Mortaring pool coping

[cgland]

Does anyone see a major problem with mortaring a bullnose paver to a concrete pool without the mortar joints? I am going back and forth with a pool company and a HO about this issue. Pool company says they wont warranty the work, because the freeze/thaw will pop the bullnose up without the joint. I've seen it done a million times without the joint! Anyone have any issues with this type of construction?

[zedosix]

Does anyone see a major problem with mortaring a bullnose paver to a concrete pool without the mortar joints? I am going back and forth with a pool company and a HO about this issue. Pool company says they wont warranty the work, because the freeze/thaw will pop the bullnose up without the joint. I've seen it done a million times without the joint! Anyone have any issues with this type of construction?

I see their concerns if you were to use a clay brick, but not the manufactured copings we buy at techo or permacon. I've yet to have any call backs for coping popping up from the deck. I would feel better about having a solid run of brick -coping on the edge of a pool rather than having to worry about the mortared joint crumbling apart in 10 yrs or so. Secondly isn't the coping freeze and thaw resistant, I believe the expansion is less than 1% on coping. Why don't you contact your supplier and have them give you the specs on freeze thaw percentages. This may just put the ho at ease.

[mckeeland]

if you have the foam expansion between the pavers and the coping it should not be a problem. why not run a thin bead of adhesive between the bull nose so that they have the side bond as well.

[GreenMonster]

Chris, we did a bullnose coping this summer (remember I talked to you about?) and we didn't use a mortar joint. We talked to the Unilock rep who told us either method was acceptable. As Zedo stated, we wanted to stay away from the maintenance issue with the mortar joint. Of course, we'll see if any pop come next spring!

The unilock fullnose edger has a recess on the side for mortar and side bond.

[cgland]

Thanks guys, the HO doesn't want the joints, but the pool company is kinds strong arming them into believing that they will pop. With all the work we are doing it's kind of ashame that they are settling for the joints. We had originally quoted them on installing Techos Neptune cap because they wanted a beefier coping, but the pool company quoted them $300 labor to install 135 lf of 6" bullnose!!!?!??!! I told them to go for it cause I couldn't touch it for that price

[mrusk]

CG they are most likely using clay bullnose which is cheaper. They will slop the bullnose around the pool so fast it will make your head spin. All with out cutting one peice. And then they will dump mortar all over it and joint it like you grout tile. They mexicanos should be done by 10am.

[cgland]

the bullnose are EPHenry, so I hope they don't dump mortar all over them:0

[zedosix]

Thanks guys, the HO doesn't want the joints, but the pool company is kinds strong arming them into believing that they will pop. With all the work we are doing it's kind of ashame that they are settling for the joints. We had originally quoted them on installing Techos Neptune cap because they wanted a beefier coping, but the pool company quoted them $300 labor to install 135 lf of 6" bullnose!!!?!??!! I told them to go for it cause I couldn't touch it for that price

Mortared joints = no cutting. What a mess that would be. I charge $26 per foot for material and labour. I'll do 12' of it for them.

[Mbella]

Mortared joints = no cutting. What a mess that would be. I charge $26 per foot for material and labour. I'll do 12' of it for them.


Where do you think the other $3200 is? I'd bet my paycheck it's in the price of the pool. Could explain why they are in no hurry to finish the coping this year.:)

[zedosix]

I guess if there is a problem with the coping popping off now or the mortared joint falling apart you won't be responsible for it. Maybe not such a bad way to go about it. Overall if the joints do appear to be roughly the same width and the mortar does hold then I think it may not look so bad. Do you have a picture of the coping Chris, or the name of the product and supplier.

[mckeeland]

when we have done pavers around a pool some pool companies have the homeowner sign a waiver saying they are not responsible for the coping do to the fact that the proper installation of expansion is not controlled by them. why cant they just sign off on you doing hte coping and stop being a bunch of prima donnas?

[mrusk]

The coping levels the pools. Thats why most pool companys insist on doing it. Atleast on a gunite pool.