Efflorescence Damaging Coping

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JMPool99

Bronze Supporter
Jul 31, 2021
129
So Cal
Pool Size
22000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Pool is about 2.5 years old. We've battled moisture coming up through decking and coping for at least that long. And, even though everything was bone dry during construction, seems when winter rolls around things never quite dry out. Anyway, check out the attached photo. You can see the efflorescence almost 1/8" tall. If you brush the top of the coping, some of the finish will come off and efflorescence is underneat pushing up the coping.

The pits aren't deep enough to fill with grout. Sealing probably bad idea since moisture would get trapped behind the sealer?

The source of the moisture (Even after soils engineers reviewed) is unknown but has been present decades. Just now withthe pool the issues have become problematic. Soils study didn't make any recommendations for this situation.

Would love to hear any ideas.
 

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JMPool99 said:
The source of the moisture (Even after soils engineers reviewed) is unknown but has been present decades.
Click to expand...

Can you explain that more and how you know the source of moisture has been present for decades?

@AQUA~HOLICS is in your area. Let's see if he has seen this before.
 
Yeah -- we have block wall for fences (one as close as 10-12 feet from the spot in the photo), and we've seen efflorescenes coming up through those and other concrete structures. It's a lot worse on all the pool stuff though (maybe because of the materials ... becuase new... not sure?).

I'm not saying definitively that it is from the ground, but it seems highly likely. Would love some other input and feedback for sure.
 
I am not sure that's efflorescence. It normally come from the grout on the wall or a vertical surface.

A drop of muriatic acid on it and it should bubble up mostly confirming it IS calcium, More pics would help.

The water that is carrying those minerals to the surface DOES NOT go up. The source is higher than the decking material and gravity is pushing that source water DOWN and it re-emerges on the deck surface..........but always on a surface that is HIGHER than the pool deck.

Post a pic ot two from further back, if you can.
 
I will post another photo -- thanks for the reply. Note, a lot of my other coping looks exactly like what I just saw in this post.

Pool Bellecrete Coping Moisture Problems

Hi, I have a recently built inground gunite swimming pool with attached spa. Gunite installed in July 2020. A couple weeks later, Bellecrete cast concrete coping was installed on top of the bond beam. Construction stopped at that point and the gunite shell with coping sat dry for almost a year...
www.troublefreepool.com www.troublefreepool.com
 
The efforesence source for the other thread you linked is from the spa. The spa water flows through the spa wall and picks up minerals (usually calcium).

The mineral laden spa water then passes out of spa wall and evaporates, leaving the minerals on the wall.
 
JamesW said:
Can you show pictures of everything?

What material is the coping?

Is the white stuff everywhere or only in certain areas?
Click to expand...
Will get some additional photos tonight.

Material is pre-cast concrete coping.

White stuff is on a lot of the coping. Worst around the spa, but also present on coping around pool.

I DO remember them waterproofing water line before they put in tile. I have photos of that too I believe.
 

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Some additional photos. You can see how wet it always is on that one piece of coping that has all the pits. I have wet coping a all over the place and I have white stuff showing up on top on several pieces.
 

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@duraleigh - I think you're right. There's nothing visible on the slope to indicate a water problem, but before the pool was built we did notice the yard on that side was sometimes wet even when we didn't water. Neighboring homes are also experiencing this wetness. Interestingly, during construction the hole was bone dry for months and would always dry out after Spring rains.

Soils engineer has done a number of houses in area and saw no evidence of underground water from maps or experience. He's not denying that the slope / underground could be the source though.

Would love any ideas on what could be causing. And if it's just nature... then... what's the risk to my pool? I'm just going to be battling stuff like my ugly coping forever...? any other risk to shell of pool? Could I have prevented?

Thanks so much
 
JMPool99 said:
Would love any ideas on what could be causing.
Click to expand...

Non-natural causes:
  • Irrigation from upslope properties
  • Leaking water main(s) in the area
From Microsoft copilot when asked "what percentage of water mains are leaking in southern california ?":

In Southern California, at least 7 percent of residential accessed water—or at least 84 billion gallons—is lost to known leaks1. This significant amount of water loss could, if recovered through repairs, flood more than 191,000 football fields one foot deep. It’s enough to meet the state government’s targeted annual per person water use of at least 4 million Californians (a tenth of the state’s population)1.

Additionally, a UCLA report found that some water retailers in the Los Angeles region reported the amount of water lost at 3 percent to 4 percent, which the researchers described as “an improbably low percentage” compared to the best international rates of 10 percent2. The actual percentage may vary, but these figures give an idea of the scale of water loss due to leaks in the region.
 
Being repetitive, keep in mind that the source is uphill from your pool.. I can't see your place but perhaps you could dig a french drain uphill from the pool wall to divert the water around your pool. It may also stop on it's own but that's iffy.
 
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There is a v-ditch a t the bottom of the slope behind our fence. IT's always dry though. So whatever is happening is under the surface. I really think this water issue has been here for 20 years -- the pool just exposed it since before it was grass and some block wall that didn't really bother anyone when wet!

All good responses... though it sounds like I might be screwed.

I guess I could have used the same water line sealer they used behind my tile before they affixed the coping on the top -- maybe? That would have a least prevented my coping issues.

What's the real risk / damage long term -- any thoughts on that? Only 2.5 years in and already this bad.

Thanks again!
 
I think it is all cosmetic and has no structural effect on your pool.
 

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