winter pool cover - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

daArch · 10-20-2007, 07:27 AM

Ready to laugh at me? Even I know this is probably over the top, but hear me out.

Has anyone seen a winter cover to a pool that actually TENTS it ? I do not want one of those "Safety Covers" because quite frankly after spending 10K on the renovations, the wallet is a little thin. Also I've only seen those with a mesh, which allows all the dirty winter water in.

But I want something that will shed water off.

Now here's my bizarre idea. Build a roof frame (very shallow slope) and throw the vinyl cover over it. I'm sure it would not need too many pieces, it's not a livable structure. The pool is 16 x 32 - lined

Or any other ideas. I'm getting sick and tired of those damn water tubes that do not last a year and the cover being pulled into the pool. I've tried patio blocks, but we all know the risk of those with a lined pool.

oldfrt · 10-20-2007, 10:33 AM

Hey Guy,
If you already have a pool cover and need an it out of the pool,try hanging full gallon water jugs around the perimeter of the pool hooked onto the eyelets or ,if available,the cover cable.
As far as your idea goes,I thought of the same thing a couple days ago,sure would alleviate the chore of having to drain off the rain water or clear off the leaves and pine needles that collect on the cover.
It seems that there should be something on the market,if not,there will be.
Anything to cut down on pool chores will probably be a sure sell.
It would probably need a steeper pitch in snow areas.Could be unsightly,but would work well in warmer areas.

daArch · 10-20-2007, 11:37 AM

oldf*rt,

That's a great idea for an above ground. Mine's an in-ground.

And two years ago I tried multiple gallon milk jugs filled with water to anchor the cover. The cold weather froze them, popped the tops, bulged the bottoms, they rolled over, and emptied in a thaw.

I've tried 5 gal buckets. They freeze, bottom bulges, and tip over. I'm at my wit's end (which is a short cul-de-sac)

Hurley · 10-20-2007, 07:16 PM

Know a guy that used a double car tent over his pool. It worke but not as well as he'd hoped.
One of my favorite tricks is to use a regular cover with bags but remove it as close as possible to the pool freezing. It'll be dirty in the spring but takes know where near the time to clean up as draining, cleaning the cover and you won't have to top up the water. Opening should take half an hour.
Or don't cover it at all. Leave it running as long as possible. Clean it one last time and shut'er down

dirt diggler · 10-20-2007, 07:47 PM

i know you don't wanna mess with the tarp/bag system (and i do NOT blame you AT ALL).

but what you're proposing to do sounds like even more of a headache than fillin the bags.

how bout just grin & bearin it one more year - and then next year get a safety cover???

POOLMANinCT · 10-22-2007, 11:35 AM

go for the safety cover arch. best pool money you can spend. & yes there are some crappy mesh covers out there & some really good mesh.

how far from ct line are you?

ray

dougchips · 10-22-2007, 03:44 PM

Here's the question.....did you ever get to swim it in?

You can travel an hour and wallpaper PoolmaninCT's house and he can travel an hour and install a safety cover, each of you can cut me a 10% referal check and everyone will be happy.

POOLMANinCT · 10-23-2007, 12:57 PM

as long as your happy doug!!!

daArch · 10-23-2007, 02:36 PM

Somethin's the matter with my "New Posts" search. I hadn't seen these 'til today.

Ray, I'm about an hour +/- from the NE corner, and also about an hour from the SE corner - it takes us 90 minutes to get to Mystic. We're right near Gillette Stadium, and about 15 minutes from those Vinyl Replacement Window guys, FHI

Are there safety covers that are NOT mesh? I'd rather keep the winter water OUT. Can a solid cover be put OVER and have excess water run off?

You got some wallpaper installation you want to do ? I could EASILY get into some barter.

Doug, no swimming this year. we missed the last heat wave by 4 days.
AND we got your 10%, RIGHT HERE

Diggler, YAH, I know it sounds like more than it's worth, that's why I'm asking if anyone has ever seen this type of thing. And by next year, something else will be sucking up my "disposable cash"

Hurley,
All those car tents I've seen around town have collapsed within about four years. And they AIN"T CHEAP ! And believe me, with the trees and the wind blowing needles and leafs all winter, a pool without a cover for as little as a month will take more than half an hour to open in the spring.

But anyway, this is why I asked. I knew I'd get some good feedback (and laughs). I'd be embarrassed to ask anyone else

Maybe I'll take my canoe and put it in the middle of the pool and throw the cover over the whole thing

neolitic · 10-23-2007, 02:57 PM

Dunno if this will help. A customer just had us drill his concrete pool deck for anchors to hold some SS eyebolts, to match grommets in his new cover. He anchors a #man(? read pretty big) life raft upside down in the center of the pool. He's been refining this "system" for awhile, and he thinks he's finally got it this time.

pinerider · 10-29-2007, 07:20 AM

I had thoughts of building a temporary roof structure for my pool, but to design it for snow loads would make it very expensive to build, then you have to store the pieces somewhere for the summer.
I used to use water bags to hold the cover, now I use old landscaping timbers, 4x4's and 6x6's, just roll up the edges of the cover around them, been using them the last 5 years, no problems.

Clearday · 02-01-2008, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pinerider

I had thoughts of building a temporary roof structure for my pool, but to design it for snow loads would make it very expensive to build, then you have to store the pieces somewhere for the summer.
I used to use water bags to hold the cover, now I use old landscaping timbers, 4x4's and 6x6's, just roll up the edges of the cover around them, been using them the last 5 years, no problems.

That's similar to what I was thinking. Have a truss maker do up some sloping flats or a low pitch gable truss and cover it with the desired material. Depending on span, they should run maybe $75+apiece. They will be lightweight, shed the water and snow outside of the pool and easy to store as they will be only 1 1/2" thick each. Build a removal leg so they stand up automatically.

With trusses, you may find it cheaper to cover the pool lengthwise as fewer but longer trusses is typically less expensive. Set up and take down time would be less too. However, the longer units will be more difficult to store.

A more refined idea would be to put the trusses on casters and simply roll the whole cover to one end of the pool and have it fold up like an accordian. This idea keeps getting better as I write!

There you go, a million$ idea for someone.