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How To Repair Concrete Cracks Around Pool

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How To Resurface A Concrete Pool Deck

How to fix cracks and holes on a concrete pool deck.

Theres nothing like the sharp, trying-not-to-swear pain of stubbing your toe on concrete to get you thinking about pool deck resurfacing. It might feel like an unnecessary cosmetic chore, but keeping your concrete in good condition is also paramount to your pools health.

When you make it part of your regular pool maintenance, cleaning your deck, repairing cracks, and sealing the concrete can save you from stress and expensive fixes, not to mention help keep all your toes intact.

How To Patch A Pool Deck

A swimming pool deck provides easy access to the pool for you and your family. Its roughened surface enables you to walk and play around the pool with less danger from slipping. If the pool deck cracks, water can seep behind the beam, a part of the pools integral structure. Excess moisture might cause the soil to shift to the point where it no longer supports the pools walls. No matter whether your pool deck is plain concrete or a polymer resin overlay, select a repair product that has enough elasticity in it to allow the pool deck the movement it needs. Make sure to choose one suitable for your pool deck material.

Transition Areas / Cut And Fill

Pools built on an area that has both cut and fill soil will incur more problems than ones built fully on cut or fill. The tendency on a cut and fill area, often called a transition area, is for the portion of the pool built on fill to settle. This unequal movement leads to cracking. Hill side homes have more cut and fill problems than those build on all cut or all fill.

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How Can Polyrenewal Repair My Concrete Pool Deck

We know you want your pool deck to look its best. Whether you use it daily, sometimes, or on special occasions, a pool is a large investment for your home and family.

So, if the concrete deck around your pool starts cracking or sinking, this can be a concern for many reasons. The unsightliness of the damaged concrete can decrease the value and make your pool look unkempt. More importantly, uneven and cracked concrete can be a safety hazard. The last thing you want is to have kids, elderly people, or anyone else tripping and hurting themselves during a day of fun in the sun.

If you have these concerns, we can help! We offer a product called PolyRenewal, which is a state-of-the-art system for concrete lifting and leveling. This involves pumping polyurethane foam through holes with less than an inch diameter. While it may be hard to believe, this foam is extremely strong once it hardens and you can drive on it within 15 minutes of installation. This product works better than mud-jacking because adding more concrete under the slab only makes it heavier and more likely to sink again.

The foam will lift the concrete and make all sections even. This will eliminate tripping hazards.

We can also use joint sealant to fill in and seal any cracks. This will create a more appealing look and prevent water from getting into the cracks and washing more dirt out from under the slab.

An Ounce Of Maintenance Now Is Worth A Pound Of Resurfacing Later

Concrete Repair

Remember, the more quickly you take care of concrete damage, the less youll have to worry about any major pool deck resurfacing or repairs. Patch small cracks as they come up, and regularly pressure wash your deck to prevent the buildup of dirt, moss, and grime that aggravates cracking.

And once youve got those pesky cracks fixed, consider total pool deck resurfacing to enhance your little slice of paradise, not to mention improve curb appeal if you ever plan to sell. Youll be glad you did.

Happy Swimming!

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When Should You Call A Professional

For numerous lengthy cracks that run deep across the pool deck, you might need to seek professional help. Have a licensed pool deck contractor asses the cracks to determine the best course of action. This will make sure that the cracks dont result in severe damage and more expenses on heavy repairs. Not to mention that safety hazard it poses to the swimmers. These cracks can be the cause of dangerous slip-and-fall accidents.

Hairline cracks can be left alone but deeper and larger cracks can be a serious problem. In which case, your next best move is to consult with a pool deck contractor. Visit our homepage for more information on pool deck maintenance, repair and resurfacing. You can also read through our blogs for more interesting articles.

Concrete Pool Repair Service

A concrete pool is normally very resistant over time, but cracks in the concrete can sometimes be visible. A crack in your pool can cause water leaks that should alert you to the existence of such a problem. Although they are sometimes visible to the naked eye, cracks are often formed where water has accumulated.

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Fix Major Surface Cracks Or Minor Structural Cracks In A Concrete Pool With A Grinder And Pool Plaster

Drain the pool completely. Remove at least two hydrostatic relief plugs from the pool floor. Using a 4-inch grinder, widen the crack and make it into a reverse V shape. Next, dampen the crack. Ensure that it remains moist as you apply a bonding additive until the crack is filled up. Use hydraulic cement if it is over an inch deep, then add pool plaster for a smooth finish. However, it is best to get the best pool repair service in Sarasota, especially if your pool has structural cracks.

Pool Deck Resurfacing Options

How to repair cracks in concrete pools.

There are effective solutions for repairing damaged concrete pool deck. Here is a brief description of each:

  • Stamped Concrete Overlay A thin layer of the overlay is enough to cover up damage and give the pool deck a new surface. It is important, however, to remove the brittle surface first, making sure that the overlay would adhere efficiently. The preferred pattern is stamped on the overlay for a more decorative and slip-resistant surface. Stains can be added to add color or to make stone, brick, or wood patterns more realistic.
  • Spray Knockdown Finish This is an acrylic concrete coating that is sprayed, not poured, on an existing pool deck. Just like for stamping, the surface is first cleaned before the installation. The material is loaded into a hopper gun and then sprayed evenly on the pool deck. The splattered material is then knocked down with a trowel to create a textured surface that is subtly stunning and highly slip-resistant.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • To remove loose pieces of concrete chisel out the crack.
  • Remove the debris which includes chips and dust. Use a broom, shop vac, or air compressor
  • Apply filler while checking periodically if it has settled.
  • Let it cure for 24 hours.
  • Seal for lasting results.
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    How To Reduce The Need For Repairs

    Once youve finished your pool deck resurfacing project, youll know how much elbow grease goes into tackling this chore. And you probably wont want to do it again. Theres good news: You dont have to bother with resurfacing for a while as long as you properly maintain your pool deck.

    But you already knew that was coming, didnt you? Were all about the maintenance here!

    The truth is, repair and maintenance go hand in hand when it comes to concrete. If you keep up with small cracks as they appear, youll save yourself a ton of money and effort later on. The same goes for sealing your deck on an annual basis.

    A dirty pool deck offers a perfect environment for weeds, algae, and fungus to grow between the concrete sections. Not only is this unsightly, it can be dangerous. Algae and fungus are slippery, especially when theyre wet.

    A clean deck not only reduces potential slippery areas, but also keeps unwanted flora from taking root and breaking into your concrete. Regularly pressure washing your pool deck goes a long way to keeping your surface safe, clean, and more crack-resistant.

    How Do You Fix Sinking Concrete Around Your Pool

    If your concrete surface is sinking, a contractor can use a technique called slabjacking to fix the problem. This option can prevent you having to remove your pool deck altogether.

    The slabjacking process follows these steps:

  • A pattern of holes are drilled through the sunken slab.
  • A grout mixture is pumped under the slab, lifting it to the desired height.
  • The holes are patched using a concrete mixture.
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    Excess Antiquing Color Causes Problems

    Question: I have a pool deck in which the sealer seems to be flaking off and coming up in some areas. This is not an issue that we have dealt with before, so I am a little concerned. Can you let us know what is occurring and how we can remedy this issue?

    A good rule to work by is that secondary color should make up 5% to 30% of the final color. In this case, the secondary color makes up almost 100% of the surface color, causing sealer failure.

    Answer: This is actually one of the most common issues we face with coloring stamped concrete. It is in fact not a sealer issue, but rather the antiquing color that is causing the sealer to fail. The sealer failure can occur within weeks of application, but more often shows up 6 to 12 months down the road.

    The repair is fairly simple in theory, but more difficult in practice. The sealer has to be chemically stripped, but the process will usually remove most of the secondary color as well. Once the stripping is complete, you can remove any residual secondary color, give the surface a good cleaning, and then allow it to dry before resealing. The hard part is selling the client on the new “correct” color combination of their patio. What was mostly dark brown with hints of tan is now mostly tan with hints of dark brown.

    Pool Coping Grout Repair

    Carolina Basement Systems

    Typically pool coping has the main purpose of joining together the horizontal deck with the vertical walls of the pool. It acts with a sense of architectural presence protecting the pools beam.

    If water can actively penetrate the grout, it may cause the walls of the pool to shift, and as a side effect, major damage can occur to the pool.

    It becomes necessary to repair brick coping when damage can visually be spotted with the naked eye. However, in cases where only the grout is damaged, simply remove the old grout. Fill the old joints with new grout in order to seal out moisture and protect the pool from any long-term damage or side effects.

    Remember that if you are repairing the pool grout yourself, it sets in faster than other types of structures so be aware that it dries faster. Pool grout differs from the grout that may be used in household tiles as it has a greater degree of flexibility.

    The flexibility allows for a greater range of expansion and contraction to handle all different weather climates and variations.

    Although grout can be repaired in a fairly simple manner, if the damage is too severe, there is a chance that an entire pool deck may need to be remodeled.

    Remodeling a pool deck is one way to improve the appearance of your backyard while also increasing the value of your home in the process.

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    How Does Each Repair Option Work

    • Filler fills small cracks to add strength to a weakened area of the surface
    • Joint sealant prevents moisture from getting into joints or cracks and causing further damage
    • Patch used to fix larger cracks, or smooth areas of spalling
    • Overlay creates a fresh new surface for the entire pool deck
    • Pressure washer or cleaners used to clean the surface of various stains
    • Coloring agents surface applied colors such as stains can help camouflage imperfections
    • Strip and reseal chemicals are used to remove the failing sealer and a new one is applied
    • Grit additives added to the sealer to improve slip resistance
    • Slabjacking foam injected beneath settled concrete to raise it back into level

    Tip: Some coating manufacturers sell patch kits, so check with them first. Be sure to ask about color matching.

    Find concrete repair products

    Bad Concrete Causes Decorative Disaster

    Question: I hope you can give me some idea about what’s going on with my concrete pool deck. The deck was poured in August 2005 by a local contractor, who then stamped the concrete in an Ashlar slate pattern using a dry color release. After he washed off the residual dry color from the surface, the deck did not look evenly colored. Some areas had barely any color while others had too much. I told the contractor that the color was unacceptable and needed to be fixed before the sealing. Despite that, when I wasn’t home the contractor went ahead and applied a sealer pigmented with a dark brown stain. That made the deck look even worse, but it isn’t my biggest problem. After the first winter, which was mild for the central Midwest, the decorative surface of the deck started to peel and chip away. In some large areas, the surface came off completely, down to the aggregate. I did not apply deicing salts, and no water was left lying on the surface.

    This stamped concrete patio is flaking away due to a surface layer of weak concrete.

    In my opinion, the problem is not caused by the contractor’s coloring methods. Instead, it’s probably due to poor installation techniques, poor curing, a bad concrete mix or a combination of all three. Stamping the surface of bad concrete only speeds up the deterioration process. What makes things worse is that the contractor is refusing to take any responsibility and will not get involved to help figure out what happened.

    UNDERSTANDING SPALLED CONCRETE

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    How To Repair Uneven Concrete Around Your Pool With Polylevel

    Thursday, October 16th, 2014

    Has the concrete surrounding your pool dipped or settled, creating a hazardous uneven surface? Is there a protruding concrete edge where one section of the slab has settled below another?

    The foundation repair specialists at Thrasher are especially well-equipped to make these types of pool deck repairs. What’s more, our innovative PolyLevel concrete lifting and leveling technique is faster and more affordable than pool deck replacement. It’s also a better option than pool deck resurfacing.

    How To Repair Cracks In Concrete Pool Deck

    Fixing & Repairing a Sunken Concrete Pool Deck on Your Own for Cheap!

    Dont start to panic when you see cracks around your concrete pool deck. Its only natural as the shifting of the soil and weather exposure inevitably causes cracks over time. Barely there concrete cracks shouldnt be a problem. However, larger and more noticeable cracks may be the result of an underlying problem like structural issues. These can really take away from the beauty of the pool. Not only that, large cracks pose a safety hazard for swimmers. In this article, we show you how to repair pool deck cracks.

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    Live Somewhere Cold Read This First

    If you live in the kind of place where you joke about having winter eight months out of the year, concrete maintenance can be a chore and a half. Thats because exposure to cold weather adds a slew of additional cracking opportunities for your deck.

    It also means you need to be careful about when you repair your cracks. If you live in an area with spring blizzards and summer hail storms, you need to pay attention to the forecast before you even consider doing repairs.

    You need at least 24 hours of non-freezing conditions before laying concrete. You also want to make sure your repair concrete is just as cold as or colder than the ambient air temperature when you place it.

    Cold concrete has a longer curing time, giving it more strength and durability in freezing conditions. Warm mixtures dry faster, which means less overall strength.

    Above all, be sure to read your concrete manufacturers instructions when laying in a cold weather area. They will often have the best recommendations for their product.

    Causes Of A Sinking Concrete Pool Deck

    Before repairing your sinking concrete, it is crucial to understand why the concrete has sunk to make sure it does not happen again. Many concrete pool decks are prone to settling because of the pool construction process. The backfill soil that’s added around the pool excavation will not be as dense or well-compacted as the undisturbed soil. Whether the contractor didn’t take into consideration the soil type and the compaction of the ground. Although concrete sinks for a variety of reasons, the common problem is always the soil. Different types of soil have various load-bearing capacities. When a soil’s load-bearing capacity is exceeded, the heavy concrete slab is poured around the pool, and the loose soil will often compress under the slab’s weight, causing sections of the concrete to sink or settle.

    The foundation repair specialists at Thrasher are exceptionally well-equipped to make these types of pool deck repairs. What’s more, our innovative PolyLevel concrete lifting and leveling techniques are faster and more affordable than pool deck replacement. It’s also a better option than pool deck resurfacing.

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    Spots On Stamped Pool Deck May Be Sealer Diffusion

    Question: We have an issue with efflorescence on a stamped concrete pool deck and need your advice. The last time the pool deck was sealed was about three years ago. About a month ago, we resealed the deck and now it has white spots . We used a 30%-solids solvent-based acrylic sealer. We applied the sealer to a test area about three months before we resealed, and there did not seem to be any issues. Before resealing, we cleaned the deck with a mild acid wash, neutralized, and then allowed the sealer to dry. We then applied one coat of sealer diluted with xylene followed by a second coat rolled on full strength.

    The grayish-white spots on this pool deck may indicate sealer diffusion, a condition in which the sealer lifts from the concrete.

    What is causing the white spots, and what percent of acrylic sealer or type of sealer do you recommend for a stamped pool deck?

    Another thing it may be is moisture condensation trapped under the sealer. Have you had any major wet weather events in the weeks prior to this occurring? As with most decorative concrete issues, it could be a combination of both of these things, with a little efflorescence thrown in for good measure.

    To fix the problem, I would wait until the winter is over and you get some warmer weather. A xylene bath is the first step. If this does not work, you will probably need to strip off some or all of the sealer.

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