Poorly bonded coping?

Steve_K · Jun 1, 2014

My new pool is currently being tiled. I checked the quality of the installation by lightly tapping on each tile using a large steel nut and listening for any hollow sounds. The tiles appear to be tight and sound, no problems at all. Next, I tapped on the precast concrete coping and heard hollow sounds at each end of almost every piece of coping. I'm surprised because the installer used a rubber mallet to pound each coping piece into place until mortar would squeeze out the sides. I'm guessing he spread the mortar too thin at the ends.

I'll call the pool contractor tomorrow to get his opinion. Pulling all the coping off would delay the completion, especially if any pieces are broken in the process. The coping is custom made with a 3 week lead time. Has anyone experienced this before?

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cchopkins · Jun 25, 2014

where did you guys find your precast concrete coping? Look nice!

jjwalker · Jun 26, 2014

Steve_K said:
Next, I tapped on the precast concrete coping and heard hollow sounds at each end of almost every piece of coping.

just curious, why are you using this as a watermark for quality install or poorly installed coping?

bulldogz400 · Jun 26, 2014

I'm not sure if that's a sign of poor craftsmanship or not - but what I DO know is that not a pool, that is a lake.

Looks awesome!

Steve_K · Jun 26, 2014

cchopkins said:
where did you guys find your precast concrete coping? Look nice!

The coping is custom made for the pool for and spa by Pacific Stone in Los Angeles. http://pacificstone.net/

ouachita · Jun 26, 2014

In my opinion it won't go anywhere. I would not worry about it.

Steve_K · Jun 26, 2014

The Tile Institute of America recommends a minimum 90% coverage of the thinset for outdoor applications. In other words, pressing a tile into fresh thinset and then immediately pulling the tile off, the back of the tile should be 90% covered in thinset. Each day, the pool coping is subjected to swings in temperature causing it to expand and contract and the thinset must maintain a bond under these changing conditions.

Some sections of my coping have less than 50% thinset coverage. Sure, the coping is not going to fall off any time soon, but I plan to live in this house for 25 years and prefer not to hire another contractor to redo the coping 15 years from now.

Anyway, the tile work has been going on for 6 weeks now and I'm anxious to finish the pool, so I've given up on having the coping redone.

ouachita · Jun 28, 2014

I really don't think you will have any issues.