Have you noticed cracks around the edge of your pool? Maybe a stone has come loose, or part of the edge looks uneven. It’s easy to put off fixing these problems, especially when your pool still works just fine.
But damaged coping can get worse over time. Pool coping repair can fix loose or cracked areas before they lead to bigger problems. Here’s how to tell when your coping needs attention and what it takes to fix it.
What Is Pool Coping?
Pool coping is the material that runs along the top edge of your swimming pool. It’s usually made of concrete, brick, or natural stone.
Coping gives your pool a finished look, but it does more than that. It also:
- Covers the top of the pool wall and protects the structure underneath
- Helps keep water from getting behind the pool wall
- Creates a smooth edge between your pool and deck
- Gives swimmers a finished edge to hold onto when getting in or out
What Are the Signs You Need Swimming Pool Coping Repair?
Some coping problems are easy to spot. Others start small and get worse over time.
Watch for these signs:
- Cracks: Small cracks may be harmless, but growing or spreading cracks deserve attention.
- Loose stones: Coping stones that wobble or shift need repair.
- Gaps: Missing or crumbling material between stones can let water get where it shouldn’t.
- Uneven edges: Stones that have shifted or started lifting may point to movement underneath.
- Broken pieces: Chipped or broken coping can leave sharp edges around your pool.
Loose stones and uneven edges can also create tripping hazards around your pool.
What Causes Pool Coping Damage?
Your pool coping takes a beating. Between the weather, pool water and people walking along the edge, it’s exposed to plenty of wear and tear.
Common causes of damage include:
- Temperature changes: Heat and cold cause materials to expand and contract, which can lead to cracks.
- Water damage: Water can get into joints and weaken the materials holding coping in place.
- Poor drainage: Water collecting around your pool can wash away soil and affect the structures underneath.
- Ground movement: Settling soil can put pressure on coping and cause it to crack or move.
- Freezing temperatures: Water trapped in cracks can freeze, expand and make the damage worse.
Not every crack means there’s a serious problem. But if your coping keeps shifting or cracking, it’s worth finding out why.
How Is Pool Coping Repaired?
The good news is that damaged coping doesn’t always need to be replaced.
The right repair depends on what’s wrong. For example:
- Cracked joints: A contractor may remove damaged joint material and replace it with the right sealant.
- Loose stones: If the stones are still in good shape, they may be cleaned and reset with fresh mortar.
- Small cracks: Some cracks can be repaired with materials made for pool coping.
The material used depends on what’s being repaired. For example, the joint between your pool and deck needs a flexible sealant that allows some movement. Loose coping stones may need mortar to hold them securely in place.
Before making repairs, it’s important to check what’s causing the damage. Otherwise, you could end up fixing the same problem again.
When Does Pool Coping Need to Be Replaced?
Sometimes a repair just won’t cut it.
If coping stones are badly cracked, broken, or falling apart, replacing them may be the better choice. The same goes for coping that keeps coming loose because of damage underneath.
During replacement, a contractor removes the damaged coping, cleans and prepares the area, and installs new material. The new coping needs time to set before the area can be used again.
You may only need to replace a few stones rather than the entire pool edge. It depends on how much damage there is and whether matching materials are available.
Pool Coping Repair in Fort Worth, TX
A loose stone or cracked pool edge might not seem urgent, but why wait for it to become a bigger headache?
Lemaster Custom Pools offers pool coping repair for homeowners in Fort Worth, Burleson, Crowley, Joshua, Godley, Cleburne, Benbrook, Granbury, and surrounding areas.
Contact Lemaster Custom Pools to discuss your damaged coping and find out what it will take to get your pool back in shape.
