No matter how big or how small your home pool, our comprehensive pool company offers a range of options for cleaning, repairing, or replacing your pool’s coping. We use sustainable products and source locally whenever possible, which is both eco-friendly and ensures that our materials complement your San Diego County landscaping.
Pool Coping Overview
The pool coping is the interface between the waterline tile and your pool deck. It’s a visual transition from the edge of the water to the smoother deck and can either be crafted from the same materials as the deck itself or different types of stone or tile for a more dramatic visual effect. Most pool coping is installed about a foot away from the edge of the pool.
Many homeowners prefer having a contrast between the deck and the coping, making a visual outline of the pool around your deck. Opting for colorful tiles or dramatic stone can make your outdoor environment pop.
Other San Diego area pool owners prefer a more subtle look, with consistent materials used for both the deck and the coping itself. Coping is also a safety feature, giving swimmers something extra to hang on to and preventing slips and falls outside the pool.
There are a few different types of materials to chose from, and our exceptional design team can make recommendations as to which will suit your taste and budget, working with your desired aesthetic.
Cantilevered Coping
Cantilever pool coping is a term for a style of coping that overextends the edge of the pool by about 3 inches. It’s a continuous material with no break between the deck itself and the last foot (considered the “pool coping area”) It’s a great choice for pool owners who wish to have a more uniform look to their deck and eliminates the need for mastic (or Deck O Seal) behind the coping.
Mastic is a specialized joint-sealer crafted to withstand the demands of a wet pool environment, sealing cracks and adhering different materials to the pool deck.
However, due to the nature of cantilevered construction, this type of pool coping doesn’t lend itself to allowing for a contrasting outline of the pool using a type of material different from the pool deck.
A more dramatic option for cantilever coping is cutting a slam trench about a foot back from the pool as a relief joint, which can be filled with mastic, creating a cushion between the deck and coping and reducing damage to both if the soil below shifts, important for California homeowners.
Other Types Of Pool Coping
Pool coping can come in many different forms.
Pre-cast and custom safety grip
This type of pool coping is pre-casted in molds, with edges that curve up to allow for ease of gripping at the edge of the pool. It may be good for homeowners with children and visitors that need a little extra form of safety. To construct this, a template of the pool’s edge is created for the manufacturer to create exact measurements for each pre-cast piece. It can also come in custom-made forms with non-safety grip design and either a bullnose edge or a square edge, in many colors.
Natural stone
Flagstone, quartz, and other natural field stones are a lovely choice for residential pool owners that desire a more rustic or natural appearance to their pool coping. These naturally lend themselves to a more organic look and can tie in with your landscaping or retaining wall. Bear in mind that natural stones can be porous, with the potential for flaking and cratering. Our team can help prevent flaking and wear by sealing the material, a process that should be repeated every few years.
Honed pool coping stones
These give a more sophisticated look, with the finish of natural stone coupled with a more precise, uniform look. They’re typically polished and can be slippery, so bear in mind who will be using your pool before installing them.
Pour in place coping
This involves setting forms of wood and foam, then pouring cement coping around the edges. This type of coping can be created in just about any color, perfect for a custom look or giving your pool’s edge that “wow!” factor. This is done on-site by a technician. Depending on the weather and material, the length of time for curing may vary. It also tends to crack more than other types of pool coping.
Pool Coping Maintenance
As part of your preventative maintenance service, we will also inspect the coping. Depending on the condition of the structure, we’ll either re-seal the material, repair the cracks, or simply give it the same thorough cleaning that we give the rest of your pool and pool deck.
The installation and repair process of pool coping at your home will vary by the condition of the material and the curing time. Should you need replacement or repair, we’ll give you a custom, itemized quote and walk you through each step of the process.