Expansion Joint Necessary?

I live in NJ(Below Freezing in the winter) and I'd like to know if it is necessary to include an expansion joint around the coping on a gunnite pool if the decking is done with pavers.

I have just completed a gunnite pool project and hired my own mason to do the paver decking. Although the contract stated that I am required to include a 1/2" expansion joint outside the coping, my mason said that is only if you are doing cement decking and pavers do not require it so that is how I proceeded.

Then the warranty guy from the pool company shows up and tells me they should have used an expansion joint since the back of the coping(standard 4" X 12" bullnose) will probably chip.

Anyone with experience in this are let me know your thoughts. It's probably a 1 day project to put it after the fact now, but I'll do it if it is necessary.


Thank you.

The caulking that goes between your copying and deck would be deck o'seal, and well the only time i've used it is when i am pouring concrete deck around the perimeter, due to the fact that when it rains water is consumed inbetween the joint and stays there, and the pavers, well the water from your copying will not be consumed there as it will go inbetween your pavers and it shouldn't cause any harm to your copying.

Thank you for the reply.

1 less thing to worry about.