Laying tracks on concrete pool patio. What is best way to do it? Prefer not to drill holes in the pool patio.

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yanksali

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Laying tracks on ground level patio around an in ground pool made of concrete. What is best way to affix tracks on concrete? Prefer not to drill holes in case tracks are removed in the future so there are no unsightly holes left. Has anyone layed track on concrete? Can double sided tape be used or clear silicone?
 
External PVA White Builders Glue will secure Track to cement. However you are likely to get sleeper shaped discolouring anyway, so I would not worry too much about a few holes to secure the Track. You can always fill them with some sand and cement if you remove the Track. A bit of earth mixed with water will disguise the new cement when dried nicely.
 
Gordon (Nodrog) is the expert on glued track - the Eighton Bahn relies heavily on it :nod::nod:
 
You don't need to glue it down, if you want to secure it, just secure it every 6 to 10 feet with a dab of RTV Silicone.

In your area, the temperature swings will rip the rails from the ties if you try to glue it down everywhere.

The ties and the rail will expand at differing rates.

Greg
 
The ties (sleepers) are hollow underneath so the contact area for any adhesive is pretty small and it will probably fail due to the expansion/contraction of the track with temperature changes, especially direct sun. I would recommend letting the track float on the concrete with maybe a few small anchor points.

You might check to see how level the concrete actually is. My layout (live steam and battery) is out in the yard, but I have a small amount of track on the patio for kids to run some small dc trains and the track does not lay flat in some areas.
 
RogerK said:
The ties (sleepers) are hollow underneath so the contact area for any adhesive is pretty small and it will probably fail due to the expansion/contraction of the track with temperature changes, especially direct sun. I would recommend letting the track float on the concrete with maybe a few small anchor points.
You might check to see how level the concrete actually is. My layout (live steam and battery) is out in the yard, but I have a small amount of track on the patio for kids to run some small dc trains and the track does not lay flat in some areas.
Click to expand...

As Greg has suggested use silicone every 6 feet or so to secure it. It will remove easy and sticks like sh*t to a blanket. A decent blob is best so the hollow track snuggly sits into it giving good surface contact. It may then be visible but clear anyway so won't be very noticeable. Residue can be softened to help removal from porous concrete with vinagar, metholated spirits, petrol or acetone.
As far as expansion goes, long straights is where you will have most problems. Leave some small gaps on joins for expansion (on a cold day) or if not too long secure it in the center then let some of the curve at each end take up any movement before the next fixing point.
 
I did a temporary layout that in the end was not so temporary (3years) I filled the bottom of the sleeper with silicone before I fitted the track let it dry then applied a new bead of silicone on top of the dried stuff then stuck it down on concrete blocks 90% where still stuck 3 years later.
 
Thanks for the replies. How many sleepers should be in silicone every 6-10 feet.
Does silicone stand up to rain, etc
 
Depends on how you do it but a couple of square inches should be enough. Perhaps a blob in the middle of two or three sleepers. For a neater effect you could trim it with a narrow sharp chisel outside the sleepers once it hardens or do it like wandgrudd suggested.
Silicone is resistant to extreme heat and extreme cold and water runs off it like a ducks back. Quack quack! :)
 
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Yep. except sleepers stay in bed longer. :giggle:
Like with inches and metric, I would have used a different term if I had bothered noticing your flag. :nod:
 
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