Expansion Joints and Coping

[rdbrad]

BTW, my pre-cast coping is very similar to what you show in the diagram. The pavers are the deck.

 

[bdavis466]

The distance varies from zero to a half inch. The pavers are a couple of inches thick so the dirt is against the bond beam. The stone dust hardens like mortar and the pavers have a slight hump like they are starting to buckle. Should the expansion joint be completely free all the way down to the bond beam?

Yes, clear compressible space. If the pavers really are buckling then that's not a good thing because that can end up knocking your coping loose or damaging the pool shell

 

[rdbrad]

Does the soil beneath the pavers need to clear also?

 

[bdavis466]

Does the soil beneath the pavers need to clear also?

No as long as it's below the coping

 

[rdbrad]

So, I should remove the stone dust, cut the pavers to allow a 1/4" to 3/8" gap from the coping and fill the gap with a flexible sealant that is not silicone based?

 

[ajw22]

So, I should remove the stone dust, cut the pavers to allow a 1/4" to 3/8" gap from the coping and fill the gap with a flexible sealant that is not silicone based?

Use a foam backer rod in the gap and then put the flexible caulk on top.

 

[rdbrad]

Thank you very much for the advice. I'm glad the pavers are only on one side of the pool and glad they are pavers and can be removed fairly easily.