Replacing Metal Coping

[Vintendo]

Ok, History first...

I bought a house last year and renovated. It has an inground pool that was built, my guess is 1983, since I

see thats when the electrical work was inspected as per my electrical panel. I suppose the pool could be

older since the house was built in 1960. Originally a bungalow, but now its a full house.

The problem...

It has a metal coping that has rusted to pieces. Its about 6 inches in width, from the sidewall to the face

of the concrete apron. I can take a shot at grinding and cutting the metal out, but I cant see what or how it is

attached. Below the metal coping is sand fill. After removing the rusted metal coping, I was either going to fill the cavity with pavers or backfill with concrete. I do not have a lot of money to fix this and I wanted to do it myself.

I've done a lot of research and have not found anything on this type of coping. Its hard for me to believe that this

is the only pool with this problem. My guess is any pool from this era probably has had a similar issue.

The liner seemes to be only attached to the sidewall and not the coping.

My question is, what are the implications of my solutions. What is this metal coping actually doing?

Any other solutions?

I will post photos of the condition as soon as possible, I am at work now and do not have access.

The pump and filter works fine and I'll be looking to open the pool soon, any help is greatly appreciated.

I will answer any questions and provide pictures of anything that you may have a queation about.

Thanks again.

[D0TC]

Please post those pics - I do liner pools for a living and have dealt with many different coping styles - I'd say that the coping is the receiver for the liner, but without pics I can't be sure.

[Vintendo]

Please post those pics - I do liner pools for a living and have dealt with many different coping styles - I'd say that the coping is the receiver for the liner, but without pics I can't be sure.

Ok, I opened the pool cleaned it and took theses pics. You are correct, the coping does receive the liner.

As you can see, it is a mess. I am considering...

1. Recapping with metal over the rusted coping

2. Pavers

3. Wood deck

I dont want to remove the metal coping, it will be an incredibly difficult task and create more damage.

I also dont have much money to do the work.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

These images may take a while to view, they are quite large

[Vintendo]

I am also thinking of boat grade wood like teak or something. It doesnt have to be the most handsome fix, I am just looking to stop the rust and extend the life of the pool.

Another question would be, whats a good product to slow the rust down. What about a caulk or epoxy?

[Vintendo]

so, I guess im screwed

[jkusmier]

There are alot of people here w/ expert advice, but they don't respond to every post. Don't be alarmed.

Never seen coping like that, but I'm sure it can be replaced (and I'd be thinking replacement, not spot repairs w/ epoxy, etc).

You should call some local pool builders - if nothing else, they should be able to refer you to some local concrete specialists. I would think there are many possibilities for the perimeter of your pool- new metal coping, a cantilevered concrete deck and a brick coping all come to mind. All will involve use of a concrete saw to remove at least 18-24" concrete around the edge of your pool. Messy, and not fun, but I had to remove alot of the deck around my first pool and it's definitely doable - and w/ minimal impact on surrounding fence and landscaping if done right - though you'll probably need to replace the liner afterward. Upside is that you'll have a pool that looks new.

My advice - start making calls. Absent structural problems, your pool could easily last many, many years, so fix the perimeter decking.

[jkusmier]

There are alot of people here w/ expert advice, but they don't respond to every post. Don't be alarmed.

Never seen coping like that, but I'm sure it can be replaced (and I'd be thinking replacement, not spot repairs w/ epoxy, etc).

You should call some local pool builders - if nothing else, they should be able to refer you to some local concrete specialists. I would think there are many possibilities for the perimeter of your pool - new metal coping (just a bullnose edge, not coping that extends so far back from the pool's edge), brick coping and a cantilevered concrete edge all come to mind. All will involve use of a concrete saw, jackhammer, sledge and pry bar to remove at least 18-24" concrete around the edge of your pool. Messy, and not fun, but I had to remove alot of the deck around my first pool and it's definitely doable - and w/ minimal impact on surrounding fence and landscaping if done right - though you'll probably need to replace the liner afterward. Upside is that you'll have a pool that looks new.

My advice - start making calls. Absent structural problems, your pool could easily last many, many years, so fix the perimeter decking.

[Vintendo]

When you say structural problems, what kind of structural problems?

Are you including pool walls? I'll bet the walls are rusted as well as

the coping. If the walls are rusted badly, then is the pool screwed?

Thanks for the reply.

[jkusmier]

Depends on what the walls of your inground pool are made of. Could be aluminum, steel, polymer or fiberglass. If you remove a section of the coping and some of the backfill, you should be able to expose the top of that wall section and see what it's made of. Generally, if steel, it's galvanized and/or coated - although I'm guessing by your coping the pool predates powder coating. But it shouldn't be plain old steel, so the walls are probably fine. You could always do a title search and try to locate the owners at the time the pool was installed, and ask them.

[Vintendo]

Thanks for the reply.

[copinghelp]

This reply is probably too late to help, but I will post this for the benefit of any new readers with similar issues.

This coping is a top mounted, single track metal coping for vinyl liner pools. If you can remove it, it can be replaced. We make a 6-inch wide coping just like this. It comes in 2 parts, a top section and a bottom section. The bottom section is aluminum and screws down to the top of the pool wall, and has a track to hold your existing liner. The top section is white plastic/pvc and snaps into place. The coping has 2 tracks, one for the liner and one for a winter cover. If you choose not to get a winter cover, you can put a filler strip in the top track or you can put the liner in the top track.

Here's a picture:

[PoolGuyNJ]

I would be willing to bet that all of the coping is like this. The fake grass trapped moisture.

New material is called for and it's likely needed all around.

Scott

[Null45]

So I’m mad late to this party—-but.  I get it.  I also redid my own pool—liner, sand sides, and all—with ground water! Ugh.  Anyhow, I also have metal coping and it does receive the liner and no you don’t need to take it off but if you call pool people they will want to replace it.

Sand it—-wear eye gear and a mask

Rustoleum base and top coat—every year.  With a can of spray paint for touch ups to fight rust.

my big issue now is railings.  The anchors and bolts that held those cups rotted and I’m trying everything—-nothing will hold—I even threaded it with wire!!!

[Null45]

Metal coping…circa 1968 and I’ll take any ladder/railing ideas anyone has