Replacing Coping

[StevenHB]

I having coping around the exterior of my pool, with about 6 inches of tile below the coping. Each year, some of the tiles fall off. Each year. I've replaced the tile using a mortar supposedly appropriate for wet (in water) applications. The tiles generally do not stay in place for more than a season, maybe some for two. It's gotten progressively worse.

Last year, I got a recommendation for a pool repair guy. He came over and tapped the coping with a rock. Some sounded hollow, others did not. He told me that the hollow sound meant that the coping had separated and that it needed to be replaced. He said that he could replace some or all of the coping (all at a cost of ~$5,000).

Does anyone have experience with this? Does this sound reasonable?

[phikappa]

How big is your pool (perimeter) and how much coping would need to be replaced? What kind of coping? Brick? Safety?

I had to have some of my coping replaced a couple of years ago. However, it was probably only 5 to 8 feet in total. And, I had removed all the pieces that needed to be replaced. Since I'm no brick layer, I paid a guy to finish it up and make it right. He had to replace several tiles as well and re-did the entire expansion joint (between the coping and the decking). I can't remember the exact cost, but something like $700-ish. He did a good job and I'm happy about the results. When I went to my local pool supply place, they had quoted me $5/foot just for the expansion joint. That would have cost me over $500. So, I think I got a decent deal.

I'm not sure that helps, just sharing my experience!

[StevenHB]

It's a lot more than 5-8 feet in total. It's about 38' x 22', peanut shaped so the perimeter must be something like 115' if I do all of it.

The coping tiles are poured concrete.

[phikappa]

Just doing a quick web search, it looks like the tiles would be anywhere from $12-$24 per coping piece. If they're 24" long, then you'd need at least 60 (depending on cuts/curves). So, you're looking at about $1k+ just for the coping. If he can replace your coping, expansion joint, and fix your tiles, for ~$5K, that sounds reasonable. I mean, it's not astronomical, but you may be able to haggle with him a bit. You could have him replace just the hollow coping, but then you have to worry about matching the old with the new. If a lot of coping needs to be replaced, then I'd replace it all.

[Marin]

If your coping stones give a hollow sound, they likely just need to be reset rather than replaced. Assuming the stone itself is sound.

When you lost a tile, is there a void behind it? A crack? Is it mosaic tile or a solid 6x6? Is the tile coming off clean or is there mastic attached?

[StevenHB]

I'm embarrassed at how long it took me to respond. Thanks for your interest.

The coping is sound; however, the stones are poured concrete. The contractor who quoted the work says that it makes more sense to re-pour them than to try to extract them without breaking them.

The mosaic tile generally falls off with mastic still attached. Behind the tile there's a significant crack.

[Marin]

No worries, there is life beyond the internet.

Can you post a photo of the coping? With what you've described, I can picture a few different options. If your pool is 115 perimeter feet, then $5,000 to remove and replace is pretty standard.

The crack is common. This is where the pool beam meets the deck. Theoretically the deck moves while the pool remains relatively static. Mosaic tiles succumb to this movement much more so than if a full 6x6 tile was in its place.

[StevenHB]

Here's a picture of one of the more damaged areas. The top of the picture is the edge of the coping, under which there should be two layers of tile - one matching the tiles you can see under the waterline (at the top) and one, about double the height, between the two.

[Marin]

Can you post a top view?