Coping issues…

[KaraB]

I believe our pool has coping issues. We have gunite pebbletec. Bought the house with the pool 4yrs ago. The first thing is the gunite goes all the way to the top so there are no tiles etc… I figure I’ve heard of this before so not horrific… But my main worry is the coping or lack of coping? We have flagstone and it is cracking in lots of places… I am attaching pictures. If anyone could provide any info on what’s wrong that would be great. I am having pool contractors out to inspect. I have been reading about coping a lot lately I also don’t see any band on the gunite to the flagstone it’s like the flagstone is just mortared onto the pool wall some places have gaps which you can see when you are in the pool.

 

[kimkats]

Hi and welcome to TFP. I am sorry we are meeting like this. I can see why you are concerned.

Let work through this....how far over the pool wall does the coping hang?
Do you have a pic looking at this from inside the pool?

 

[KaraB]

Hi and welcome to TFP. I am sorry we are meeting like this. I can see why you are concerned.

Let work through this....how far over the pool wall does the coping hang?
Do you have a pic looking at this from inside the pool?

No pix from inside but I can get some later today. The coping in most places hangs about an inch over the pool. But in two spots I see where the flagstone is flat with the wall. I will get the pix ASAP! Thanks

 

[cowboycasey]

yep, there is no perimeter joint between the coping and the deck so it is cracking every time the deck moves as it heats up the the pool bond beam does not.. it is literally breaking away from the pool...

There should be a 1/2 to 3/4 inch gap between the 2.. Here is a great post about what you should have... Expansion Joints and Coping

 

[KaraB]

No pix from inside but I can get some later today. The coping in most places hangs about an inch over the pool. But in two spots I see where the flagstone is flat with the wall. I will get the pix ASAP! Thanks

Here are some more pix. One is of the whole pool to get a better idea

 

[jamjam]

I think you want your coping mechanically separated from the deck. You can probably reset the coping on the bond beam then have an expansion joint between the patio and the coping. Looks like you might have some repairs of the water line plaster in order as well.

 

[KaraB]

Yes it seems that way. The pool was built in 2006 and I just don’t understand how it could’ve been built so wrong! They obviously spent a lot of money building it and how they let this happen is beyond me! And our pool inspector was not that knowledgeable I guess. He said no big deal…

 

[cowboycasey]

they hit all the "do not do" on your pool..

1. no expansion joint between the deck and coping
2. no expansion joint between the coping and the, in your case plaster
3. no plaster above the water line

What they basically did is this but they did not do the expansion joint between the deck and the bond beam...

 

[kimkats]

@cowboycasey nailed it. That explains what you are seeing.

How they let it happen is the home owners did not have a clue about the best practices for building a pool. The pool builder..............well how much you want to bet this is a pool he built when he was just starting out...............

Now how to fix it............................money and someone who knows what they are doing.

 

[KaraB]

I’m scared to ask but how much do you think it will cost? I’ve read redoing coping is anywhere from 3-7k

 

[kimkats]

Cost is SO different from area to area. It is even different from one side of a big town to the other. What we suggest is to call around to get at least 5 quotes. Share the quotes here with as much detail as possible and we will go over them with you.

 

[jamjam]

You can DIY this if you have moderate DIY skills and follow the advice of our resident experts.

 

[KaraB]

I will start calling around on Tuesday. My pool maintenance company has a stone mason they use but I am thinking I need to call reputable pool construction companies. What worries me most is the part where the spa is. I’m guessing they’d have to take apart all the stones to put in a joint expansion. Wish we were handy like that but no…. Thanks so much

 

[kimkats]

I would get the stone mason to give a quote. You never know he might really know what he is doing! I will tell you that most of the pool constructions companies use the same trade subs so....................it might end up being the mason you know already

 

[KaraB]

I would get the stone mason to give a quote. You never know he might really know what he is doing! I will tell you that most of the pool constructions companies use the same trade subs so....................it might end up being the mason you know already

Thanks, I will. Hoping I get call backs.

 

[KaraB]

@cowboycasey nailed it. That explains what you are seeing.

How they let it happen is the home owners did not have a clue about the best practices for building a pool. The pool builder..............well how much you want to bet this is a pool he built when he was just starting out...............

Now how to fix it............................money and someone who knows what they are doing.

I looked at the home sale documents and found the pool company that built the pool. You were right… company founded in 2005. The pool was completed in March of 2006. And oddly enough they are still in business but without any info on Google… no reviews etc.

 

[jamjam]

Call them and have them fix it. Ask for the “you had no idea what you were doing now it’s time to re-balance the universe“ discount.