Pavers over concrete around a pool

[Drew Gemma]

what do i need to know job was done 2 years ago and is already failing i have the task of correcting it the rep is going to help fix this what are your experiences any thoughts tips ideas

[zedosix]

Could you elaborate a bit more please. Pictures would help.

[paponte]

Masons LOVE us for tearing them apart on this subject. Can always tell when a mason did a aver job around here. It's on a slab or at least on what was drypak, the soldier course is on a footing and the field is on sand, or the best is when they morter their gaps in order to eliminate cuts in their border. :rolleyes:

[Drew Gemma]

A customer of mine had a company come in and build a kitchen island with sink and grill and the concrete counter already broke. The pavers were laid over the existing concrete around the pool which was in great shape. They had a fall out during the job the foreman quit so 2 flunkies came back 3 months later to finish it. No poly sand which was to be used in the contract. so sand washed into pool all the coping around the pool is breaking apart. The rep from oberfields is meeting me tonight at 6:00 to check this mess out.

[mrusk]

There is nothing really tricky about concrete over lay.

[wurkn with amish]

Concrete always cracks never guarantee it won't!
Mortar the coping around the pool and then screed out your sand and lay the pavers. sweep in the poly-sand.

[Drew Gemma]

they did that it didn't hold up one winter factory rep told me that it should have been glued to the concrete each paver plus the coping then put a silicon bead around the coping so nothing can wash into pool like it did. to set pavers to grade they also said use glue not sand plus previous instaler mixed poly sand with sand to make it strech furthur obviously a no no and a dump idea. the island broke becaue it was not level and no suports for the counter top so we have to notch it out and put in angle iron supports so it soesn't crack again. basically they spent 25,000 and they have to spend another 12500 to fix it but I am not gonna do it I told them thanks but no thanks I have other jobs to do plus I just don't have enough man power to get that job done and still keep up on other installs

[zedosix]

We mortared the outside row of full nose coping then laid a sand bed for remainder of stone on the 30" perimeter concrete pad. If there is a better way I would love to know. I have 3 to do this summer.

[lawnkid]

I am actually kind of glad this topic was brought up. When taking the ICPI certification course, I was told that ICPI specs call for a minimum 4" concrete pad to be installed around the whole pool deck area to be covered with pavers, screed sand, and lay pavers on top. However, I see several guys on this forum that are ICPI certified and do not pour a pad, just excavate, compact 6" of base, screed, and lay the pavers. Can you gys that have done pool decks inform me which method is correct and what are the advantages an disadvantages of both. If anybody has any pictures of pool decks they installed over 5 years ago and what the current condition of these pool decks are, and what method they used please post them. I am bidding on a pool deck right now for summer so I would like to learn how to do it properly. Thanks

[PatriotLandscape]

We prep them Like they are a driveway with 10-12 inches of dense grade.

[ChampionLS]

I think thats what Zedosix said.. 30" in from the pool coping is an overlay. The rest is on base. Yes? No?...

[zedosix]

I think thats what Zedosix said.. 30" in from the pool coping is an overlay. The rest is on base. Yes? No?...


Yes there is a concrete pad around the pool. We ask the pool co. to build it this way for our brick overlay. Here is another one we are doing this year. I think this one is 36".

[leaflandscape]

We have a couple of these in the works for this year, my only question is regarding the fullnose coping. Can you use masonry adhesive to fix this course to the existing pool deck, or does it have to be mortared? If you can use masonry adhesive, do you require silicone between the pieces along the edge (to initially hold the polymeric sand in)? Lastly, do you have to attach the outer course of pavers to the pool deck (I'm sure you do)? Any specific feedback is greatly appreciated.

[zedosix]

We have a couple of these in the works for this year, my only question is regarding the fullnose coping. Can you use masonry adhesive to fix this course to the existing pool deck, or does it have to be mortared? If you can use masonry adhesive, do you require silicone between the pieces along the edge (to initially hold the polymeric sand in)? Lastly, do you have to attach the outer course of pavers to the pool deck (I'm sure you do)? Any specific feedback is greatly appreciated.


I just finished pricing one this afternoon. It will be mortared again. Mainly because the pool coping is not always level, and it puts a solid base material under the coping. No sand washes out. I have seen them glued on with pl premium, but I don't have 100% faith in that product. I now use gator xx glue. I can't give any feed back other than it takes only minutes to set, it doesn't continually run out of the glue gun and mess all your tools not to mention your hands. I would use silicone along the outer edge of the full nose if you use the gluing method. I glue a piece of restraint edge on the outside edge of the brick around the pool. It has held up fine so far. On the one I priced today I will mortar the outside edge of brick around the pool and then screed my sand inside. I will have to leave a few sides open to allow water to run off the pad.

[leaflandscape]

Thanks Zed, I think I'll mortar the coping edge. The pointers are appreciated greatly.