First Pool - Jumped in feet first

[ajw22]

Another question, I have a price of aluminum plate over the skimmer to support the coping stones. Is there some type of adhesive to bond the mortar to the aluminum?

I would use some type of construction adhesive instead of mortar on that assuming you don't need any height buildup of the stone.

 

[ruleandrews]

I would use some type of construction adhesive instead of mortar on that assuming you don't need any height buildup of the stone.

I'll need to build up about a 1/2" on that side of the pool

 

[ajw22]

How as it done before?

 

[ruleandrews]

How as it done before?

The skimmer was flush to the wall before. When I replaced it, I cut the wall and set the skimmer back a bit.

 

[ajw22]

The skimmer was flush to the wall before. When I replaced it, I cut the wall and set the skimmer back a bit.

I would have used a piece of stone to bridge it so mortar would stick to it and not a piece of aluminum which is problematic.

 

[ruleandrews]

I would have used a piece of stone to bridge it so mortar would stick to it and not a piece of aluminum which is problematic.

The issue with that if I only have a 1/4 to play with, so the stone I would have used would not have provided much stability.
What do people usually use for a Skimmer bridge.
This is what I used.

 

[ajw22]

That aluminum plate may work if you are using long coping stones that bridge it.

I also don't like aluminum right over a skimmer mouth where it will get a lot of salt water splash and likely corrode over time from the salt water.

I would have used a 1/4'=3/8? thick flat stone as a bridge.

 

[ruleandrews]

That aluminum plate may work if you are using long coping stones that bridge it.

I also don't like aluminum right over a skimmer mouth where it will get a lot of salt water splash and likely corrode over time from the salt water.

I would have used a 1/4'=3/8? thick flat stone as a bridge.

That makes sense.
Although, it's not a salt water pool, I might head up to one of the local land scale yards and see what they got for stone.

 

[ajw22]

Although, it's not a salt water pool,

All pools end up being salt water pools.

Whatever type of solid or liquid chlorine you use adds salt with the chlorine and the salt accumulates in the water.

 

[tommelton]

My install was done with a large format tile (not sure if porcelain or ceramic or) over the skimmer to bridge the gap.

 

[ruleandrews]

All pools end up being salt water pools.

Whatever type of solid or liquid chlorine you use adds salt with the chlorine and the salt accumulates in the water.

I did not know that. Thanks for the info!!

 

[ruleandrews]

My install was done with a large format tile (not sure if porcelain or ceramic or) over the skimmer to bridge the gap.

Thanks!

Was the finished side of the tile scuffed up so the mortar adhered better?

 

[tommelton]

Was the finished side of the tile scuffed up so the mortar adhered better?

Not that I recall.

 

[tommelton]

I went and looked at the pics I was capturing every 30 seconds - they installed the large format tile, finished side down (towards the water). So the coping mortar adhered well to the backside that was facing upwards.

 

[ruleandrews]

I went and looked at the pics I was capturing every 30 seconds - they installed the large format tile, finished side down (towards the water). So the coping mortar adhered well to the backside that was facing upwards.

Would you be able to post a picture?

 

[tommelton]

Here is a pic of the tile laying by the skimmer opening:


And another with it laying in place:

And mortar install:


And tile in place on top of mortar:


And coping being installed on top:


Hope that helps.

 

[ruleandrews]

Here is a pic of the tile laying by the skimmer opening:
View attachment 429151

And another with it laying in place:View attachment 429154

And mortar install:
View attachment 429159

And tile in place on top of mortar:
View attachment 429160

And coping being installed on top:
View attachment 429162

Hope that helps.

Yes it did.
I ended up using a large format tile as well
Thanks!!

 

[ruleandrews]

Well, it's been a pretty busy summer. Slow go on on the project, but here are some progress pics. We're gonna be pouring the deck/patio this Saturday.
A few things to do by then. Finish off the rest of the grout for the copiing and tie the wire mesh together.
I ended up sand blasting 18" down to get ready for the tile, core drilled some holes and ran all the conduit for the microbrite lights and decided last min to break out and pour new steps going into the back. I also added some electrical boxes for risers in the steps.
Figured I'd give an update so this didn't look like an abandoned post/project.

 

[kimkats]

Well there you are! Seems as if there has been a lot going on around your place!!

 

[ruleandrews]

The deck has been poured!
It was a long day yesterday. Did 3 sides with a light exposed aggregate and stamped the rest.