Hello All.
I am new to posting here. I usually spend my time on Knots, the FWW site. But I have a question I am hoping you building Professionals can answer. Here goes:
We are putting a new liner in our pool, and I am painting the coping. While we have the pool empty I would like to freshen up the concrete deck. It is probably about 20 years old and very pitted from the weather with a few deep cracks and some chunks of broken concrete near the corners of the pool. Out of curiosirty I got a quote from a local group, “Anything Concrete,” and the textured spray surface is way too much.
What I had originally wanted to do was to patch the broken areas, fill the cracks, and put a skim coat resurfacing on, then acid stain it – all myself. My question is regarding the materials available. I’ve read some disturbing things about the durability of the Quikrete resurfacing stuff, and I am personally unsure of any of the vinyl/concrete products. What would you do? Can I put on a bonding agent and then an 1/8th inch skim coat of regular cement, deeper in the pitted areas? I would of course maintain the expansion joints. Do I need to even fill cracks prior to a skim coat? If so, what is best? And would you add any kind of micro aggregate for a more non-slip surface?
If that’s feasible, where is the best source for acid stains?
Please help!
Matthew
Replies
http://www.miracote.com
http://www.concretenetwork.com
If so, what is best?
JACK HAMMER
a few deep cracks and some chunks of broken concrete near the corners
That is why Brownie is saying to remove and replace.
And then, replacing could be more durable pavers that don't show cracks and can be easily repaired.
I just can't handle the expense of replacing the whole deck right now. If you HAD to do a temporary measure that would improve the look and seal the problem areas, what would you do? Would you just acid stain it in all its ugliness (only patching the worst areas), providing a sort of camoflage(sp?)?
Maybe I should take some pics to give a better idea and post those. That may take me a little while.
Thanks for the web links. I'll peruse them.
You could also try Permacrete- better specs than the quickcrete. I've heard pretty good results from the Miracoat also. The overlays seem to work well when you do the cleaning and bonding prep work. Stan
You say that you're putting a new liner in your pool. So it's a vinyl liner in-ground pool? Is that right? I installed quite a few of those in New York State, in the 1970's.
The concrete deck may be tied into the pool's wall supports. In that case it would not be wise to remove it by force. Outdoor carpet is one solution to the problem you describe. There are several types made which are suitable for just that situation.
You are correct. This is one reason I would not want to tear out and fully replace the deck myself. It's a great time to make a mess though (with the old, faded liner in place and the pool drained). Hence the urgency to resurface.
By the way, I am having a pro replace the liner.
but no matter how hard you polish a turd, its still a turd
Tanks for that lovely visual. That bit of wisdom sounds like it could've come straight from my brother-in-law (whom I like). You're right, but as long as we're stuck with it I'd like to contain the stink! Perhaps I've painted to bad a picture of this deck. I'll work on some pics soon.
<<By the way, I am having a pro replace the liner.>>
Sounds like you'll have a fine place to swim again for the summer. A little advice, if I may. Order your new liner with a pattern bottom. A plain liner will show any imperfection in the pool base...magnified.
An in-ground pool liner is pretty easy to replace. The more important thing is getting a custom made liner, one that's been carefully measured to fit your pool's exact dimensions. If you are sold a "standard" liner, it may fit OK but chances are it will have been overstretched and will not last more than a few seasons. Every pool manufacturer has/had their own dimensions for the deep end, or hopper. Therefore, a replacement liner must be made to fit. The less stretching, the longer the liner is likely to last.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to ask.
If you are going to do it yourself, practice somewhere else. Make sure the old concrete has been pressure washed. Keep the old concrete wet for days. Work the concrete as the sun goes down, the sun cause uneven curing.
A good example is stucco, most of the cracks are on the sunny side.