3/4" wide and would be rather unsightly without a filler.

 

[pooldv]

I don't think there is an expansion joint because it is a cantilever deck.

 

[EricsPool]

Ah, and that's why I love this forum. I didn't realize it, but I am talking about control joints, thank you for clarifying that for me.

Eric

- - - Updated - - -

If any of you have much experience with cantilever decking, could you please take a look at my other post, regarding a horizontal crack along the control joint that I'm a little concerned about.

Hairline Crack - Cantilever Coping

Eric

 

[Pyrodav]

Is that colored or stained concrete?

 

[borjis]

Fascinating! I just realized I have cantilevered coping. It looks different than a lot of others.
Heard others discussing it but never knew what they meant. And yes it's control joints.

 

[EricsPool]

Pyrodav,

My concrete is stained.

 

[EricsPool]

Fascinating! I just realized I have cantilevered coping. It looks different than a lot of others.
Heard others discussing it but never knew what they meant. And yes it's control joints.

Thats great! I really like my coping, I know there is also a round coping which is bullnose and an inclined coping where it comes out past your pool at the top then comes back in toward the pool at the bottom. There may be more, mine is flat.

Eric