Water edge tiles falling off...

[rjdoc74]

Hello everyone,

I really appreciate all the knowledge on this forum. I inherited a pool with a house purchase with very small decorative tile at the water edge (0.5 x 0.5 in glass tiles). All tile is in bad shape from calcium deposits and tiles are cracked almost everywhere (I am certain the previous owner did not maintain the pool properly). There are also a few spots in the spa where tiles are falling off. I am attaching a picture. Long-term, looks like all this tile needs to be replaced. But in the short-term, is it worth re-attaching some of these tiles back? If yes, where do I buy just a few similar tiles? And what do I use to re-attach? I read silicone is the way to go. Please advise. TIA!

 

[ajw22]

You can buy glass tiles like that in a tile store.

Do not use silicone to attach them. You will create a problem when you want to retile the pool.

You use thinset to attach the tiles...

Tile

e-zpatch.com

I don't think it is worth the effort to replace them. You would need to clean up the area to put a new tile in and that will probably loosen other tiles around it.

Note that in the pic you posted there is a crack in the coping leading down to where you lost the tiles. You have a more general cracking problem, probably caused by a poor expansion joint with your deck, causing the coping and tile cracking.