Pool deck issue - concrete being pushed up

[berniedp]

Hi all,

Over the past few months, something is causing the concrete of my pool deck to be pushed up quite badly. This is happening on the side, right in between the posts of the handrail:

Earliest picture I have, July 12th:


Picture today, July 29th:


It seems it may also be cracking one of the pool tiles situated in a direct line of this bump:


Around the time of the first picture, I noticed a ton of super-tiny pavement ants walking around the deck. I eventually located a spot they outside the pool enclosure (about 2 meters/6 feet away from this concrete spot) and put a number of liquid ant baits. That seems to have taken care of it - no ants to be seen since,

However, the second picture postdates that ant adventure so I'm not at all sure it was ants . I know they can move quite a bit of soil but this is concrete we're talking about...

Could it be a tree root growing in the wrong direction? The nearest tree is about 7 meters / 21 feet away...

I have no idea how to proceed from here. Anybody have any suggestions? I've only been a home owner for a few years so these challenges baffle me quite a bit, to be honest...

Thanks,
B.

 

[ajw22]

Show us wider pictures of the area so we can see what may be causing the problem.

 

[berniedp]

Of course, should have thought of that

 

[ajw22]

I will observe that the lifting area is directly in line with the support pole for your cage.

Does that handrail pull out? If so, I would remove it and see what you can see around the holes.

Other then that it will take invasive surgery to open up the area and see what is going on under the deck.

 

[Bill1974]

What is the history of the pool and any changes/repairs/updates in the past year or so? Also any changes in the area around the pool?

Is there a leak where the tile is broke? Kind of surprised a tile would break and the what is behind it is not cracked.

 

[berniedp]

Sorry for my delayed response - had a crazy week...

I will observe that the lifting area is directly in line with the support pole for your cage.

Does that handrail pull out? If so, I would remove it and see what you can see around the holes.

Other then that it will take invasive surgery to open up the area and see what is going on under the deck.

The handle is cemented in so can't be removed.
The support pole is, afaik, only bolted to the floor, not in the concrete so don't think that's causing it.
Re surgery - I guess I would need a pool builder to come over and look at my options?

What is the history of the pool and any changes/repairs/updates in the past year or so? Also any changes in the area around the pool?

Is there a leak where the tile is broke? Kind of surprised a tile would break and the what is behind it is not cracked.

The deck coating was put on in April 2023 - otherwise no major changes in or around the pool at all.
I'll have to test for the leak - going to find a kit online or at the pool store - with the rainy season in FL it's difficult to say if I have a leak.