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kateonline

Advice requested on pool covers

14 years ago

Our newly built pool now needs a pool cover since winter is on its way here in the Midwest. We are realizing our pool is about the worst case scenario for installing a pool cover.

There is a ~3 foot raised beam around about half of the pool and the bond beam is tiled.

The pool builder is concerned about cracking the tiles drilling in anchors into the bond beam (which is gunite and integral with the pool). We've talked about having the cover come up over the bond beam, but I'm concerned about whether that will cause premature failure of the pool cover.

We also have the added complexity of a pool deck which is dry laid travertine pavers (i.e. nothing sold to drill anchors into).

The spa is similarly situated (adjacent to paver deck and raised above the deck and pool about half way around).

We are considering draining the spa during the winter to avoid having to cover it. The spa is attached completely to the pool (shares bond beam wall).

Any advice is appreciated.

Is a non-attached cover of some sort recommended since we have all kinds of cover attachment challenges? (floating cover?)

If we do attach a cover, what is the best way to attach the cover given our situation?

What issues might we have with leaving the spa drained and uncovered during the winter? Is that a viable option or a bad idea?

Thanks as always for the advice!

I've put pictures below.

Comments (7)

  • 14 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    I've gotta say: your pool is really pretty...

    I'm interested in the same information since I'm going to end up putting myself into exactly the same situation. Substitute a geometric pool and a shorter beam made out of stacked stone and you'll have mine. I can anchor in the stacked stone, but having the dry laid travertine on the other side isn't too helpful.

    I'm going to heat my pool too. I think at least during the 'heating season', I'm going to end up with solar cover pieces floating on it.

  • 14 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Kate, I am lowering my estimate by about a $1000. Your pool is smaller than I thought.

    Scott

  • 8 years ago

    We have a similar scenario with a raised beam pool (3 ft between the upper and lower deck of the pool) with 2 feet of tile below the coping. We opted for a loop loc solid cover which looks heavy but so far so good. We have a large techo bloc patio surrounding the pool and everything is anchored and we have yet to have any problems with weight. Given you are in the midwest I suppose a big concern for you is snow and snow melt. The only problem that I have are finding a permanent solution to fill the small gaps on the stairs that the pool cover doesn't quite fill. This is more so to keep rodents and small animals from getting into the pool and me finding them come spring. If anyone has a solution for my gaps along the stairs that would be awesome.

  • 8 years ago
    Following!
  • 2 years ago

    Can automatic covers be installed on these pools. We also have a raised side with a foot of tile under coping. We are fine a lot these days ( recently retired) and would love an automatic cover

  • PRO
    2 years ago

    For the pool shown in this post, no.

    For a square or rectangle pool, yes.


    But, during construction of the pool a perforation or notched section level with the deck level pool beam must be in place to allow for the cover track to be fastened. The track opposite the raised wall is set on top of the beam and the pool coping in turn sits on top of the track.


    I'm not aware if there is a wall mounted track that can be fastened to the raised section.


    I can only think with some precise cutting of the raised section for the track is the only solution.