QUESTION: I have a concrete pool deck that is 40-by-46 feet, and it has no expansion joints. It has three cracks about 1/16-inch to 3/16-inch wide radiating from the corners of the pool. The deck, which is patterned, requires painting.What is the best way to cope with the cracks? The last time I had them caulked before painting, but the repairs didn't last.ANSWER: As you have discovered, doing any repair right is the key for a lasting solution to the problem. Caulking is not concrete and not hard enough to endure the forces of pressure and weather conditions in this location.Concrete is not a crack-free material, even with expansion joints. Look at your sidewalk or driveway for proof."The only way to correct the cracks — and again, there is no guarantee they won't come back — is to remove part of the old deck and replace it," says Randy Audette, owner of N and N Acrylics Inc. in Orlando, Fla.To repair cracks, a professional uses a concrete saw or a cutting wheel on a grinder to remove a Z\x-inch deep "V" from the deck following the existing cracks. Then the pool deck is cleaned and washed with a 2,300 pounds-per-square-inch pressure washer with a medium-size tip.The tip should be kept at least 12 inches away from the deck; otherwise, paint might flake. The area is cleaned again of all dust and debris and allowed to dry.A self-leveling two-part polyurethane mixture is used to fill in the "V." Then one hour later, the "patch" can be ground smooth. A layer of acrylic material is applied or "skimmed" over the repair, allowed to dry, then textured and repainted.The repair area is painted with a first coat, and then the entire deck is repainted to match with a second coat. The cost could start at $2,000, depending on the amount of deck to be repaired. Obtain several written estimates from licensed, trained and insured pool deck professionals.