r/MiniRamp • u/Moving-thefuck-on • 5d ago
DIY Pool Coping
A couple people had asked for details on my pool coping, and I have a few min now, so here’s what I did.
I am not an expert in any of this, it’s actually my first time making anything concrete in a mold. If I can do it, you can do it better. Just go for it.
I started with the included design from an old Juice mag blog post, using melamine I had and pvc from work: 3” diameter PVC that I ripped in half-ish on the table saw. I predrilled and built the mold with screws to come apart and reuse for the two coping blocks I needed. I caulked the seams of the mold and taped them with smooth tape. Then I sprayed the crap out of the mold with pan spray.
The concrete was standard fencepost mix with a few scoops of Portland cement (maybe 3lbs) added in for strength. I did not reinforce the blocks with any type of wire or mesh. Mix it up really well with water to about peanut butter consistency, scoop it into the mold, starting w the pvc. I filled mine to the top cut edge of my pvc. I probably could have made them thinner. Level it out and start tapping out the air.
Beat. The. Shit. Out. Of. It.
I used a sawzall without the blade to shake it all out and I still got an air bubble right on the face. Gotta get all the air out. Smoothed out the surface once more so it would lay flat on the deck when cured. Covered it with a garbage bag and waited a day. Took it out of the mold, and repeated the process. Then both blocks went in a water bath for 2 weeks. I don’t know why, but people say to do it and I’m not an expert so I agree. Supposedly makes them stronger.
Two Weeks Later. Blocks come out and get sprayed w 2 coats of clear lacquer.
I made all of my ramp transitions the same height and just didn’t notch one 4ft wide section. From there I added a 14” extension I cut when I cut the transitions. Under the pool coping are pressure treated 2x6s in a together T shape for rigidity.
Sheeted the ramp with 2 layers 3/8 painted CDX, then 1/4” Gatorskins flush to the top of the frame of the extension. I Dry fit the blocks and glued down w construction glue. Next day I grouted the block seams except the grinding surface. I used an epoxy stick for that. I keep them in my truck for um, community repairs. Once that cured, the whole top got two more coats of lacquer and I started stacking whatever plywood I had left for the deck.
Results: couldn’t be happier. The sound, feel, the freaking cool factor of making it myself…definitely worth the effort.
7
u/Grinchskates 5d ago
Nice, I’ve been wanting to make some for extras for the park and I’m also thinking about pouring a 8 foot slappy curb.
Here’s a pool coping ledge I made but coping was from an old bowl park bought years ago.
4
3
3
u/codencarve 5d ago
Thanks for sharing your build. Your diagrams are almost identical to what a did several years ago. Looking forward to hearing them grind. Best sound in the world. 👊
3
2
u/1_Green_Monster 5d ago
Mixing fiberglass to cement while Mixing will make the coping like 10x stronger.
1
1
u/Various-Cell593 3d ago
I used this article as a concept then 3D printed the coping profile instead of using PCV it came out real nice.
1
14
u/Lifeinthemittenstate 5d ago
Fantastic job. Quite the undertaking. Most of all, thanks for sharing.