Pool Covers

Elaine · Post by **Elaine** » Wed Sep 22, 2004 7:21 pm

We have just purchased a villa with heated pool and would be interested to hear of anyone having a pool cover other than the blue plastic ones which seem to tear after a period of time.

Mike,Chislehurst · Post by **Mike,Chislehurst** » Thu Sep 23, 2004 6:19 pm

Hi Elaine, from my experiance the vast majority of owners seem to stick to the cover you currently have. I think because there is no realistic or practical alternative (no doubt be prooved wrong here but watch out for the practical bit). We replaced ours 3 years ago this month and installed a leading edge variety which as at last week looked as new. It's life is expected to be 3-4 years, it will do 5+. The thickness is quite light as against the heavey variety but has done very well so far. I think the cost was about £450 installed and a very nice chap to boot. Not sure if your aware but pool covers are left off during the winter months and the filters do the work. Not sure this helps but will be interested in other experiances. Congratulations on the purchase and all the best. Where is it by the way?

BobT · Post by **BobT** » Fri Sep 24, 2004 8:09 pm

Try Peter Read who runs Solar Safe Pool covers. His covers do not float on the pool like the blue bubble wrap ones, but are fixed over the pool with light weight extruded poles. His pool is always a good 5-6 degrees warmer than a pool without a cover, and he doesn/t have heating ...........and I'm not on commission !

963 346 631.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 5:27 pm

Maybe a dumb question..but with a heated pool do I need pool covers.....?

Are those Bubble wrap things better than Aluminium electric covers to keep the heat in ??...

Any advantage of Bubble type over those blue canvas things I see ??

shanagarry · Post by **shanagarry** » Tue Sep 28, 2004 9:53 pm

Peter Read's Solar Safe covers are highly recommended - he does have a quality product.

We have just ordered 2 covers from him based on the poor quality of the existing 'bubble-wrap' type - that have lasted 3 years.

While the bubble-wrap types are functional they depend on the cover when rolled up being covered to avoid it drying-out. Our experience of renters is their reluctance to put the cover on the roll when it is stored.

I wonder if somebody could explain one thing for me - Why is not necessary to cover a heated pool or any pool during the winter?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Sep 29, 2004 3:36 pm

A heated pool must be covered in winter. My wife likes to swim every day and in winter still wants 29 degrees. Most days we get this but there would be no chance without a cover. As it is the heater runs 24 hours a day when it is very cold. I reckon on about £35 a week and we keep the pool covered when we are heating it and only open up for swimming.

A pool heated in this way is more susceptible to cloudiness and you have to keep an eye on the Ph factor. This is the downside of both being covered and being heated.

If you take care of a bubble cover it will last perhaps 5 years. The most important thing is to have a proper solar cover for the pool cover and put this on religiously when the pool cover is rolled up on the roller station otherwise the effect of the sun on the rolled up cover with water still trapped inside will destroy very quickly. Also you really do need a leading edge kit otherwise over time the cover will probably tear where you pull it out across the pool.

We are building a new villa and for this we are going to have an electric slatted cover which retracts into a pit at the end of the pool. This will incorporate a stainless steel beam and a PVC cover for the pit. Prices are very variable but having shopped around we found two companies prepared to do all the work for just under €9000 - using different products.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 3:09 pm

Pls tell us who..??? We are also building a new pool ...

Gerry Cullen · Post by **Gerry Cullen** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 3:28 pm

Is that just for the the cover?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 4:54 pm

I was able to negotiate a good deal because I was using the two companies concerned for other systems in the house and have dealt regularly with them over the years. Nevertheless for a 10 by 5 pool I would see a normal benchmark of about 10000 euros to include the slatted cover (white or blue -transparent and solar cost more), the stainless steel beam and a PVC or wooden pit cover. Naturally the price also includes the roller. motor and connections.

I suggest you shop around. Several of the quotes I received started at around 10000 € and did not include the expensive stainless steel beam or the pit cover for which quotes went from 2000 to 4000.

I found the big pool companies to be expensive.

The manufacturers of the Hydrodeck system seem to be offering some good deals at the moment so it is worth talking to companies who supply this and see what they can come up with. The Aqua Top system that SACL sell also looks to me to offer good value for money.

If you want rolls royce standards you can go for Grando covers but boy will you pay for it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 7:50 pm

is it not cheaper to just go along to the lagoa pool run by the camara and use their heated pool...think of the money you would save and the use of electricity

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Oct 01, 2004 7:55 pm

Guest have you TRIED to go to the pool in Lagoa? I did, and gave up when the woman told me I had to put my name on the list and they'd call me. Seems you can't just turn up and swim

Elaine · Post by **Elaine** » Fri Oct 08, 2004 3:41 pm

thank you everyone for your comments and opinions of which they seem to very a lot. It seems the average age of a bubble cover is 5 years but the metal ones are very expensive. Will look into it more seriously next summer but have printed all your comments. The villa is on Mata Serrao, near Carvoeiro Tennis club, by the way Mike!