Need advice on Pool Enclosure and Pool House

17 years ago

Hi Folks,

I need some advice on building an enclosure for an existing outdoor in-ground pool (20x40). We live in New Jersey and can use the pool comfortably only 4 months (June-Sep) atmost.

We want to look into options where we can either build a sunroom around the pool or do the retractable one so that we can extend the swimming season. Also looking for a cost efficeint heating system for the pool and enclosure

While doing this also thinking of building a pool house / small bathroom..the house is far from the pool 50 feet and also on the other side of the house from the closed entrance to back yard(= one wet family room ).

Any ideas? What type of enclosure works best in Northeast? Also how expensive will it be?

Thanks in advance for your expert advise.

Featured Answer

joanneswimsct

17 years ago

Hi lax 80!
I live in central CT and did purchase a telescoping pool enclosure from a company in Canada. Since then, they have sold the US business to a US company which is great because the product is now manufactured here in the states vs in Turkey of all places! You can find photos at "attempting pics of joanneswimsct build". We've certainly had our issues w/ the entire build but in the long run we LOVE the enclosure. If you do decide to go w/ them PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do NOT allow your pool builder to pitch the deck toward the pool!!!!!! The enclosure sits on a rail system and NOT on the deck so any water that splashes out of the pool will NOT pool against the walls of the unit contrary to what my pb assumed. As far as heating the pool/enclosure, how much sun do you get? By Feb we had enough sun so that inside the enclosure it was 70-80 by noon. Our pool had been shut down for the season last Nov so we didn't get a good feel for how it would have behaved in the winter ( long story/pool was new to us last Aug but building not installed until mid Nov). We opened the pool this year on Mar 31. The pool water was 48 but the air was mid 90's w/ no heat other than the sun. We turned on our gas heater ONCE all season in April and the water has been mid to upper 80's since then! Sorry for the long post but thought you'd want enough info to decide whether or not to pursue the enclosure more intently. Also, if you go w/ the company I bought mine from you MUST use the installer from the metro DC area; he is THE BEST!!!Feel free to contact me for info on price and contact info. Can we post our email addresses??? If so I will. If not it may be in the 'my page' area. Somehow I'll get that info to you...
Thanks!
Joanne

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Comments (6)

huskyridor
17 years ago
I remember Joanne's build and enclosure from last year, It's AWESOME!!!
Although I live in Texas, I'd say that in New Jersey that this would be as good as it gets.

See ya,
Kelly
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joanneswimsct
17 years ago
Thanks Kelly!
Lax 80: we have roughed in a bathroom w/i the enclosure. Not sure what building materials we will use yet but leaning toward polycarb/alum like the enclosure itself (obviously need an opaque "color"). We are at peakperformanceaquatics@yahoo.com and Libart is the company we used. Try them at libart.com Looking forward to helping you out in any way we can!
Joanne
lax_80
Original Author
17 years ago
Hi Kelly and Joanne
Thanks for the reply and advice. I will review this option and let you'll know in a follow-up what we decide to do.

Joanne,
Will there be gaps in the telescoping enclosure or is it air-tight?

We were thinking of a enclosure that traps heat from the sun and then a heat pump to heat the pool...this way the air within the enclosure will be warm even in winter and thus a heat pump would work even in winter...

Wild idea? workable? Thoughts welcome!

Thanks again.
Lax
joanneswimsct
17 years ago
Hi Lax
There are definitely gaps to the enclosure. The whole thing sits on a rail system (ours has 3 parallel) and each module has to be able to telescope over each other therefore there has to be wiggle room. The company tries to compensate by using rubber flaps along the perimeter of each section but they certainly don't keep the cold out. Also, the building has an R-value of only 5... Our unit was manufactured 4 or so years ago and since then, they have greatly improved the technology of the overall unit so we've been told. But since we saved a HUGE chunk of change we don't mind dealing w/ a 9 month season instead of possibly 12! There is a guy here in CT who tried keeping his pool open 12 months the first year he installed the enclosure. His pool is only 12X24 yet it cost him TONS to keep the heat in. His enclosure sits b/ a large shed for one end wall and his house for the other. He installed a huge gas heater in the shed to blow hot air into the enclosure but found it to be too costly. Now he shuts down the day after Thanksgiving and re-opens April 1. He has a lot of sun year round which is a big help. You may not be able to actually heat year round w/ gas/heat pump w/o spending a fortune but if you have a lot of sun exposure you'll be amazed at how hot it gets inside due to the greenhouse effect. A woman in TX uses hers year round; she installed a large electric heater like those found at the entryway of Lowe's/Home Depot. Even in the winter when she gets some snow, she told me it was so warm due to the sun she had to turn off the heater and open the windows! Her enclosure is HUGE: the pool alone is 60' long! Wish we didn't have a tall tree line behind our house; lose our sun by the end of Oct. The trees belong to the backyard neighbor so I can't touch them...
Keep us posted!
Joanne
dfnj
5 years ago
@lax_80 Did you end up installing a pool enclosure? I'm also in NJ and in design stage for new pool build. We're looking at options to extend our swim season, possibly year round, and found this company in NJ that installs enclosures. https://www.sunrooms-enclosures.com