Pool (18x36 vinyl, 3' shallow, 9' deep) was installed last July, concrete decking poured 8 weeks later after backfill allowed to settle.
Minor initial issues with finish on coping - it was very rough in some patches, odd coloration, some small voids, and several of the form pins were sticking out. We had the concrete contractor out several times to deal with those issues, and while I still don't love the result, it's gotten to a point where I don't hate it. I may have unrealistic expectations, but that's why I'm posting here.
Upon opening the pool this May, we noticed a crack at nearly every single expansion joint in the coping. Pics attached for reference.
The concrete contractor came out last night after repeatedly canceling, and told us that happens to every pool with concrete cantilever coping. He said that was, in fact, the way its meant to work - that cracks are supposed to appear at those points based on the presence of the expansion joints. I questioned that.
Is it true that every concrete cantilever pool deck has cracks all around the pool in the coping? Should he have done something different? Am I being unreasonable in my expectations?
He offered to come back and make vertical cuts in the coping to help mask the appearance of the cracks. He claims that there is no risk of water getting in, freezing, and further expanding the cracks or weakening and deteriorating the concrete, so there are no structural concerns.
I'm just looking for some honest points of view. Is this how it is, or did something go wrong here?
Appreciate any thoughts.
Jonathan
Minor initial issues with finish on coping - it was very rough in some patches, odd coloration, some small voids, and several of the form pins were sticking out. We had the concrete contractor out several times to deal with those issues, and while I still don't love the result, it's gotten to a point where I don't hate it. I may have unrealistic expectations, but that's why I'm posting here.
Upon opening the pool this May, we noticed a crack at nearly every single expansion joint in the coping. Pics attached for reference.
The concrete contractor came out last night after repeatedly canceling, and told us that happens to every pool with concrete cantilever coping. He said that was, in fact, the way its meant to work - that cracks are supposed to appear at those points based on the presence of the expansion joints. I questioned that.
Is it true that every concrete cantilever pool deck has cracks all around the pool in the coping? Should he have done something different? Am I being unreasonable in my expectations?
He offered to come back and make vertical cuts in the coping to help mask the appearance of the cracks. He claims that there is no risk of water getting in, freezing, and further expanding the cracks or weakening and deteriorating the concrete, so there are no structural concerns.
I'm just looking for some honest points of view. Is this how it is, or did something go wrong here?
Appreciate any thoughts.
Jonathan
