Rusted out steel coping

[wireform]

The magnet just means that the pool structure is steel. Mine is plastic so I really don’t know how prone to serious rusting a steel walled pool actually is. I think it’s not uncommon for some minor surface rust, but I have heard of people who have salt pools and steel walls having serious rust issues. When they pull that liner off you will know for sure. Your steel coping rusted away at the joints. Most likely it was galvanized steel which is basically a protective zinc coating that the steel has been dipped in to stop rust. The installer probably cut those pieces which would have taken off the zinc coating at the cuts which would have left those steel coping pieces vulnerable to rust. Hopefully your pool structure is fine.

Edit: I would just make sure that the contractor spray a bit of metal primer spray paint on the freshly cut metal before filling and painting the coping. This will help prevent it from rusting again.

No difference salt or chlorine. If it's going to rust it'll happen whichever is used.

 

[Sheltont]

The magnet just means that the pool structure is steel. Mine is plastic so I really don’t know how prone to serious rusting a steel walled pool actually is. I think it’s not uncommon for some minor surface rust, but I have heard of people who have salt pools and steel walls having serious rust issues. When they pull that liner off you will know for sure. Your steel coping rusted away at the joints. Most likely it was galvanized steel which is basically a protective zinc coating that the steel has been dipped in to stop rust. The installer probably cut those pieces which would have taken off the zinc coating at the cuts which would have left those steel coping pieces vulnerable to rust. Hopefully your pool structure is fine.

Edit: I would just make sure that the contractor spray a bit of metal primer spray paint on the freshly cut metal before filling and painting the coping. This will help prevent it from rusting again.

Thank you so much for your help!! The current liner was put in 8 years ago, so fingers crossed for no damage. Yes, he said he would put some type of rust neutralizer after grinding it down. I will update once all is done

 

[Orion7319]

Thank you so much for your help!! The current liner was put in 8 years ago, so fingers crossed for no damage. Yes, he said he would put some type of rust neutralizer after grinding it down. I will update once all is done

Good luck! Hopefully it’s ok!

 

[Sheltont]

I wonder if you could grind out some of the rust, fill with mastic like sikaflex and then coat the metal with Por 15 in white... it would need a topcoat of white or use a plastic spray paint once it was fixed with Por 15..

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this stuff lasted on a painted PVC pipe for 5 years in my pool connected to a return with no issues.. it needed touched up after year 5 Good luck! Hopefully it’s ok!

Okay, thanks. This is very overwhelming not knowing anything about pools. Where do you see the original coping track? So I can better understand what I’m dealing with.

My husband has dug a little deeper into the deteriorated steel and it appears the liner track is plastic. Is that possible?

 

[Orion7319]

My husband has dug a little deeper into the deteriorated steel and it appears the liner track is plastic. Is that possible?

I wouldn’t think so, but I wouldn’t have expected it to be made of steel either. Are you sure it’s not liner lock material? It’s used when the liner track is a bit too wide and basically wedges the liner into the track.

Amazon.com : Liner Lock, 120 Feet for Beaded In Ground Pool Liner : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Liner Lock, 120 Feet for Beaded In Ground Pool Liner : Garden & Outdoor

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[Sheltont]

I wouldn’t think so, but I wouldn’t have expected it to be made of steel either. Are you sure it’s not liner lock material? It’s used when the liner track is a bit too wide and basically wedges the liner into the track.

Amazon.com : Liner Lock, 120 Feet for Beaded In Ground Pool Liner : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Liner Lock, 120 Feet for Beaded In Ground Pool Liner : Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

Yes, we discovered the pool was actually put in the 80’s, hence the steel. And definitely not the liner lock. The liner is pulling out where we’re looking. We’re almost wondering now if the steel is covering a liner track?

 

[Sheltont]

What i noticed is that is the originalmetal coping track...... Somebody installed coping amd a deck above the original concrete deck. That's a no no trying to save some bucks on demo. The metal coping underneath is tied into the concrete deck under what you see now. That will be a nightmare to change out and messy. Gotta get creative amd find something to just install over all of it amd hide it leaving just the liner notch exposed.
That's old coping they used aluminum mainly I've only seen steel on a few 80s era pools

I’m curious to have a better understanding of what your saying, because this definitely sounds possible. How can you tell that a new deck is covering the old one? Also, my husband dug deeper into the rust in a spot where the liner has come unattached, and it appears the liner track is plastic? Is that possible since the coping is steel? Last question... since you mentioned just installing something over it. Could I remove my current pavers and buy cantilever pavers somewhere. I’ve looked online and having a hard time finding somewhere to buy them from. Thanks so much for your help! Your knowledge is greatly appreciated!

 

[jimmythegreek]

Just look at pics of pools online. Old school was was a concrete deck amd that white strip is the pools coping and liner track all in one. That's how they did them amd some still do it that way. You have pavers on top of that white coping, normally when you replace a deck/coping all that is busted out amd removed. Whoever did yours went right over what was there. You cant just remove that and replace with coping stones because your existing deck is too high. The best way is to rip it all out and do it right but that's also the expensive way.