Materials You May Need:

• Caulking
• Joint Trowel (If you choose Gun Grade Caulk)
• Masking Tape (If you choose Gun Grade Caulk)
• Caulk Gun
• Stiff Bristled Brush
• Matte Knife
• Dish Soap
• Water
• Rags for cleaning up mistakes

1. To re-caulk, remove all of the old caulk from the joint as well as the backer rod you should find underneath it. The caulk should pull right out once you have a good grip on it. Use a utility knife to remove any stubborn caulk that remains.

2. Inspect the joint for any stones or debris and make sure that the joint extends to the ground. If you find any place that the deck touches the coping you will want to remove part of the deck. If the problem area is small, you may be able to chisel away the deck. If the problem covers a wide area then it could be worthwhile to rent a demo hammer or a quick saw from your local hardware store.

3. Once the joint has had all the debris removed scrub the area with a stiff-bristled brush and a dilute solution of water and dish soap to remove any dirt or dust. Let area dry.

4. Next, take backer rod and insert it into the joint until the top of the rod is at least ¼ inch deep.

5. Caulk the expansion joint. There are a few choices of pool caulk. Deck-o-Seal and Vulkem are two popular brand names.

1. Self-leveling pool caulk is runnier than traditional caulk and requires no taping on either side of the joint or finishing of the caulk bead. The caulk will flow, smoothing itself out. Self-leveling caulk will flow downhill so if your deck isn’t 100% level the caulk will pool in the low spots. For this reason you must use tape or putty on an open ended joint to prevent the caulk from running out.
   
2. Semi self-leveling caulk has similar qualities to self-leveling caulk but is less runny. It will flow but not as much.
3. For traditional caulk, called gun grade, you need to mask either side of the joint with tape before sealing the joint. Once the caulk is in the joint you need to trowel it smooth. The tape will prevent the caulk from adhering to your deck and coping, remove it before the caulk sets.

All caulks are affected by temperature and have an ideal temperature for curing listed in the directions. Generally the hotter the weather the runnier the caulk will be. The best weather for caulking is around 70 degrees and dry.

Be sure to visit our Pool Caulk Section in our store!

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