HTB10BKXJpXXXXXVXpXXq6xXFXXXV/Wall-Corner-Rubber-Strip-Expansion-Joint-for.jpg' alt='Concrete Expansion Joint Strip' title='Concrete Expansion Joint Strip' />Waterstops and Expansion Joints Waterstops with expansion capabilities that not only provide better seals, but can fill voids and seals cracks. How to Caulk your pools expansion jointby Rob Cox, November 1. This article, originally posted in 2. I used to say think that caulking the expansion joint was something that only snowbelt pool owners had to worry about, but with freezing temps occuring more regularly in the south these days. Who Needs to Caulk If you have an inground concrete pool with coping stones, whether they be brick, flagstone or pre cast stones, you will have an expansion joint behind the coping stones, to allow for expansion of the pool deck when the weather gets hot. This joint should be caulked every five years or so. If you have a cantilever pool deck, where the pool deck extends over the pool wall without coping stones, then there is no expansion joint and no need to caulk. Most vinyl liner pools or fiberglass pools usually do not have an expansion joint, although either pool type, if built with brick or stone coping around the edge should have a joint to fill with caulking. Why Should I Caulk the Expansion Joint The expansion joint around your pool allows for the pool deck and the pool itself to expand when the weather gets hot. A concrete slab will grow laterally, as the weather gets warmer. Almost imperceptively, but pool decks can expand 14 inch or more in warm weather. The same happens to your pool shell, it grows a little larger when summer heats up, and contracts or shrinks when the weather gets colder. The expansion joint serves to allow space for the pool deck and the pool wall to expand, without knocking into each other. The Granor Series P2 Strip Seal Aluminium Expansion Joints are designed for light duty applications typically in walkways and pedestrian bridges. Diario De 1945 Joseph Goebbels Pdf. BoMetals PVC Waterstop is a conventional waterstop that can be used in a variety of applications in concrete. Pouring a concrete foundation and pex radiant heat slab. Concrete expansion joints are a very important part of building high quality concrete floors. Learn all about how to properly install concrete isolation joints. Concrete Expansion Joint Material from W. R. Meadows are composed of a blend of asphalts, vegetable fibers and mineral fillers formed under heat and pressure. Uploadedfiles/fckeditor/image/bitulex-expansion-joint-filler-board-method.jpg' alt='Concrete Expansion Joint Strip' title='Concrete Expansion Joint Strip' />Without a proper expansion joint, the two concrete structures would expand as one structure, and the long and wide pool deck would win the battle against the tall and thin pool wall. Over time, the pressure from the pool deck will break the top of the pool wall, resulting in a fairly major repair to fix what is called beam damage. A Proper Expansion Joint, is a gap between the pool wall and pool deck that goes clear to the earth beneath the pool deck. Without caulking in the gap, the gap or space soon fills with sand, pebbles, seeds, dirt, etc. When the joint fills with such non compressible stuff, this removes the gap, and the two structures will move as one. Bad news for the pool wall. Caulking the expansion joint keeps out debris. Water can also cause problems during the winter. When the expansion joint is not proper, but is partially filled with debris, rain and snow melt will stand in the gap, and freeze. We all know what happens when water freezes, it expands nearly 1. Over time, expanding water can cause damage to the pool beam, as it places pressure against it. Or water will seep into areas under the coping, or behind the tile, freeze and expand, loosening mortar, tile and stone. Ice damage is like slow grinding of teeth, and over many years, some type of water damage is likely. Caulking the expansion joint keeps out water. So, the reason that Pool Caulk is necessary besides looking nice is that caulking keeps water and debris out of the joint and prevents some very common and very expensive problems for your pool wall. How to Caulk your pool. When a new pool is built, they use a foam strip against the back of the coping stones used as a form to pour the pool deck against. This can be pushed down, cut down, or burned down with a torch. It works poorly as a base to set your pool caulking on top of, because its usually not tight enough against both sides to prevent the pool caulk from running down in the joint. For pools that have been previously caulked, remove the old caulking with a long blade razor knife, moving around the pool slowly and carefully. After old caulk is cut out, attach a wire or plastic bristle cleaning wheel to a drill and slowly and carefully grind the top 14 of both sides, to remove dirt and oils that will affect the bond with the new caulk. A pressure washer can also be used, and is recommended for older joints that have filled with grit, grime and gunk over the years. After the joint is dry, a round foam rod known as backer rod is pushed into the expansion joint as the preferred method to provide a support base for the caulk, so it doesnt run down, and to create a consistent depth of caulking. Dont use sand. Sand is not very compressible, and remember that we want to keep debris such as sand out of the expansion joint. Backer Rod is sold in different widths, up to 1 in diameter. Buy the size that is slightly larger than the widest part of your joint. If your expansion joint width varies by a significant amount, you can buy different lengths of different widths. You can also use a razor knife to carefully trim a larger backer rod to size. Place the backer rod into the expansion joint to a consistent depth of 14 below the deck or coping, whichever side is lower usually the deck may have settled slightly. Dont push it in too deep or you will use a lot of caulking bringing it up to level. And if its not level, you will get standing water, which will grow algae, which looks awful. If it gets too deep, use a small screwdriver or hooked pin to pull it up. Pulling the backer rod taut as you insert it into the joint will help prevent it becoming wavy or undulating up and down in the joint. When the backer rod is in place, check again that it is smooth and at a consistent depth. Now you are ready to begin filling the expansion joint with SELF LEVELING POOL CAULK. Its called self leveling because it is slightly runny and will level itself as opposed to gun grade caulk which has a putty consistency and must be placed in the joint with a small trowel or putty knife. Our Vulkem 4. 5 SSL pool caulk is Semi Self Leveling SSL, which is less runny than other brands, but still settles out flat without troweling. Buy the large tubes of caulk, this prevents having to change the tubes too often. Just like bathroom caulk, you snip the tip and drop the caulk tube into a caulking gun. Go easy on the trigger, it comes out fast and can get messy real quick. You can find large caulking guns at any home or hardware store. I like to keep a large piece of cardboard on the deck with me, which I move along with the caulking, as I proceed down the edge of the pool. Whenever you need to stop, place the caulking gun onto the cardboard quickly. Continue in this manner around the pool, moving backwards as you squirt the pool caulk into the expansion joint. Heres some other tips for a clean caulking job Wear old clothes and shoes, this can get messy. Tie up the dog, cat and the kids for 2. John Bonham A Thunder Of Drums. Keep several moist rags and cardboard around the pool. Blow off the deck first to prevent blowing leaves. Do the job when the weather is cool, the caulk is less runny. Check the weather for rain forecasted in the next 2. Caulk your pool in 4. F temperatures. Rob. Home Concrete Systems, Inc. Wall Forming. Chamfer Wood PVCCoil Bolts, Rod, Nuts. Column Clamps. Gates Forming Accessories. Jahn Snaptie Forming Accessories. Din Pro Regular Font. Nails Concrete, Duplex, Common, Box. Pencil Rod, Tighteners, Clamps. Rap I Form Clips. Symons Steel Ply Forming Accessories.