RTV cracking on new build how much of an issue

[Davegnh]

Been trying to get my contractor over to look at this I have about 20% of the RTV separating from the tiles and pool deck. Worried about water getting behind tile and causing issues.

 

[ajw22]

Do you know where your expansion joint is between the pool structure and deck?

RTV is a patch and I would never expect it to be used on a new build.

Expansion Joints and Coping - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Davegnh]

I do not know where the expansion joint is. All I can see it is about a quarter inch of silicone RTV (between deck and tile) at least that's what I think it is when I contacted the pool builder about the cracking they said I could fill it with silicone RTV. I told them I did not feel comfortable doing that and wanted the subcontractor to come out and repair it.

I have a poured concrete deck only expansion joints I see are the vertical ones.

Dave

 

[Davegnh]

Dug up deck construction pic. Thinking this is the expansion joint.

 

[ajw22]

Don't get confused with different types of expansion joints in your deck for different purposes. The vertical joints installed when the deck was poured are to prevent cracking between deck sections.

The pool expansion joint is to keep the deck from pressing on the bond beam and cracking it.

A “decoupling” expansion joint should extend across the entire width of the top of the bond beam to allow the deck to move independent of the pool shell. This joint can be created with a 4mm plastic sheet or 2 layers of roofing felt underlayment.

I see no signs of such a decoupling expansion joint in your pictures or any plastic sheet or felt underlayment between the deck over hang and the coping.

 

[Davegnh]

Maybe this is a better picture. Thanks for the feedback. I wish I had more pics of the build process.

 

[Davegnh]

More pics still waiting on pb response. Doesn't seem like this should happen in first month?

 

[ajw22]

Doesn't seem like this happen in first month

Explain what you mean by that statement.

 

[Davegnh]

Typo. Doesn't seem like this should happen in first month?

 

[ajw22]

Typo. Doesn't seem like this should happen in first month?

I agree. I think they used some cheap caulk from HD that shrank.

They need to scrape it all out and use the proper material from Sikaflex or Deck-O-Seal.

 

[Davegnh]

I was told any 100% silicone should be good to by pool builder. It definitely seems to be from thermal expansion. Based on join opening and closing based on temperature of the day.

 

[ajw22]

I was told any 100% silicone should be good to by pool builder. It definitely seems to be from thermal expansion. Based on join opening and closing based on temperature of the day.

That is what an expansion joint is supposed to do and the material used cannot handle the expansion.

 

[Davegnh]

Subcontractor admitted it was a defect and will be coming out to fix it at some point in time... But when anybody's guess. I'm pretty sure the pool builder had no idea what they used for sealing the joint.