Caulk the control joints in the pool deck when needed

A lot of pool owners neglect to have the control joints in their concrete deck caulked (and then re-caulked) when needed. In a concrete pool deck, a series of control joints are placed in the concrete. The control joints control where the concrete will have. They allow for movement due to temperature and moisture. They also allow for concrete shrinkage. While it will go unnoticeable, the concrete will continue to shrink – and simultaneously widen the control joint – for many years. As the concrete ages, when the the deck does move and shrink, the control joints will themselves continue to crack. Initially, the control joints should be left as is, not caulked. But as the deck ages, and the cracking within the control joint worsens, the control joints should be caulked. This is good preventative maintenance against deck problems. The correct caulk must be used.

Reasons to caulk the control joints in a pool deck:
  • it prevents water from getting under the concrete (which can freeze and expand over the winter months).
  • it keeps dirt and debris out of these control joints (which can block movement).

If water gets under the concrete and freezes, then it will expand as it freezes. This expansion is more than normal. Even minimal repeated over-expansion can cause damage to the deck.

As dirt and debris compact inside this control joints, it will block normal movement that occurs. This may cause damage to the deck.

Caulking (and then eventually re-caulking) the control joints will keep water, dirt and debris out of them.

Re-caulking the control joints in the pool deck

Once caulked, it would be wise to have the caulk inspected every 2-3 years. This is something that is often overlooked by many pool owners.


We hope this helps.

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We can caulk the control joints in your pool deck.

Here are some ballpark costs:

Cost if there is currently no caulk in the control joints:

We can caulk the control joints. The price will likely range from $3.95 – $4.95 per lineal foot. We will provide a free onsite quote. The cost will depend on the width, depth, and lineal footage of all control joints in the pool deck. Where needed, we will install backer rod into deep joints to fill the void. This may slightly increase the cost.

Cost if the control joints are caulked and only need touch-up caulking where needed:

If the control joints are caulked but some of the caulk is compromised, then we can re-caulk the control joints where needed. The price will likely range from $3.95 – $6.95 per lineal foot. We will provide a free onsite quote. The cost will depend on the current condition of the caulk, the amount that can be repaired versus the amount that needs to be removed and replaced, the width and depth of the control joints, and also the lineal footage of all control joints in the pool deck. If needed, we will install backer rod into deep joints to fill the void. This may slightly increase the cost.

Cost if the control joints are caulked but need all of the caulk removed and replaced:

If the control joints are caulked but all of the caulk needs to be removed and replaced, then we can re-caulk the control joints in the entire pool deck. The price will likely range from $6.95 – $9.95 per lineal foot. We will provide a free onsite quote. The cost will depend on the current bond of the existing caulk (and therefore the difficulty of its removal), the width and depth of the control joints, and also the lineal footage of all control joints in the pool deck. If needed, we will install backer rod into deep joints to fill the void. This may slightly increase the cost.

Caulk Cost Disclaimer

Please note that these costs are ballpark estimates. We will provide a free onsite visit so we can offer a true cost.

Let us know if you need the control joints in your pool deck caulked or re-caulked.

Call us at 402-341-8132 or send us an email to [email protected] or submit a short form to discuss your pool and schedule free onsite consultation.

Or for the quickest response, you can call or text 402-250-8100 (Mike Loftus, owner).