Cosmetic repairs to tile OK?

[donheff]

There is what could be an expansion joint. The joint on the edge of the coping stones that parallels the pool is a continuous rubbery caulk like strip. The grout between the stones is standard hard grout. The guy who looked at this a year ago said the expansion joint needs to be re caulked periodically. Of course he was the first guy to point this out in twenty one years. If we redo the tile without pulling the coping stones it looks (to ignorant me) like it would be fairly easy to recaulk the expansion joint. The grout sections might present a bigger problem since that material is hard and has a fair amount of cracks where water could leak. The impression I got from the guy who looked at it was that water penetration at the expansion joint is of greater concern.

[BigDave]

It makes sense to me that if the expansion joint works and the coping moves with the pool that water behind the coping and tile would be the next likely culprit for popping the tiles. Wheter it's a deteriorated expansion joint or failed grout in the coping is really up to you or someone who's seen it.