Pool Deck Caulk

[Tomcat]

Finished redoing my expansion joint caulking last weekend. My prep work included digging out the old caulk. My total prep time (dig out caulk, vacuum mess, installing backer rod, go around in more detail cleaning old joint caulk remnants, clean entire joint with solvent to improve new caulk adherence, vacuum again, block off control joints, prefill specific gaps, etc..) ran about 16 hours over many days. Definitely more than I bargained for! I'm very particular and wanted to do the best I could to get a good joint that will last longer this time. Add another 4 to 5 hours to do the actual application and it was quite a job.

Used two, 1.5 gallon cans of sikaflex self leveling (2C SL). It looks pretty good to me, but I also had tons of air bubbles I had to make sure to pop. There's got to be a better way then pouring it from the mixing can in to a squeeze bottle - I think that's where I got my air entrapment.

Will let you know how it holds up after the winter - I usually get a lot of deck heave.

[rck26186]

I'm opening my pool up next week and did a quick inspection of all the joints. After going through the winter here in Northern Virginia all of the joints are fine. No shrinkage anywhere. The Vulkem 45 SSL is now very firm -- not very pliable. My neighbor's pool joints have a sealer that is very soft to the touch. You can push down on it and leave a finger nail impression in it that takes about 30 seconds to completely disappear. I'm not sure what they used on their pool but I like the feel of the Vulkem better. I used the white Vulkem and it is still very clean looking; however, I don't have any trees around my pool area that I have to worry about.

Bottom line eights months after applying the Vulkem -- I'm happy.