Hairline crack in mortar under stone waterfall in spa

shellprompt · Postby **shellprompt** » Sat 11 Feb, 2012 12:37

Hi All,

I have a hairline crack running under the lip of the waterfall from the spa that falls into the pool. this has the effect of allowing the water to slowly leak under the stone into the pool.

What is the best thing to fix this with? I have been suggested both putty and silicone.

Postby **ChuckGeo** » Wed 15 Feb, 2012 08:55

This is a fairly common problem, and there are a couple of solutions:
1) Remove the spillway stone, reset and regrout it.
2) Open up the crack a little and caulk with silicone.
3) Open up the crack a litthe and seal with Poolo Putty Epoxy.
4) Saw cut the crack and caulk with Vulkem 116 caulking.
None of these are 100% permanent, I feel the best solution is the Vulken 116 caulking, it will give the joint a little "give" and is designed for underwater use (silicone caulk is not). It is available in several colors.
Hope this helps.

shellprompt · Postby **shellprompt** » Tue 21 Feb, 2012 06:42

thanks Chuck - very helpful.

is it doing any harm running underneath the stone? I have no clue what is there, but I am assuming that it cannot escape in any direction other than out of the front toward the pool.

Postby **ChuckGeo** » Tue 21 Feb, 2012 07:09

Short term, it probably won't do any damage. Long term it will cause the cement that holds the spillway stone in place to deteriorate, the crack will enlarge and the stone could come loose. I have even seen a leak under the spillway stone make it's way through the structure and out of the pool.