New IG Vinyl pool with surface cracks and loose handrail????

[digger01]

My deck is to be poured and the holders for the rails and ladder are galvanized

[CanuckPool]

ditto here too, thats a lot of stress that PVC will go under, I'm not sure thats what it was designed for. As for the small cracks... I think hairline cracks are normal for concrete decks, but anything that you can get a dime or quarter in is not normal.

[Waterworks]

The handrail should certainly be set in galvanized, bronze or fiberglass anchors meant specifically to hold 1.9" O.D. pool rails and ladders, rather than PVC. These anchors allow you to tighten the rail so there is less movement, and are also stronger, i'm sure.

Concrete cracks from time to time. I would wonder about my installers if a new pool had cracks in the deck that quickly. Even still, small hairline cracks do happen on even the best jobs from time to time. Canuck was right about the dimes and quarters; if the gap is that large, your builder should look after it.

Brad
Waterworks Pools

[mlh]

The anchors for the handrail should be down in the concrete- they put the pcs of pipe in them to keep them cleaned out when pouring the concrete- when done the pipes are pulled out and the handrail is set into the anchors. At least thats how they did mine. Check to see if they remembered to tighten the bolts that hold the handrail in place.

Mike

[webfeet]

The cracks are hairline cracks- very small- a fingernail file will not even fit in them. However, there are several of them.

Yes, the pvc was pulled out. It looks like there are galvanized sleeves that the rails sit in. PB says that since we want a safety cover, the handrail could not be cemented into the deck. That is why it is loose. Supposedly we can take the handrail off. He says it is too late to make it tight and claims that he told us this before he started the pool. We don't recall the conversation. Can the handrail be stabilized at this point, without tearing up the deck? He says no, that he can only try to put wedges in, to tighten it up some.

[Tcap]

Hi Web,
We put in our vinyl pool last season, but didn't do the deck until about April of this year. We have no cracking at this point but it has only been one season. We will see what the winter brings. I'm not sure you should see cracks this soon if they settled the surrounding dirt correctly. Also, we have a safety cover and our handrails are solid in the galvanized sleeves. They can still take them out and tighten them back up when we put them back in next season.

Good-luck!

[caustik]

No cracks here mind you the deck has only been poured for 3-4 weeks. I think it may have to do with base prep and relief cuts? Is it stamped concrete or just normal broom finish? Did they put enough base stone and compact it with a machine and use any sono tubes that go down to the footer collar thing they pour at the base of the sides?? I know they put about 30 around my pool and its just a 3' ribbon around the pool that interlock buts up to. Lots of relief cuts in the deck as well. Perhaps those are the reasons? I don't know. Not a contractor. But, reading through some of your other posts it looks like you picked a poor builder.

PS. My ladder is also in a galv sleeve but there are some sort of a bolt and washer holding them solid. They are removable as well since we are putting the safety cover on as well. They used the white plastic type ladder on our pool, something about to do with the SWG setup, not sure. Hope this helps.

Kevin