Cencrete pool area help

[OpaDC]

Here's the deal. I have a ceement pond with concrete deck surrounding it. (see pictures below). I am in the process of cleaning and staining it all which is working out fine. My problem is the gaps between each slab. This is an old pool and the gaps are about 1.75" wide and formerly had wood in them that rotted long ago. No idea what kind of wood it was. The dept of each gap is about 2" deep. If I put a 2X4 inside there is lots of slop to the sides and not consistent. Pool places don't have anything to put in as they use smaller gaps now. My thoughts originally to maybe use river pebbles embedded in quikrete but after staining realized they color would be all wrong. Now I'm thinking of tile, possibly sized to fit or maybe tile pieces kind of like mosaic. I am headed towards a Mediterranean/Italian/Spanish look (in theory). I know you normally need expansion joints but how important is that given the age (and other cracks I am not fixing) of the concrete.
Any thoughts or suggestions or other ideas?

[just started]

If you like the wood filler look I would fill the bottom of the trench with gravel up to the level necessary for a 1" board to be level with the cement and then buy 1x4 or 1x6 red cedar (my preferred outdoor wood) or other wood you like and rip it to fit.

[Tom Slick]

I would just grout it with either a dyed cement product or colored polymeric sand. polymeric sand would be more expensive but it is super easy to work with. you just sweep it into the gaps and wet it down.

[crokett]

I would just fill the spaces with a contrasting river pebble. No quikrete or anything needed. Then you don't need to worry about cracking due to expansion.

[cabinetman]

I would just fill the spaces with a contrasting river pebble. No quikrete or anything needed. Then you don't need to worry about cracking due to expansion.

That's the way I'd go too. Being loose, would help in drainage. IIRC, it may come in colors.
.

[OpaDC]

I would just fill the spaces with a contrasting river pebble. No quikrete or anything needed. Then you don't need to worry about cracking due to expansion.

Had actually thought about this but it slopes substantially, probably as much as 4" from pool to edge. You can actually see the slope in 2nd picture. Also, we commonly have downpours that can give us 1" or more in 20-30 minutes I worry about it washing out. On the other hand, without drainage I could be creating my own flooding problem.

[crokett]

If the pebbles are packed tightly enough in there I don't think they will wash out.

[scmhogg]

My pool guy filled the gaps, albeit, smaller than yours, with fine sandbox sand, and covered it with a 1/4" layer of a liquid rubber stuff. Still mostly good after 5 years.

Steve

[OpaDC]

My pool guy filled the gaps, albeit, smaller than yours, with fine sandbox sand, and covered it with a 1/4" layer of a liquid rubber stuff. Still mostly good after 5 years.

Steve

How do you Google liquid rubber stuff??? Seriously, that gives me couple of ideas to look up. Was there a choice of colors or only one?

[Bill in Buena Park]

I believe teak is supposed to weather well in a water environ - not sure how much it would cost to fill all your gaps, but might give you that nice accent that would blend with your Spanish decoration.

Also, I believe that expansion joints are necessary - the material will continue to expand and contract regardless of age of cement, and to fill with anything too rigid would prevent needed movement and cause even more cracking.

[Seedy]

I used to do pool decks in Ca. We would fill expansion joints with silica sand (it is self-leveling) and then top off with 1/4 " of pool mastic. It was an epoxy.At that time (early 80's) it only came in a blue-grey color. I don't remember the name; but you could probably find it at a pool supply store. I am not sure how it will work on a 2" joint,however. Instead of the sand, they probably use styrofoam backer rod now.

-Craig

[LarryG]

How do you Google liquid rubber stuff???

Try "poured sealant" and "poured elastomeric sealant" and "traffic bearing sealant" and variations thereof ... the results you get from those suggestions should take you in the right direction.

[182much]

How do you Google liquid rubber stuff??? Seriously, that gives me couple of ideas to look up. Was there a choice of colors or only one?

The rubber stuff is" Deck-o seal", it's a 2 part concoction(sp)just make sure you mix it up real good (you cant stir this too much)

[messmaker]

It is so simple, I am sure you have alreay thought of it but what about using the p.t. 2x4 with caulk on each side to close the gap.

[scmhogg]

OpaDC,

Craig got it right.

Steve