Barb

Thanks, Scott. You and I hang out in the same places.

This is the second time this has happened. When we bought our house six years ago (Toronto, Canada, area), it had an existing three-year-old pool. Two years ago, when we opened it in the spring, we discovered that the fibreglass steps had heaved over the winter and large cracks had appeared on either side. We had someone fill the cracks with fibreglass and we had the entire deck removed and replace with stamped concrete. The repair held for one winter but they have cracked and heaved again! The brand new stamped concrete is now cracked and spalling in the area of the steps. The coping has also separated on one side from the concrete deck. The top edge of the steps are now above the concrete deck on one side and below it on the other. Based on what we are being told by our pool company (who didn't build it but have been maintaining it for us), this looks like about a $15K repair job when all is said and done -- about $7K for new steps (not going the patch route again), $4K for a new liner and $3K for concrete repairs. But I don't want to spend that kind of money and have it happen again in a couple of years! We need to get some advice on what would have caused this. Obviously, water has gotten under the steps, frozen and expanded. But how? And what can we do to keep it from happening again? Could it be a leak in one of the underground lines or the jets that discharge into the step area?

Well, that's the problem, I guess -- the coping is even with the existing concrete deck, so I was wondering whether pavers can be laid over top of the coping?

My three-foot concrete deck is cracked and chunks have spalled off in several places. I'd like to replace it, but I'm worried about the amount of work, cost and risk involved in having it removed, so I was wondering whether it is possible to have interlocking concrete pavers laid over top of it. I am planning to lift a paving stone patio next summer anyway because it has heaved, so could raise the level to match. Has anyone ever done this -- or does anyone have any other suggestions? I don't want to use a spray-on/roll-on product because I don't really like the look.

The previous owners built the pool so I don't know what kind of materials they used. Our soil is clay-like and generally pretty stable, though -- nothing out of the ordinary. The guy who repaired the steps said it was a frost heave. The whole shallow end is heaved but not the deep end, so whatever's happening at the shallow end isn't happening down there.

Just wanted to let anyone in southern Ontario know that they should avoid Foster Pools at all costs. We bought a house that had a three-year-old pool which had been installed by Foster Pools of Hastings, Ontario, and it has been nothing but trouble. The first year, the salt system wouldn't start up and the local pool company said the unit was fried. I called Foster Pools to see if there was some kind of warranty on it, but they wouldn't call me back. Second year, the pool developed huge wrinkles in the bottom of the shallow end. Third year (this year), the fibreglass steps have cracked (huge cracks!) on both sides and the concrete deck is cracked and chunks of it are falling out. My husband, who's a civil engineer, is sure that all these problems are related to insufficient compaction. Of course, they won't talk to me at all. I'm spending $2,500 this week to have the steps repaired and liner reset (if it works). In the three years since we've owned this pool, it has cost us about $6,000 for repairs, and we still need to have the deck replaced. In the next few years, I expect to have to have the steps ($5,000) and the liner ($3,000) replaced. Who knows how long the pump, filter and heater will hold out. I'm guessing that their prices are lower than other pool companies, but it's definitely not worth it!

Hi, everyone, I'm new here. We have a seven-year-old pool that was built by the home's former owners. We took it over in the third summer. Second year we had it, the salt water generator went south and we had to replace it. The next year, wrinkles started developing but they were small at first. Last year, they were much bigger so we called in a repair guy who checked for leaks and couldn't find any. He said there was nothing he could do about the wrinkles, though, because the liner had "too much memory". This year, the winter cover ripped so we will have to replace that when we close it. Tonight, when I went to vaccuum for the first time, I realized that the fibreglass stairs are cracked on both sides -- large cracks that have opened up, which explains why we're losing water. The concrete deck also has some cracks that became bigger over the winter. I've attached some photos so you can see what I mean. I'm beginning to wonder whether all these problems are related and whether it's worth it to keep spending money on this pool. Do any of the experts out there have any opinions or suggestions? Is it worth it to try to have the steps repaired -- will the repairs last and not look unsightly? Any idea on the relative costs of repairs versus replacement? I'm in the Toronto, Canada area. Thanks in advance.