In Ground Gunite Pool Deck Issues

[germaneighter]

Marin,
Thanks for the info. Your directions/advice is very clear. I decided to cut the deck/coping 10" in from the edge. I'm using my 7-1/4" circular saw with a 7" diamond blade. It is going pretty well but I can only get about 2"-2-1/2" depth to the cut. I have already demo'd the deck from the cracked joint out. So after I make the cut I give the edge a good smack with a sledge and it breaks off. My problem is it still leaves about 1-1/2" deep of rough deck/coping concrete. (the concrete is 3-1/2" deep and I'm only cutting 2-1/2" deep.) I'd like to avoid renting a big saw because the small saw is very easy to control. It also cuts the curves quite well. I'm thinking of putting the 7" diamond blade on a 7" grinder wih no guard, hoping to get another inch of depth to the cut. (kind of dangerous...) So then I will compact crusher-run gravel flush to the top of the pool bond beam then pour the new deck over the compacted dirt/gravel and it will sit on (overlap) the top edge of the bond beam by about 2". Now I just need to decide if I will use an expansion joint or pour right up to the existing coping remnant then cut a control joint right at the same deck to coping joint. Any thoughts or advice on this plan?

[Marin]

You're welcome, glad to be of help.

Why are you worried about the bottom half of the cut being rough? It really doesn't matter. Once you're done it will never be seen. If you have some areas sticking out enough, just use a hammer and chisel to knock it off. Or just a hammer.

You'll get cleaner finish results from an expansion joint rather than coming back and trying to saw cut, especially on the corners/curves.

Did you have a gravel base before? A lot of concrete guys don't use gravel for decks. I know most of the cores I pull out when drilling for hand rails don't have a gravel base. It's a good idea, just not necessary.

Another though, again not necessary but also not a bad idea if you can. Every 1-2 ft drill horizontally into the coping to run a 2' piece of rebar into so that the pieces are tied together. I'd feel better about that since you're just leaving 10" of the old pour. Only go into the coping about 4", leave the rest out for the new pour. If you don't have the tools for it, Home Depot rents out the drill & bit pretty cheap.

[Watermom]

Marin, you have been very helpful in several threads. Thank you!

[PoolDoc]

I agree.

[Marin]

Glad to help where I can. Helps me keep my memory fresh or evaluate scenarios I may run across in the future.