First time pool owners in MI and needing help with concrete repair work and first time sealing. We had an in-ground fiberglass pool installed last summer with a concrete brush finish pool deck/patio area that has a basic bullnose coping that was done with silicone forms. We also have an automatic cover with aluminum tracks. Between supply and worker delays & shortages, it took AGES to get our pool project done. Started in May and it was November before everything was finished. The concrete work in particular was a nightmare. Our builder's usual stable of out of state contractors were all over booked, so we had to find a local contractor ourselves or wait more months. Just getting someone to call back or even come estimate was almost impossible. The company we eventually hired for the concrete & accompanying french drains + paver retaining wall lied about their experience with pool decks (we discovered they literally had none and were basically just 2 inept guys who subcontracted most of their labor to cash paid workers).
They weren't careful with the silicone coping molds since they didn't really know how to use them. We've been left with a coping that is very bumpy in areas (from where they didn't use enough release agent) and very darkly stained smooth areas where they used a lot (unbeknownst to us when they poured, they used dark colored release agent that is typically used for decorative stamped concrete work). They messed up a number of other things as well and we were forced to fire them before they screwed up with the remaining un-poured sidewalk areas & paver work. There was no way to get $ back or have them "fix things" any further since every day they were on site seemed to wreck something else. We hired another company to repair and complete our sidewalks & pool drains, but they don't specialize pool deck work so they can't seem to help us with the coping issues. We also have a couple of hairline cracks on the deck/sidewalk and an area near the house & spots right along the cover track where there are stains we haven't been able to get out by cleaning or power-washing. The geniuses we originally hired used Kwik-rete to try to smooth out the worst of the coping at one point, so we're afraid that's what some of that is.
We know we should seal the fully cured concrete this fall, since MI winter is harsh on concrete, but would like to get the coping smoothed out and not seal in a bunch of stains on it or the pool deck itself. We're wondering if some sort of color staining everywhere might help camouflage the imperfections, but know that has to be done before it is sealed for the first time. As a result, it feels like we don't have a lot of time to figure this out. We have no idea what we could do ourselves or who we could professionally hire to help us. Every local concrete contractor seems to only do new pours or just decorative staining & sealing. No one seems to do repairs or specialize in pool decks rather than just patios/driveways. After our horrible experience, we don't want to make things worse ourselves or hire another clueless contractor. Advice on these issues would be very appreciated.
They weren't careful with the silicone coping molds since they didn't really know how to use them. We've been left with a coping that is very bumpy in areas (from where they didn't use enough release agent) and very darkly stained smooth areas where they used a lot (unbeknownst to us when they poured, they used dark colored release agent that is typically used for decorative stamped concrete work). They messed up a number of other things as well and we were forced to fire them before they screwed up with the remaining un-poured sidewalk areas & paver work. There was no way to get $ back or have them "fix things" any further since every day they were on site seemed to wreck something else. We hired another company to repair and complete our sidewalks & pool drains, but they don't specialize pool deck work so they can't seem to help us with the coping issues. We also have a couple of hairline cracks on the deck/sidewalk and an area near the house & spots right along the cover track where there are stains we haven't been able to get out by cleaning or power-washing. The geniuses we originally hired used Kwik-rete to try to smooth out the worst of the coping at one point, so we're afraid that's what some of that is.
We know we should seal the fully cured concrete this fall, since MI winter is harsh on concrete, but would like to get the coping smoothed out and not seal in a bunch of stains on it or the pool deck itself. We're wondering if some sort of color staining everywhere might help camouflage the imperfections, but know that has to be done before it is sealed for the first time. As a result, it feels like we don't have a lot of time to figure this out. We have no idea what we could do ourselves or who we could professionally hire to help us. Every local concrete contractor seems to only do new pours or just decorative staining & sealing. No one seems to do repairs or specialize in pool decks rather than just patios/driveways. After our horrible experience, we don't want to make things worse ourselves or hire another clueless contractor. Advice on these issues would be very appreciated.
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