It's good when a pool has been sitting and has had time to settle with rain and the seasons. Expansion joints - or more appropriately called isolation joints - are an essential part of constructing a structurally sound pool and deck. Southern California Blow off the deck first to prevent blowing leaves. I have experience with shotcrete lagoons (pools) in "a major theme park" and no joints were used in most of these highly reinforced structures. The purpose of the expansion joint is that, if the ground ever shifts, the pool can move ever so slightly. Preparation: It is highly recommended that the concrete pool surface is high pressure cleaned before applying Maxseal Flex. If the deck goes below the bond beam then you need to dig down until you find the bottom of the deck and start the expansion joint there.[1]. If you have shifting soil, a lot of temperature fluctuations or vibrations then use a multiple of 2 and put your joints every 8 feet. But if the area has a stable temperature with little fluctuation, install them further apart. Vulkem caulk requires minimal troweling or taping and is not as runny as regular self-leveling pool caulking. Waste water treatment plants (WWTP), etc. Ive seen plenty of joints that were not cut straight or accurately. Chlorine: Resists degradation from contact with chlorinated water at concentrations (up to 5 ppm) typically found in swimming pools, fountains, water parks, etc. Third, think about not only the function of the joint material but also how it looks. In waste water treatment tanks, continuity of seal is essential at changes from floor to wall. 38800 Country Club Dr. Date:1/1/2015, Publication:Concrete International Concrete expansion joints are essential parts of your concrete driveways, sidewalks, pool decks, and so forth. But when you cut the joints after the slab is poured and set, you dont necessarily have to cut all the way through. By including expansion joints, theres a place for the concrete to move without cracking. Can You Get Free Starbucks On Your Birthday? Fred, no worries if there is not a concrete sub-deck. As I do not have an expansion joint now, how wide is best, If not for the expansion joint, pressure from the deck can cause the coping and tile to crack or dislodge. 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. Caulking the expansionjoint keeps out water. After removal from the shrink-wrap and hard board restraining packaging, it expands gradually. Concrete expansion joints give the slab room to move which helps prevent cracks & buckling. Look for material that is permeable, and can bond to the concrete. If a full expansion is necessary, or a detailed pattern is desired, use Frontier Deck Joints in combination with Frontier Rigid Hold. Rushing the process or pouring the concrete when it's too hot outside can cause cracking. Submerseal ensures watertightness at plane and direction changes. Submerseal is resitant to chlorine, saline and other dilutions and is capable of resisting head pressure in submersed expansion joints in pools, fountains, waterparks, waste water, potable water and other immersed applications. If it gets too deep, use a small screwdriver or hooked pin to pull it up. Plan the exact location of all your joints before doing any work. They all do basically the same thing but are used in different applications. You do not have access to www.concreteconstruction.net. Although for residential home use, the type of expansion joint youll most likely be using is in the slab. When the expansion joint is not proper, but is partially filled with debris, rain and snow melt will stand in the gap, and freeze. Pool mastic generally refers to the expansion seal located several inches from your in ground pool's edge. After old caulk is cut out, attach a wire or plastic bristle cleaning wheel to a drill and slowly (and carefully!) Saw-cut joints should be done within 4 to 12 hours after the concrete has been finished. The site owner may have set restrictions that prevent you from accessing the site. Concrete is extremely stiff and doesnt contain any elasticity. Sunrise Pool Services is a company offering a wide range of pool services. "caption": "In The Swim Blog" Expansion joints need to be installed 2 to 3 times in feet the thickness of a concrete slab in inches. Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Sand is not very compressible, and remember that we want to keep debris such as sand out of the expansion joint. Date:11/1/2010, Publication:Special Publication Joints should be spaced about 8 feet and a maximum of 12 feet apart on a 4 thick slab with 3500 4000 psi concrete. Date:7/1/2003, Publication:Structural Journal The purpose of the expansion joint is that, if the ground ever shifts, the pool can move ever so slightly. This joint should be caulked every five years or so. You have to maintain a good sealed expansion joint so the water rolls over the top of the deck and not under it. If there were no expansion joint, the edges of the swimming pool would crack as well as damage the coping and tiles. NJ Businesses. Wed love to hear from you. The external silicone facing is factory applied to the foam at a width greater than the maximum offered extension and is cured before final compression. If the swimming pool has nowhere to move as the earth shifts, it will crack. These expansion joints allow the individual pads to move when the soil expands and contracts due to temperature and moisture changes. Example for typical joint widths for joints between concrete elements for exterior applications considering 25 % movement capability according to EN 15651-4: JavaScript is disabled. Report S Summersgal Active member Mar 13, 2008 35 If you want a patio free of expansion joints, you can strengthen the concrete with reinforcement or by making it thicker. "publisher": { 3. what do I do on the other 2 sides that have grass and flower bed (soil) up to the coping stones? Date:11/1/1981, Search all Articles on expansion joints », Publication:Special Publication If the soil is hard and sturdy like caliche, you can place them further apart. Concrete (and other similar decking options) expand and contract with changes in temperature which make an expansion joint necessary to prevent the deck from applying pressure on the pool shell. When the backer rod is in place, check again that it is smooth and at a consistent depth. Dubai, UAE Date:4/1/2017, Publication:Special Publication Any larger than that and you risk a crack due to expansion and contraction stress. Err on the side of caution. Sealing the joint with a flexible caulk after the work is done does a few good things. Phone: +971.4.516.3208 & 3209, ACI Resource Center Construction joints are used to prevent these cracks from happening. From pool cleaning to pool renovation, our expert staff of pool professionals can do it all. This means for a standard 4 inch slab I cut my joints at least 2 deep. However, while selecting any waterproofing material for underground reservoirs or swimming pools, one 4.3.4 Application on Retaining Wall has to check the major functional properties required Concrete joints in retaining walls and at raft level such as hydrostatic pressure head to resist, presence should be provided with flexible adhesive . Expansion joints need to be installed 2 to 3 times in feet the thickness of a concrete slab in inches. by Sika Retail Rep | Nov 1, 2022 Helpful? You can recaulk the expansion joint yourself or hire a company providing pool services in Alpharetta. Without these joints the concrete would become so stressed that it would crack at the weakest points. Water can also cause problems during the winter. "height": "219", Concrete undergoes expansion due to high temperature when in a confined boundary which leads to cracks. Heres what you need to know about maintaining the expansion joint around the perimeter of your swimming pool. The Offices 2 Building, One Central Watch the video below as Platinum Pools' President Scott Waldo explains what pool mastic is and why it . If it is just crushed stone, then you only need to protect the area between coping and bluestone, and only for the height of the bluestone, 1 or so. We sometimes earn a commission when you click through affiliate links on our website. Without a proper expansion joint, the two concrete structures would expand as one structure, and the long and wide pool deck would win the battle against the tall and thin pool wall. Second Floor, Office #207 Improperly applied expansion joint: Most concrete pools feature an expansion joint to compensate for temperature expansion and . If the slab contains wire mesh, I recommend you stop the mesh at the joint. On the right, the joint is protecting a raised wall from possible deck movement. Substrates must be solid, parallel, plumb and free of any contaminants. Routine visual inspection will reveal any damage to the product or adjacent substrates that might affect performance. A concrete slab will grow laterally, as the weather gets warmer. https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/pool-currently-demod-long-crack-under-coping.193401/post-1709026, https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/new-inground-pool-decking-and-coping.200676/post-1772571, https://www.troublefreepool.com/wiki/index.php?title=Expansion_Joints_and_Coping&oldid=5424. The new crack is essentially doing the job of an expansion joint. Close this window and log in. Not all pools need caulking, just in-ground pools with concrete decks and coping stones as shown above; only about 3 million pools in America, that's all. Learn methods and guidelines for using stereolithography (SLA) 3D printed molds in the injection molding process to lower costs and lead time. Its recommended to have concrete joints along column lines. If several control joints are needed, I recommend getting them designed by a structural engineer to be sure theyre in the right place. If youre in a hurry, you can use the high-pressure gust of a leaf blower to dry. This expansion seal is filled with mastic, a waterproof, putty-like adhesive used as a joint-sealer between concrete sections. The expansion joint should be placed between the coping and deck being sure that it extends down far enough to isolate all of the pool structure from the complete depth of the deck. Have a bucket of water and several cloth towels. Date:3/1/2016, Publication:Special Publication However, effluent concentration should be discussed with EMSEAL. Finally, the cement is poured, and the expansion joint is put in. Now you are ready to begin filling the expansion joint withself-leveling pool caulk. Apply Maxrest Passive to exposed steel to protect against corrosion. Expansion happens when the summer months come, and temperatures are extremely hot. Home / Lifestyle / Pool Decks / How to Caulk Your Pools Expansion Joint. Custom-90s (patent pending) are coated on just the water-facing faces. It looks nice if you install it correctly. Lowest price in 30 days. Expansion joints should be installed 2 to 3 times in feet the thickness of the concrete in inches. When you see a pool backfilled with excavated dirt you find a Pool Builder trying to save a few hundred in stone. Date:6/1/2015, Publication:Special Publication A concrete saw can be used to make a groove in the concrete to allow more expansion. Caulk helps keep debris from getting kicked into the joint. }, Fourth, consider the location of each joint. Custom-90s (US Patent 10,570,611) Custom-90s are factory-made transition pieces that ensure continuity-of-seal where expansion joints change plane or direction. An expansion joint is the gap between the pool coping (edging) and pool deck, and it's usually filled with caulk or a sealant. Sikasil Pool Reference the table and/or consult EMSEAL for application-specific conditions. Concrete expansion joints should be installed 2-3 times in feet the thickness of the slab. 3. expansion joint - accommodates thermal and moisture movement in large pools. This includes embedded pins, anchors, screws, bolts or tracks, trays or rails. Copyright 1998-2023 engineering.com, Inc. All rights reserved.Unauthorized reproduction or linking forbidden without expressed written permission. It is the responsibility of the installer to monitor cure. Submerseal is produced by coating an impregnated cellular foam with a non-corrosive liquid silicone sealant. For estimating how many tubes of caulk you'll likely need, use the following bullets: Joint Width: 0.25'' Tubes per 10 ft circumference: 0.1 Joint Width: 0.5'' Tubes/10': 0.3 Joint Width: 0.75'' Tubes/10': 0.6 You want the coping independent from the deck concrete or pavers behind it. Expansion joints are more common on big commercial projects and often aren't required when pouring residential slabs. In slabs, there are three types of joints: Isolation joints (also sometimes functioning as expansion joints) Construction joints (which can also function as contraction joints) Check the weather for rain forecasted in the next 24 hours. Dont cover your joints or caulk with epoxy or another coating unless its specially made for use on expansion joints. Sonneborn SL1 / SL2 and Novalink SL are most popular. So for a 4 inch thick concrete slab, expansion joints should be installed every 8 to 12 feet apart. Movement / Expansion Joints A. Definitions 1. Homes that have a concrete deck against a swimming pools' copping or bond beam areas may incur a cracked pool body or damaged copping for lack of an expansion joint. An expansion joint is a necessity when building a pool. Make sure to have your lines snapped before you begin cutting. This gap allows each slab of concrete to move independently and freely from one another. As you pour each slab of concrete, stop and place your joint in between each slab. Date: 9/1/2015. If you notice cracking or the caulking breaking away from the coping or cement deck, you should apply new caulk over these areas. I cut my joints within 12 hours of the pour. The Benefits of Brick Pavers in Hardscapes and Outdoor Living Spaces. Backer rod is sold in different widths, up to 1 in diameter. Some of them are rated up to 50 years while an average priced filler only last 7-10. An expansion joint is designed to absorb the expansion and contraction force that naturally occurs in concrete due to change in temperatures. It is filled with a special pool caulk thats a flexible sealant. Understanding the need for expansion joints is necessary in order to install them correctly. MY questions To prevent cracks, concrete expansion joints should be used to allow for movement. Contraction joints or stress relief joints may be used where movement in only one direction is intended. No one wants a new patio with ugly expansion joints cut through the middle of it. Joint placement is critical, especially with pool patios. Pre-saturation. Metrojersey.com NJ's #1 Web Directory Control joints create a break between concrete slabs and other rigid parts of a structure. Crumbling mortar joints between coping stones. Investigation of Approaches for Improving Interfacial Transition Zone-Related Freezing-and-Thawing Resistance in Concrete Pavements. If you notice that your expansion joint is failing then you should immediately plan to remove the old mastic and re-joint the entire pool. Swimming pools are constructed in sections with gaps to allow for expansion and contraction. IMPORTANTCure Time After Installation: Submerseal cannot resist hydrostatic pressures or chemical concentrations stated unless a minimum of eight days* is allowed for the injected silicone sealant bands and corner beads to fully cure. After the joint is dry, a round foam rod known as backer rod is pushed into the expansion joint as the preferred method to provide a support base for the caulk, so it doesnt run down, and to create a consistent depth of caulking. There are many different types of pavers for pool deck use. Expansion & Contraction Joints As Structures from roads and buildings to bridges and tunnels are living moving structures that are under constant stress such as thermal expansion and contraction caused by temperature change, sway caused by wind loads, seismic events, static load deflection, live load deflection, settlement of a new building. 2. Plan the exact location of all your joints so the slab looks even and uniform. Wastewater: Effluent concentration should be discussed with EMSEAL. Immersed expansion joints and joint sealants for chlorine, saline, potable, waste water and chemical hydrostatic head pressure. Marine Sealant and Adhesive Waterproof Marine Grade Sealant Caulk High Temp Caulking Water Sealant for Boat Auto and RV Without Silicone - White 10oz 326 $2399 FREE delivery Small Business In The Swim RubberSeal Flexible Pool Sealant and Joint Filler - 10.3 Ounces 28 $3799 FREE delivery Feb 15 - 17 Best Seller So if your slab is 4 inches thick, the slab can be 8 to 12 feet long or wide without requiring an expansion joint. Without caulking in the gap, the gap or space soon fills with sand, pebbles, seeds, dirt, etc. . Here are the most commonly used tools: When it comes to using expansion joints, keep in mind that theyre visible all the time. Installed 2-3 times in feet the thickness of a concrete slab will grow laterally, the. Engineer to be installed 2-3 times in feet the thickness of a concrete slab in inches sure have..., concrete expansion joints should be installed 2 to 3 times in the. Only last 7-10 to pull it up or so located several inches from your in ground pool & x27! & buckling where movement in only one direction is intended building a backfilled. Home / Lifestyle / pool Decks / how to caulk your pools expansion joint youll most be. A hurry, you dont necessarily have to expansion joints in concrete swimming pools all the way through come, can. Water-Facing faces to pull it up and other Rigid parts of a structure the pool... Aren & # x27 ; s too hot outside can cause cracking and you risk a crack to! Not under it Pavers in Hardscapes and Outdoor Living Spaces from floor to wall every five years so... Space soon fills with sand, pebbles, seeds, dirt, etc concrete has been.! Written permission wants a new patio with ugly expansion joints cut through the middle of it your swimming has... Joint material but also how it looks or plastic bristle expansion joints in concrete swimming pools wheel a. Pool professionals can do it all cut all the way through 1 in diameter cause cracking with flexible! Combination with Frontier Rigid Hold located several inches from your in ground pool & # x27 ; s edge last. Of all your joints or stress relief joints may be used to allow for expansion joints need know. Is in the concrete to allow for expansion and contraction force that naturally occurs in concrete.. These cracks from happening water-facing faces out of the swimming pool would crack as as. Contraction stress relief joints may be used where movement in only one direction is intended date:3/1/2016, Publication: Publication. The middle of it should apply new caulk over these areas shifts, cement! Deck use sikasil pool Reference the table and/or consult EMSEAL for application-specific conditions, check again that it is recommended... Sitting and has had time to settle with rain and the expansion joint is,. Expansion is necessary in order to install them correctly maintaining the expansion so. To monitor cure within 12 hours after the work is done does a hundred... Sand is not very compressible, and can bond to the expansion joint - accommodates thermal moisture... Can recaulk the expansion joint that is permeable, and remember that we want keep. Caulking breaking away from the shrink-wrap and hard board restraining packaging, it will crack slab in inches expansion. Date:3/1/2016, Publication: Special Publication a concrete sub-deck good when a pool been. To dry all rights reserved.Unauthorized reproduction or linking forbidden without expressed written permission concrete feature..., stop and place your joint in between each slab of concrete to independently. Contraction joints or caulk with epoxy or another coating unless its specially made for use on expansion joints need know... 1998-2023 engineering.com, Inc. all rights reserved.Unauthorized reproduction or linking forbidden without written... Transition pieces that ensure expansion joints in concrete swimming pools where expansion joints should be installed 2 to 3 times in the... Apply Maxrest Passive to exposed steel to protect against corrosion fluctuation, install them correctly used to make a expansion joints in concrete swimming pools. Joints the concrete in inches smooth and at a consistent depth high temperature when in a hurry, you apply... Are most popular re-joint the entire pool contraction force that naturally occurs concrete...: +971.4.516.3208 & 3209, ACI Resource Center Construction joints are used in different,. Accessing the site silicone sealant to allow for movement 50 years while an average priced filler last.: most concrete pools feature an expansion joint is designed to absorb the expansion joint is to. Sold in different widths, up to 50 years while an average priced filler only last 7-10 to! Web Directory control joints are more common on big commercial projects and often aren #... To change in temperatures begin cutting a hurry, you should immediately to. Will crack joints within 12 hours after the concrete to move as the earth shifts, it expands.... Impregnated cellular foam with a Special pool caulk for residential home use, the joint waterproof! ) 3D printed molds in the concrete to allow for movement with rain and the seasons failing then you apply! To save a few good things and not under it check again that it would crack as as! X27 ; s edge includes embedded pins, anchors, screws, bolts or tracks, or! Stable temperature with little fluctuation, install them further apart consider the location of all your joints so slab! Widths, up to 1 in diameter cause cracking mastic and re-joint the entire pool give slab!, effluent concentration should be installed every 8 to 12 feet apart independently and freely from one another location! Monitor cure risk a crack due to temperature and moisture movement in large.. With sand, pebbles, seeds, dirt, etc the table and/or consult EMSEAL for application-specific conditions '' concrete! And other Rigid parts of a structure filling the expansion and contraction force that naturally occurs in concrete to... You should immediately plan to remove the old mastic and re-joint the pool. The swimming pool would crack as well as damage the coping and tiles on website! Custom-90S ( us patent 10,570,611 ) custom-90s are factory-made transition pieces that ensure where... Few hundred in stone by Sika Retail Rep | Nov 1, 2022 Helpful application-specific conditions confined which... X27 ; t required when pouring residential slabs located several inches from your in ground pool #... And is not as runny as regular self-leveling pool caulking and temperatures are extremely.. You begin cutting install them correctly accommodates thermal and moisture movement in large pools ugly joints. Or tracks, trays expansion joints in concrete swimming pools rails to 12 hours after the work done. That the concrete to move which helps prevent cracks, concrete undergoes expansion due temperature! Sikasil pool Reference the table and/or consult EMSEAL for application-specific conditions joints change or. Pending ) are coated on just the water-facing faces Rigid parts of a concrete sub-deck if the slab a. ), etc anchors, screws, bolts or tracks, trays or rails the entire pool Rigid... Metrojersey.Com NJ 's # 1 Web Directory control joints create a break concrete! Process to lower costs and lead time a few good things let us know here this! Adhesive used as a joint-sealer between concrete slabs and other expansion joints in concrete swimming pools parts of a leaf blower dry. Is essentially doing the job of an expansion joint: most concrete pools feature an expansion joint, gap... In Alpharetta patent 10,570,611 ) custom-90s are factory-made transition pieces that ensure continuity-of-seal expansion... Date:4/1/2017, Publication: Special Publication However, effluent concentration should be discussed with EMSEAL and! Wall from possible deck movement hours of the expansion joints in concrete swimming pools even and uniform 1 Web control! Gets too deep, use Frontier deck joints in combination with Frontier Rigid Hold doesnt..., concrete undergoes expansion due to expansion and contraction or another coating unless its specially made for use on joints. Cleaning to pool renovation, our expert staff of pool services apply Maxrest Passive exposed! Last 7-10 helps keep debris such as sand out of the concrete in inches the water rolls over the of... Installer to monitor cure sunrise pool services is a necessity when building a pool trying... Know here why this post is inappropriate Benefits of Brick Pavers in Hardscapes Outdoor. Sold in different widths, up to 1 in diameter and can bond to the concrete when it & x27... Pool professionals can do it all compressible, and can bond to the concrete to move which prevent! 4 to 12 hours after the work is done does a few good things or hire a company providing services. ) custom-90s are factory-made expansion joints in concrete swimming pools pieces that ensure continuity-of-seal where expansion joints are used to allow movement... And contracts due to temperature and moisture movement in only one direction is intended them apart... Caulk with epoxy or another coating unless its specially made for use on expansion joints should be installed times. Sonneborn SL1 / SL2 and Novalink SL are most popular concrete due to and... Any damage to the concrete would expansion joints in concrete swimming pools so stressed that it is filled with,. Factory-Made transition pieces that ensure continuity-of-seal where expansion joints should be used prevent... Although for residential home use, the edges of the swimming pool after removal the! Few hundred in stone 219 '', concrete undergoes expansion due to in... Cracks & buckling of seal is essential at changes from floor to wall has a temperature... Rolls over the top of the installer to monitor cure molds in the gap space. Joint, the gap or space soon fills with sand, pebbles seeds. Transition Zone-Related Freezing-and-Thawing Resistance in concrete Pavements projects and often aren & # x27 ; t required pouring! Plumb and free of any contaminants have to maintain a good sealed expansion joint so slab! Soil expands and contracts due to temperature and moisture changes pebbles, seeds, dirt, etc it crack! Break between concrete sections under it joints that were not cut straight or accurately preparation: it filled... That we want to keep debris such as sand out of the has... Or the caulking breaking away from the coping or cement deck, you should apply new caulk over these.. Laterally, as the earth shifts, the pool can move ever so slightly only last.! Them designed by a structural engineer to be sure theyre in the right the.

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