Deck repair or replace?

[Joepilot]

Hello everyone,
I am attempting to repair the old pool with my new found free time thanks to the new wuhan virus. I figure I might as well enjoy the apocalypse in style.
Anyway, the old tiles were all cracked up, and regardless of how much retro style they brought to the place, they had to go. Upon removal I realized that the concrete deck surrounding the pool is pretty bad shape, the concrete is crumbling in some spots and the rebar frame is all rusted out. While researching pool to deck expansion joints I realized that this thing is done totally wrong, and it’s in fact cracked at every point where the rebar from the pool shell attaches to the deck, and I’m guessing water penetration into the cracks has left the concrete underneath brittle and falling apart.
Should I try to patch with hydraulic cement back from the good concrete after chipping out all the bad stuff, or just tear the whole thing out and pour a new deck? Maybe replace with pavers?
Also, how should I preserve the expansion joint either way when pouring new concrete?
Thanks in advance!
Joe

 

[ajw22]

My vote is demo the deck and coping and start fresh. Done right it will last for many years. With a patch job you may be fighting brush fires every year as problems pop up in old areas.

For an expansion joint you put in 1/4" foam between the coping and the concrete pour.

Expansion Joints and Coping - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

@jimmythegreek has helped folks along with renos.

 

[jimmythegreek]

You could save it but for the amount of work your halfway to new. You need a plaster job too as soon as you chip the tile your gonna loose more plaster. After new coping and tile and a new deck your not gonna want to look at old patched plaster. Cut the rebar to free the deck and bust it up. A small machine is great for this like a Toro dingo or small bobcat. 1 day work tops. Then start fresh. Concrete is easiest and cheapest but shows it. Pavers and precast is the nicest and more DIY friendly

 

[Joepilot]

My vote is demo the deck and coping and start fresh. Done right it will last for many years. With a patch job you may be fighting brush fires every year as problems pop up in old areas.

For an expansion joint you put in 1/4" foam between the coping and the concrete pour.

Expansion Joints and Coping - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

@jimmythegreek has helped folks along with renos.

That’s a good point, and I was concerned with that, I’m just not sure if I have the funds to do a complete redo right now as I’m doing all the work myself. If I chip out all the damaged areas do you think hydraulic cement will bond properly with the old stuff?

 

[ajw22]

If I chip out all the damaged areas do you think hydraulic cement will bond properly with the old stuff?

I think hydraulic cement is for filling cracks that it can expand into. You have problems at the edges. You need to create a structural connection between the old and new cement by epoxying rods into the concrete.

To do it right I think it will be as much work as a fresh new deck.

 

[jimmythegreek]

Just clean out the old stuff and make some forms or patch the nest you cambeirh some 5000psi bagged concrete and adhesion promoter. Dont get too fussy its never gonna look great patched. Juat make it safe. Can do in stages too do deck now and tile plaster later just patch that

 

[SinCityCJ]

As stated above, it’s less work to demo and replace the deck and coping, then add new tile. Labor intensive repair but it’s doable. If you do go the repair route, it’s going to be alot of work and $ will add up for sure.

For the coping, get all the loose material out first. Check it with hammer and chisel if you aren’t sure. Brush or use compressed air to clean all the joints.
Then you need to make some forms for the new coping. You will need to be sure they are built to hold the weight of the wet concrete for about a day.
Look for high early strength concrete in the bag, and use a good bonding agent. I’d recommend painting bonder on just prior to pouring and using it as an additive to the cement as well. If you haven’t finished concrete before, you should make a practice slab or two before you start the pool.

One option you may consider is saw cutting the coping all around the perimeter and replacing just that, with the addition of an new expansion joint to the old deck. More $ than a patch but less than the entire deck. You could even possibly use precast concrete coping or cut stone. More $ than cement but a whole lot less finishing work. Then you can do the tile. The deck can come later. You should check with some concrete companies in your area to get a starting point for a budget.