Pool Coping: Everything you Need to Know
Ever wondered what the material above the pool tile line is? The part of your pool that covers the entirety of the structure surrounding the pool area?
That’s the coping.
Pool coping is the part of the swimming pool area that divides and separates the actual pool that holds the water and the surrounding domain where the exterior of the swimming pool is located. Beyond the coping is where you’ll often find the pool patio and the furniture as well as other amenities that requires to be away from the water. Pool Plaster Central offers pool plaster and pool remodel services with the option of adding a pool coping and even installing of pool pebble.
The pool coping is a part of your swimming pool that’s often taken for granted as it’s often seen as a cosmetic component of the pool. Although not many pool services pay attention to pool coping, pool coping has some actual practical applications and acts as a marker or a frame that pool users can use as a form of notification that they are entering the pool area and that they are to expect a body of water ahead. It can be considered as a small and insignificant safety feature amongst swimming pools that do not have advanced and sophisticated systems.
Here are a few things to think about that will help you understand what pool coping is and its use in the swimming pool and why you need to consider a pool coping service.
In architecture, the term coping refers to a protective lid or a cap at the top portion of a mounted wall giving it a finished appearance as well as making the structure pop out of the otherwise bland backdrop. It also serves the same purpose in swimming pools adding a certain variety in dimension and in aesthetic value which makes the pool area pop out or stand out from the rest of the backyard. Pool coping designs can also be matched with that of other pool components like your pool tile and pool decking.
Apart from beautification, here are some practical uses of pool coping.
- Directing the splash out to the deck drains and away from the pool water.
- Preventing the pool water from directly splashing away towards the area beyond.
- Provides an appealing and an attractive partition that covers the area where some of the pool systems and pool equipment lay hidden.
- Prevents dirt and debris from getting into the pool area and eventually submerging into the pool water.
- A means for pool users and swimmers to safely enter and exit the swimming pool.
A good pool coping will provide the swimming pool area a means of reducing slipping and falling over as pool coping will often have a rough finish creating adhesion so swimmers will not easily fall right over to the pool water. This is why pool coping is often considered by expert pool professionals as an integral part of any swimming pool plaster project.
Swimming pool coping also counts and can be considered a form of pool landscaping. Sure, it’s not your luscious decorative bush or even a towering pine tree but a pool coping can serve as an elbow room for the pool owner to add their own style to an otherwise standard backyard pool. Pool coping can come in various sizes, colors, and designs allowing you to match it with the décor in the pool patio and even add a slight touch of cohesive design to that of your home.
A good pool coping can serve the pool owner various purposes with your imagination as your only limit as in most cases adding pool coping is an affordable way of upgrading and adding flair to your private pool remodel undertakings.
Thinking about improving your pool coping or maybe adding a pool coping to an otherwise bare-looking pool? Maybe it’s time you contact Pool Plaster Central.
Why Pool Plaster Central is best at Pool Coping
We’re a company that provides holistic pool services and sees the bigger picture in every pool. Although we provide various solutions to repair and beautify your swimming pool, it’s our duty to see the potential in every property. Pool Plaster Central is backed by licensed pool professionals ranging from electricians, mason workers, and plumbers to pool artisans that are adept in the latest swimming pool designs and concepts. We’re a company that will help you no matter how small or how big your pool problem is. Whether you need help with pool tile, pool decking, and even applying pool pebble, Pool Plaster Central is the company you call. We also won’t shy away from giving expert opinions and it’s not uncommon that we let our customers know should we deem that our service is not needed. We’re a company that thrives in doing honest business as it is our goal to convert customers and clients into our long-term friends.
We devote ourselves to our projects and we stand by it. Abandoning contracts is not in our vocabulary. We’ll see your project through from start to finish. We’ll even provide you with an estimated turnaround time based on how small or how big the project is. You can see that in various locations we’ve worked on like our Tustin pool plaster and Santa Ana pool remodel services. We make sure to give our clients the best service, the kind that we, ourselves will be satisfied with.
Lastly, Pool Plaster Central is a pool company with a heart. We ultimately treat our clients like family and it makes us happy to see the smiles on their faces after every finished project. While we do our best to provide impeccable pool repair and pool renovation services, we also provide recurring weekly services to maintain the pools we’ve repaired and restored. That’s how passionate we are about pools. We treat them as our own and every finished project is never finished.
If you’re interested on how Pool Plaster Central can help you with your swimming pool today, contact us and let us know. We’re the kind that will talk to you about your options even before we start to talk about getting a quote. We don’t just believe every pool is different, we know so. Give us a call and let’s start your new pool project today.
What is pool coping?
Pool coping is a form of a cap or lid that covers the upper surface of the pool wall. Whilst its main purpose is to cover the bond beam, pool copings also work as a means to direct the splashout away from the pool water and into the deck drains. Moreover, pool copings provide the added purpose of beautifying your swimming pool by giving it a more polished look and ultimately making your pool a safer place to swim in.
What is the best pool coping?
In terms of coping material, one of the best is travertine. Travertine pool copings are a great option if you’re planning to upgrade your pool coping because it covers both the aesthetic and the structural elements of a pool. In terms of its cosmetic and aesthetic value, travertine pool coping offers a sophisticated and elegant look adding dimensions to your pool area that makes it stand out. Thanks to its marble-like texture and limestone nature, travertine pool copings look stylish and refined but is also tough and durable. Travertine is also cool to the touch so you won’t get your feet burned even when walking over your coping under the scorching sun.
In terms of design, coping layout or cut, the best pool coping option is rolled edge. This type of pool coping design and layout offers a slanting edge making it suitable not only for diving but also as a means for swimmers to hold onto from the inside of the pool. It’s also more comfortable to sit on rolled edge copings because it won’t put pressure on the thighs as other pool coping cuts and layouts would.
Is pool coping necessary?
When a concrete in-ground pool is constructed, the upper edge of the pool wall will have rough concretes and exposed steel. This can be a hazard not only to swimmers but also to anyone in close proximity. That said, the use of pool coping is necessitated as a means of covering the exposed concrete and steel. Pool copings can serve as safety features as well as a means to improve your pool’s aesthetics. You can match the type of material in your pool deck or the structure beside the pool to the coping to form a more cohesive look. Having said that, installing or adding coping to your pool is necessary as it serves not only as a means to cap the exposed part of your pool but also a means to enhance the beauty of your aquatic retreat.
How much does pool coping cost?
Pool copings costs vary depending on the scope of work as well as on the type of material used in the pool coping project. Nevertheless, the average cost of installing pool coping is around $30 to $50 per linear foot. Here are a few more estimates of pool coping costs depending on the materials used.
- Brick coping – $25–$30 per linear foot.
- Travertine coping – $45–$55 per linear foot.
- Cantilevered coping – $6–$10 per linear foot.
Pool Service Areas
Brick
Another popular choice for swimming pool coping is bull-nose brick. It’s a variety of pool coping that gives the pool a somewhat elegant and industrial appeal. Having had the appearance of red brick structures, this type of coping material goes well with houses that use the same type of bricks forming a cohesive structure where the pool works well taking the design cues of the property standing beside it.
It offers a finished appearance that looks solid and sturdy.
Hancrete
Hancrete is a type of pool coping that is known for its durability and overall build quality. Their products range from various styles and details from single bullnose detail, squarenose detail, to mesa style pilaster cap detail. Each product category offers specific advantages that blend aesthetic and structural benefits.
Hancretes are also known for their elegant designs, colors, and textures that range from their standard roman white, natural grey, to specialty color options. Likewise, you can opt to have your hancrete coping come in a smooth finish, salt/pocket texture, and a light washed finish. Hancrete pool copings add an elegant and luxurious feel to your private pool.
Travertine
Another variety of swimming pool coping is travertine. Travertine is a kind of limestone with marble-like texture with attractive warm colors. It offers the perfect marriage and the benefits of using slate and marble that it emanates a warm atmosphere while still maintaining a temperature that’s cool to the touch. Like marble, travertine is also expensive and apart from giving your pool an attractive look, it also increases its value. It’s a must-have for pool owners that aim to have a posh pool to entertain guests, families, and friends.
Poured in Place
As the name suggests, the concrete coping is poured in place which makes this variety of pool coping a solid and a durable option since the coping is merged and molded above the exposed pool area. Poured in place pool copings aren’t just rock solid, they are also an attractive addition to any pool as poured in place pool copings can be had in a variety of finishes including a sand-blasted finish, brom-finished, buff-polished, and acid finish.
Like other pool coping materials, poured in place coping can also be styled and laid out using various pool coping cuts and designs. Poured in place concrete copings can be shaped with a flat edge, bullnose, and even a curved edge. Basically poured in place copings are popular because they serve as a water-proof and a single, solid piece of concrete to seal the top edge of your pool.
Are you considering adding pool coping to your swimming pool? Maybe upgrade the current coping you have on your pool? Installing or even upgrading your pool coping can be a fun project that’s affordable and beneficial at best. As we’ve covered above, swimming pool coping is used to protect the pool area and the individuals using the swimming pool. Its purpose is simple and humble however installing the pool coping is more than just digging a hole in the ground, that’s why it’s best to leave pool coping installation to experienced pool professionals. That said, an adept swimming pool professional can help you increase the practical and aesthetic value of your pool coping by helping you install the right kind of coping in your pool.
Interested to know what your options are in pool coping? We’ll start with some important things you should consider when planning for a pool coping project.
Prior Considerations
First, you should check various design cues and styling that are present in your pool and whether you would like to keep them or have them remodeled. This will give off an idea of the styling path or the design language you will use with your pool coping. This will allow you to emulate a more cohesive aesthetic value in your swimming pool.
Next, you should consider how much exposure the coping will receive. With outdoor in-ground swimming pools, pool coping gets exposed quite often to sunlight, rain, and other elements that may wear the coping down sooner than expected decreasing its structural integrity as well as its cosmetic value.
Lastly, consider the primary role that your pool coping will play in your swimming pool. As we’ve stated above, swimming pool coping plays various roles aside it increasing the beauty of your pool and making it stand out. That said, the constant cycle of drying and getting wet may damage the materials used in the pool coping where it may lose significant adhesion and abrasion if you don’t select the proper material for coping.
It’s best to consult with your swimming pool contractor what style and what purpose you want your swimming pool coping you want to serve and work with them closely to achieve the best results. We at Pool Plaster Central ensure that you can get the best results from your every undertaking by using the best raw materials most suitable for the look and for the purpose you are trying to achieve. These pool copings will be installed by certified professionals who know exactly what they’re doing. If you want to give your swimming pool the coping it deserves, trust the pool professionals with extensive experience – trust only Pool Plaster Central.
Now, let’s talk about the styles commonly used in swimming pool coping. Here are some styling cues you can use as a pattern for your pool coping inspiration.
1. Bull-Nosed
Bull-nosed styling is one of the most common in many swimming pools since this pool coping design allows swimmers to easily access the swimming pool giving them the means to easily go in and out of the water. That said, many residential pools with families of children and elderly living with them often use this style of coping. It’s a practical pool coping style that allows swimmers of various ages to enjoy the swimming pool.
2. Rolled Edge
This particular style of pool coping builds the structure slightly slanting towards the pool. This pool coping style is often found and used in athletic pools or swimming pools that are made for exercising. That said, this build is more suited for diving or holding the edge for swimmers inside the pool. If your swimming pool is for athletic and leisure, this pool coping build is best for you.
3. Rough-Cut
A rough-cut pool coping is made for pools that are designed to match a rustic home. Having said that, this variety of swimming pool coping build is more suited for a backyard pool with landscaping to match. You can find rough-cut pool coping in homes and in private pools standing beside a grotto or a waterfall.
4. Cantilevered
A Cantilevered pool coping is one of the more modern varieties in terms of design and engineering. The coping of cantilevered builds goes flat side to side and ends in a 90-degree angle giving the coping a more substantial or thicker appearance. You will see this style mostly in modern houses with simple and minimalistic design language.
There are many styles and materials that are available for use with pool coping. We at Pool Plaster Central use only the best varieties to ensure superior structural integrity, durability, and longevity. We use tried techniques in the pool industry as well as modern machinery to provide you with the best swimming pool services possible. Swimming pool coping is something we do best. With our knowledge and experience, you can rest assured your pool is in good hands.
Now that we know the materials and the styles available for pool coping, here are the steps are often taken in installing a coping of a swimming pool.
1. Planning
In every undertaking, planning is one of the most important parts of the project. A good swimming pool contractor will plan the project ahead of time to make sure that when they arrive on the site, they can start the project on time with a table to follow and so on. Part of the planning process also is making decisions with how you want the coping to be applied and what materials are to be used.
Pool Plaster Central will help you with various styles and assist you with finding the right material for your pool coping.
2. Gritting the Imperfections
Once you and your contractor have decided on your plan and everything involved in the undertaking, the first thing that needs to be done is to grit or to grind out any imperfections in the area where the coping is to be applied. There are various techniques and technologies used in grinding out imperfections from hand-operated equipment to advanced precision tools that make this step as effective and as efficient as possible.
3. Checking of Bonding Cables
Because the coping is often where various components of your swimming pool equipment are found, it’s best that the area is checked of things like copper boding cables for the pool system as well as the junction box and even the plastic steps. The surrounding area is then sponged off as well as the underside of the coping to ensure better adhesion when the coping is installed.
4. Adhesive Application
When the surface has been cleared of any dirt and debris, the adhesive can finally be applied. There are various adhesive options and your contractor can help you make the decision in what adhesive to use that suits the coping material best.
5. Applying the Coping
Once the adhesives are set, the coping material can be applied to the adhesive. To ensure the best results, it’s best to use a foam backer rod as a filler in between the spaces of the materials to significantly reduce the amount of caulk needed to seal the coping. Caulk will make the seal waterproof. Lastly, a joint fill material is to be sprinkled to the spaces in between to finish the coping process.
As we’ve covered earlier, a pool coping project is simple and does not necessitate a major pool makeover. However, many pool owners include this type of project when they have their pools renovated and remodeled. Pool Plaster Central is a company dedicated to swimming pool remodeling and swimming pool renovation, we’ll make sure that your coping is applied and installed professionally.
