Poor man's pool rehab

[dieterhansi]

Hello forum.

The cover comes off today (i'm in Northern NJ). I got some estimates to rehab the pool....with a low of 40k, i have decided to ignore them and do my best to improve the look of my pool. There is no way that this work will do the same as a professional job, but neither will it cost much of anything....and my time is not valuable. I have been inspired by you tube videos of people refinishing concrete, fixing expansion joints, etc. so it seems like a low risk proposition to try it on my own.

I would be grateful for any advice people can offer on 1. the order of work and 2. recommended materials to use (or avoid).

If you think I'm crazy I want to hear about why as well.

MY PLAN

1. Fix cracks in concrete deck
2. Refinish Concrete deck
3. Fix the pool deck expansion joints (Vinyl)
4. Re-do expansion joints (between coping and pool deck)
5. patch crack at bond beam (only where tiles have fallen off)
6. replace tile where it has fallen off.

I think this is the proper order of things.

 

[Wobblerlorri]

You're a braver person than I am, Dieter! Good luck and have fun!

 

[jimmythegreek]

sounds right by the order....the pics are kinda up close but it doesnt look like much to save. unless you have extra material and extra pool coping its just gonna be a kind of ugly patch job. if your OK with that then proceed. If you had experience with masonry you would be off to a good start. youtube can only help so much, but Id say have at it if you think you are up to the task. remember cracked concrete is just that, and movement will still occur. All that damage is water getting in from the joints and freezing in the winter. gotta keep a pool sealed up tight inside and topside

 

[dieterhansi]

Thanks Jimmy and Wobble. Re: the cracked concrete, i accept that it may come back. We moved into the house over 10 years ago, and the pool badly needed a rehab even then....a year later we replaced the crappy old cover with a much better one, and i have noticed that the rate of deterioration (on tile losses) dramatically slowed.

 

[jimmythegreek]

you have to keep water out of the pool decking and surrounding area. whatever you do, caulk and seal as you go. every fall you need to check all gaps and joints and seal them. water expands, it will crack ANYTHING in its way in freezing climates, it even lifts buildings up

 

[Casey]

Good luck to ya and keep us posted!