Pool Covers: Sliding Polycarbonate Protective Covers And Floating Bubble Models For Outdoor Pool. How To Cover The Pool?

2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33

Maintenance of stationary pools in country houses requires a lot of effort and money from the owners. Of course, swimming in the open air is much more enjoyable than indoors. In sunny weather, the illusion of a beach holiday on the big water is created. But sooner or later the owners come to the conclusion that the pool needs to be closed from the environment.

What is the shelter for?

Covers for outdoor swimming pools involve additional costs. But the owners with the experience of using the font in the country or in a country house understand that the costs will pay off over time. It is necessary to install the cover for many reasons:

• it protects from debris, leaves, branches, falling animals;
• the service life of the pool increases, since the film protects it from the effects of destructive environmental factors;
• water cools down more slowly, heat losses decrease, as a result, electricity consumption for additional heating is reduced;
• the coating works as a barrier to water evaporation - there is no need to frequently add water;
• the consumption of chemicals for water purification is reduced;
• the swimming season increases;
• reduced maintenance time for the pool;
• costs for its maintenance are reduced.

These powerful arguments make the owners think about what to cover the outdoor pool. The types of coatings are varied. When choosing, many factors are taken into account . For stationary pools located in a recess, a type of cover is suitable that is different from products for inflatable or frame pools. Seasonality also plays an important role when choosing the type of coverage.

Types of coatings

In country houses, when the owners do not limit themselves in means, they erect stationary structures - awnings and pavilions over the pool . These are capital structures on a strip foundation. If the pavilion is small, the structure is fixed on a foundation made of posts. The pavilion covers the pool from all sides. The pavilion frame is assembled from wood, metal profile, more often aluminum, which is attached to the support posts. The roof is made of polycarbonate. Roofs of various shapes are erected - gable, single-pitched. Flexible polycarbonate is convenient to make arched covering . During snowfall, snow does not linger on the roof.

The canopy over the pool does not provide for side walls … It protects from above from precipitation, falling branches, leaves, "gifts" from flying birds.

An important feature of the roof of a canopy or pavilion is that the sun's rays are refracted through the cover and inhibit the reproduction of flora and small vegetation in the water.

Convenient to use sliding covers … The sliding frame consists of modular parts made of polycarbonate. If it is an arched covering, the sections are fixed on metal arcs. There are sliding sleds at the bottom. With the help of their sections, they move along guide rails from a special profile. The number of modules depends on the size of the pool. When the pool is opened, the sections are assembled into one. Therefore, the first section is higher in height than the others, and the size of the subsequent ones is reduced. All sliding modules can be easily assembled into one section.

Pavilions, sheds, sliding structures are convenient because they can be made larger than a pool . A recreation area will appear where you can organize a picnic, place a whole company.

A popular mobile shelter in the form of a tent . This hemispheric cover completely covers the pool. A sheer fabric stretched over curved tubes slides open to reveal half of the pool.

There are many options for sheltering the water surface of the pools:

• trampoline, awning covering;
• roller shutter;
• louvered;
• vinyl winter covers;
• solar film.

Trampoline

The trampoline cover is designed for long-term shelter for a long time … Suitable for winter shelter. Thick fabric ensures the safety of children and animals. Withstands pressure up to 350 kg per square centimeter. Made from hard vinyl or polypropylene.

Vinyl fabric does not change color under the sun's rays, has antifungal and antibacterial properties, but does not allow water to pass through.

For this purpose, special segments are provided in the fabric, designed to drain water accumulated on the surface into the pool.

Trampoline cover made of polypropylene protects from debris and precipitation, filters rain, melt water, cleans it from dust and dirt.

The trampoline cover is attached with slings to the anchors using springs. Anchors are located around the perimeter of the pool. The fabric stretches over the surface and is securely fixed. This coating is used all year round.

Roller shutter

Roller cover is cheaper than pavilions and awnings . Manufactured from reinforced vinyl or polycarbonate for any fixed pool. It is in the form of plates joined together. Located low above the water surface. The edges of the roller shutters move along the guiding elements on the pool walls.

The roller shutters are easy to operate . For unwinding, special manual or automatic equipment is used, which consists of a metal roller located on the side of the pool, and guide structures along which the coating moves.

The manual control system reels the cover with the help of a person's physical efforts, and the automatic one - by pressing a button.

Jalousie

The principle of operation of a louver covering is similar to that of a roller shutter. It protects the water surface from debris, prevents heat loss at night . Protective louvres-louvres are connected by hinges, made of PVC profiles with a width of 35-45 mm. There is air inside the plate, which keeps it on the water. The blinds are assembled with a manual or electric winder. The device is located above the water or in the wall, prudently built during the construction of the pool.

Vinyl Covers

For winter storage of a small pool and its conservation, vinyl covers are produced . The cover is pulled over the edges of the pool using the included elastic cord. The edges of the cover are provided with holes for the cord. The process of installing the cover is laborious, so at least 2 people are involved in it. Covers are produced for pools of various shapes - round, rectangular, oval. It is important that they have an edge that the cover will catch on.

Solar film

The cheapest and most popular type of pool cover. This is a polyethylene film that resembles packaging . A two- or three-layer polyethylene film with many small bubbles covers the water surface on top. The bubble film contains UV stabilizers and is resistant to water chlorides.

The floating bubble coating is positioned with a smooth surface upward, bubbles towards the water. The air component keeps the film afloat. The bubbles accumulate the heat of the sun's rays and release it to the water.

A coating of any shape and size is cut out of a roll of film. To connect individual parts, use the method of welding polyethylene using special equipment.

In small pools, a special cord is used to secure it. A film curling system is installed next to large fonts . Usually it is a pipe with fasteners and a screwing handle. The system is equipped with wheels for easy transportation.

In order for the covering film to cover the entire surface of the water, its length must be 0.5 meters longer than the size of the pool. When bathing, it is recommended to remove the covering film from the water completely, and not only part of it . A person can become entangled in the film if it is not removed.

The film serves as a barrier to water evaporation, and debris can be easily removed from its surface.

How to choose?

Nowadays, you can easily select a cover for swimming pools of any type, diameter and shape. The main factors in choosing a shelter:

• price;
• the purpose of the installation;
• seasonality;
• font sizes;
• the convenience of use.

If price is the determining factor in choosing, the easiest way is to purchase a floating summer film covering. It will last at least 5 seasons if stored properly.

If the pool is supposed to be used all year round, shelters made of dense materials are purchased. It's vinyl, polypropylene. These trampoline shelters are suitable for fixed pools. Withstands the weight of a child or animal. The main purpose of installing these coatings is safety. They are more reliable in comparison with the film coating, they protect the pool more reliably.

For summer use, blinds or film coverings are installed. Stationary pavilions, awnings, trampoline, roller coverings are all-season. They are suitable for all types and sizes of pools.

The choice of color of coating materials is possible. Louvers and roller shutters are more attractive in appearance.

Ease of use during the operation of the coating plays an important role in its selection . After all, the main function of the pool is the owner's rest, and not the labor of maintaining the hot tub. Therefore, automatic devices are provided for the use of pool coverings. Automatic covers are easy to use with a control panel. Set the timer on the remote control, and the jalousie or roller shutter will be installed at the right time.

When choosing a pool cover, you need to know that too cheap products can be toxic, so it is definitely not worth saving on their purchase.

The solar pool cover is shown below.