We are in PA, do we need rebar in the decking? Builder wants to use 3000psi concrete and says we do not need rebar. The concrete guy that did the sidewalks and patio suggested rebar and 4000psi concrete. The decking will be anywhere from 4ft wide on the backside of the pool to 12ft in the lounge area. Any suggestions would be welcomed, thank you.
Concrete decking around a new pool
- Thread starter JasonGr
- Start date
Jason, many many pool builds here *do* use rebar in the decking. But my own pool deck (which is pretty large) didn't have it but I don't know why not? Perhaps being in a warmer climate is the difference, I dunno? Skippy says he thinks they used a special fiberglass mixed cement or something??
I have put a request in with one of our pool builder experts here for his opinion- keep a look out for his response.
Maddie
I have put a request in with one of our pool builder experts here for his opinion- keep a look out for his response.
Maddie
I would want rebar. Beyond just structural strength, you get a better bonding grid, which reduces the risk of stray current shocks being felt when bridging deck to pool.
- Jun 7, 2017
- 9,952
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Jandy Aquapure 1400
I am in MD and no rebar was put in for me and not a special mix. Concrete is 15 feet at widest point.
You need to see what the requirements are in your area for the equipotential bond grid. Here in California we have to have a 12" X 12" grid 3' out around the entire perimeter of the pool. Since we already have to do that, most opt to continue with the rebar in the deck.
The only thing rebar does in flatwork is prevent the concrete from heaving and separating - definitely a good thing in areas with freeze/thaw cycles and expansive soil. Rebar provides no increase in compressive strength.
The only thing rebar does in flatwork is prevent the concrete from heaving and separating - definitely a good thing in areas with freeze/thaw cycles and expansive soil. Rebar provides no increase in compressive strength.
- May 23, 2015
- 25,674
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
All of our decking and walkways were done with steel wire mesh...I wanted all post-tension slabs but the additional $20k in cost to do it was a little pricey 
All of our decking and walkways were done with steel wire mesh...I wanted all post-tension slabs but the additional $20k in cost to do it was a little pricey
The really cool guys do pretensioned slabs
- May 23, 2015
- 25,674
- Pool Size
- 16000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
FAR. FAR, and Far more important than rebar or mesh or fiberglass is the preparation of the backfill. Did you use rock or soil from the dig?
Settling backfill is the single most common decking problem we see on this forum
Settling backfill is the single most common decking problem we see on this forum
Ditto! Proper backfill is so overlooked.
I find more broken pipes & structural damage due to poor backfill practices (which can actually get you years down the road) than I do ice damage.
I find more broken pipes & structural damage due to poor backfill practices (which can actually get you years down the road) than I do ice damage.
They haven't done anything with backfill yet, the electrical was just installed yesterday. I still need the stone coping done, then we can do the deck. The pool builder does a thin gravel base, with concrete on top of that. My concrete guy suggested 3 inches of gravel with rebar, he's much more expensive but i leaning that way as i don't want to shift with our winters.
My standalone hot tub is sitting on 4" of concrete with a 6" compacted crushed concrete base. No rebar or mesh except for bonding under the tub. It hasn't shifted at all except for a narrow section of walkway -- it cracked at the cut and one side raised up about 1/4". Will be 9 years old this spring.
My pool deck doesn't have any rebar or mesh either, but it's poured on about 3 feet of crushed -- pretty sure it's not going anywhere either. I'm in NJ, btw. Seems pretty standard in my area not to add rebar to concrete decking.
My pool deck doesn't have any rebar or mesh either, but it's poured on about 3 feet of crushed -- pretty sure it's not going anywhere either. I'm in NJ, btw. Seems pretty standard in my area not to add rebar to concrete decking.
That may not be good enough. To keep your deck from heaving, there should be NO soil used in the backfill....only gravel.
I used about 50 tons of clear gravel for back filling my pool. Everything I have read and heard from pool builders in my area is to not use any soil while back filling. I installed wire mesh in the slab.
- Jan 4, 2016
- 5,392
- Pool Size
- 44000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
+100 to proper backfill under a slab.
In a properly supported slab, rebar or mesh is only helping with cracking, by reducing cracking, and then by keeping cracks tight, and the slab not lifting at the crack, at least until it rusts away inside the crack. For my money, rebar is going to take longer to rust when that starts.
In a properly supported slab, rebar or mesh is only helping with cracking, by reducing cracking, and then by keeping cracks tight, and the slab not lifting at the crack, at least until it rusts away inside the crack. For my money, rebar is going to take longer to rust when that starts.
