Case study – Settled Concrete pool deck? arghhhhhh!

March 22, 2015by Jerald Sargent0

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As a concrete raising company we see a lot of settled concrete. Pool decks are some of the most challenging things we do, not that the slabs are different, they aren’t, the reason they are more challenging is the voids that develop along the pool even when the settling appears to be away from the pool and the precision needed to avoid creating additional problems.

As voids are filled, damage can occur to the structure of the pool itself especially on flexible pools such as vinyl or fiberglass. Gunite construction is much more robust so there is not as much concern with them but extra caution is always warranted when dealing with a twenty to forty thousand dollar pool.

How the pool deck was formed is always taken into consideration when writing the estimate. Was it laid over the wall of the pool or abutted, was bull nose tile used, how far away from the pool do the slabs go? Three feet or ten feet? It makes a big difference in how we approach the job and how feasible the job might be.

In the video below we raise a section of deck away from the pool and a section against the pool. Slabs not abutting the pool are generally just like any other walk with little risk of failure for the experienced contractor especially with the monitoring systems we have in place such as slope meters and lift gauges.

Narrow slabs abutting the pool like the ones in the video are often first raised into position with toe-jacks in order to minimize pressure against the pool wall and to avoid any lift at the pool side edge which would open up a gap allowing water over the top of the pool wall under the deck.

When pool decks settle as this one did, slabs often pivot which open up a gap allowing water to seep behind the pool wall which accelerates settling. When the deck is leveled this seam must be filled with pool caulk to seal out water or re-settling will eventually occur.

If you are dealing with this problem don’t trust it to novices, call the professionals,

1-855-752-2522

www.SlabjackGeotechnical.com

Superior technology, Superior polymers, Superior results.

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