Widening a step,

[Titan7]

So the latest issue uncovered in my not so fun pool build. We noticed this small gap between the pillar and the second step into the pool Is very awkward and I think it’s going to become an algae farm. We noticed it after shotcrete a couple months ago but hav been dealing with so many other issues that now are on this.

That gap is currently 6” wide, after pebble it will be 4-5” wide, not sure how they even get plaster in there and how do you brush it. Plus I have a feeling that will be green with algae all the time.
So how did it get there? Well the original water feature wall was only 8 feet, that left a 2.5 foot space between the lower step and the pillar, when we changed it to 12 feet the step was shortened and the small gap was created. You cant see this on the CAD drawings or video rendering.

Notice that that second step is very narrow, when I walk in my heel is hitting the edge As it’s only 10.75” wide compared to the 18” of the other normal step. I think it’s a safety issue, algae, issue and cosmetic issue. So, we are going to have the step widened to 17.5” and will touch the pillar.

All good? Well I am thinking easy fix, drill add rebar and re-shoot with shotcrete, well they started talking about hand packing this with hydraulic cement. I’m thinking cold joint?

thoughts?

 

[Titan7]

Also have a question on expansion joint. 1/3 of my coping is landlocked into the deck, it’s all travertine as is the coping. There is no expansion joint between the deck travertine and the pool coping travertine on about 1/3 of the perimete. Issue?

 

[MAPR-Austin]

I would epoxy in some rebar dowels, cut/chip a keyway on the floor and walls, and form/pour the step. That will be the easiest and guarantee the correct width and level-ness of the step. You might end up with a cold joint but having the new pour locked in with rebar and keyways will give you the best chance.

I think you want an expansion joint between the coping and the deck in pretty much any situation. A fraction of an inch of movement is enough to pop off coping pieces or cause damage.

 

[Titan7]

I would epoxy in some rebar dowels, cut/chip a keyway on the floor and walls, and form/pour the step. That will be the easiest and guarantee the correct width and level-ness of the step. You might end up with a cold joint but having the new pour locked in with rebar and keyways will give you the best chance.

I think you want an expansion joint between the coping and the deck in pretty much any situation. A fraction of an inch of movement is enough to pop off coping pieces or cause damage.

The cold joint can’t happen, I’m not gonna deal with that, will shotcrete cause a cold joint? The other solution was to just fill the void with cement after rebar dowels are placed. I want the absolute best option with highest rate of success, I am thinking that’s shot in place shotcret as that does not create a cold joint to my understanding.

As for the expansion joint, they are telling me as the travertine deck is set in place there is space for movement, well there are tiny spaces between the tile pieces but they are pretty tight.

 

[MAPR-Austin]

Unless you have a lot of ground movement you should be fine if the travertine is just set on a sand bed or something like that.

Shotcrete done right should be good as long as you put in rebar. I would still probably do a keyway.

 

[Titan7]

All done, no keyway but epoxied rebar. Looks so much better and is safer walking in.

So I’m here watching work be done as this pool has had nothing go right. I taking to the guys putting the rebar in, and ask where the epoxy is? They tell me we are gonna hammer them in they should be fine, lol. I said heck no epoxy them in, they say well we can’t do shotcrete them as they need to set for a day, I said reschedule shotcrete.

PSA #2000, be at home, watch the work, be informed and ask question.

on to the next issue