Pool Expansion Joint Installation & Repair Chicago North Shore

What is a pool expansion joint?

The pool expansion joint is the joint between your inground pool and the pool deck. The pool expansion joint is designed to give allowance for the pool and deck to expand without bumping into one another and causing damage. Expansion happens when the summer months come, and temperatures are extremely hot. Often the line of delineation between the pool itself and your deck, it is pivotal in keeping the two structures separate and independent of one another.

This keeps surrounding concrete as well as pool tile from cracking due to the materials’ tendency to expand and contract. Freeze and thaw cycles tend to be the culprit in cracking pool expansion joints that need replacing. Pools can cost a lot of money and to protect your investment, you need to seal all the gaps that water can penetrate.

If water gets behind coping and/or the tile band and then freezes, the tile can become damaged. The pressure of the ice can push the tile out and crack it, costing you a pretty penny in repairs. Fiberglass and vinyl pools do not require a pool expansion joint but if you have a concrete inground basin pool with copings you will have an expansion joint.

General Masonry Construction encourages you to request a free on-site visitation where we will inspect and evaluate your inground pool expansion joints and discuss any issues you may be having. After that you will receive a fair estimate within 24 hours. From Random to Exclusive, all masonry services are completed per Building Code specifications and supported with special warranty by our company. Contact General Masonry Construction today in Northbrook, IL to inquire more about Illinois pool expansion join services today!

What causes damage to your pool expansion joint?

Ice seems harmless but can be one of the most destructive forces in nature. It can damage steel, concrete, rock, or anything else that it settles into. When you properly caulk the expansion joint around your pool, you keep out water that can freeze and expand, potentially damaging the coping and beam. Eventually, these two problems with damage your tile. If you have cracked tile, there is a chance your beam has cracked all the way through.

Keeping your pool expansion joint caulked correctly eliminates dirt and debris from collecting. Pebbles, sand, small stones, and rocks can build up in your joint causing damage and not allowing the pool expansion joint to properly function which could lead to structural damage to your pool and pool deck.

How do pool expansion joints work?

The beam in your pool is the top 6 or 8 inches of the pool wall which holds the tile and coping. If the beam damage is unattended, it will get worse with time and will eventually crumble. The beam will then need to be reconstructed.

To avoid this expense, caulking and maintaining the pool expansion joint should be high on your list of priorities.

A good caulking should always begin with surface prep. The sides of the joint need to be clean, dry, and solid. If you have newly poured concrete, never begin caulking until the concrete has settled for 30 days.
You should have backer foam already in the joint (do not use sand) to give the caulk something to sit on top of.
Use an elastomeric sealant (self-leveling) that is meant for outdoor use.
Tape off the joint to keep things neat and shoot or towel the caulk into the joint to a depth of 3/8^th-1/2”
Check the caulking every year. If it starts to crack or pull away from either side of the concrete or decking, you will need to remove the existing caulking and conduct the job again. Do notjust add new caulk over the top of the old. This is not extremely helpful, nor cost effective.

Pool Expansion Joint & Surface

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