Fixing coping

[wayner]

I finally want to get around to fixing a piece of coping that broke off three years ago that I posted about here: Corner coping piece has become dislodged

One question about the mortar - once I spread the mortar how do I keep it from oozing out? Or will that not happen if I mix the mortar to the proper viscosity? It almost looks like a need a small form to keep it in place - see the photo below. I am concerned about the mortar that will go on the lip above the liner on the left side of this photo, as well as above the stairs in the center and right of the photo. Or do I not put the mortar all the way to the edge initially, but do this later on, kind of like re-pointing the mortar for bricks?

And what do I do if some of the mortar falls into the pool? Will I be able to pick out up and bring it out? Will it just dissolve into sand and powder and get filtered or vacuumed out?



Overhead shot:

 

[ajw22]

I would go easy on the mortar and keep it on the back structure and away from the edge. Just use enough to hold the coping stone. It does not need to last for 100 years.

Any mortar that falls in the pool should dissolve. Pickup any chunks you can.

I float a tarp by where I am working to capture anything that falls in the pool. That makes it easier on my pool cleaner.

 

[wayner]

Thanks. Reading other threads on similar topics it talks about making mortar that is the consistency of cookie dough so that it doesn't ooze out too much. Does that make sense?
Good Idea on the floating a tarp - I will use that or even something like a flutterboard to catch anything that falls.

While I am at it, should I touch up the mortar in other areas where it has fallen out under the coping? You can kind of see this a bit on the right side of the first picture. My pool is about 17 years old and I guess with time and freeze/thaw cycles it comes out a bit over time.

 

[ajw22]

Thanks. Reading other threads on similar topics it talks about making mortar that is the consistency of cookie dough so that it doesn't ooze out too much. Does that make sense?

Yes

.While I am at it, should I touch up the mortar in other areas where it has fallen out under the coping? You can kind of see this a bit on the right side of the first picture.

I don’t think that accomplishes anything unless you pop the stone off and fully redo the mortar.

 

[Mikes61]

I’m a new guy to this Forum, but have done some stonework.

Yes, mix it to cookie dough consistency. You want it to ooze out slightly, then scrape and wipe off the excess. It will come off easily and cleanly when wet. You’ll want to use a rubber mallet and a straightedge to put the stone back in place and level it with the surrounding coping.

Maybe watch a few YouTube videos before you get started, they will be a big help.

 

[wayner]

In case anyone is interested here are the after photos. It seems pretty good, but the back corner of the coping stone is a bit too high, I should have used a mallet or something to lower it about 1/4 of an inch.

The stone also seems to not quite be lined up with the adjacent stone, but there isn't much I can do about this. Either it was always like this or over the last 16 years the stones have shifted a bit due to freeze-thaw cycles or whatever.