View Full Version : 40' Freeform pool cover
South_Texas_Sun
09-02-2006, 10:48 AM
New pool owner here.
I'm looking for the (most regularly suggested here) solar pool cover for our new, FREEFORM pool, which is built on a hill with stairstepping around the coping, and a raised spa with spillover, covered grotto/waterfall area, and no place to put a "reel" for the cover.
I've thought about buying 2 large solar cover sheets and cutting them to size, but I haven't seen anyone talking about the best solar covers and the cheapest place to buy them. (and Ebay doesn't have bulk cover material)
Our local shops only seem interested in selling automatic cover contraptions that cost thousands and won't work on our raised beam pool edges.
What to do? Buy bubble wrap, and save the leftover for Christmas package shipping?.....:)
All suggestions will be much appreciated.
STS
tenax
09-02-2006, 10:55 AM
try intheswim.com..they are having fall sales all over the place that i note from their emails, free shipping offers, etc. that's where i got my solar cover and reel solution at the start of the summer and i'm very happy with it..price seemed decent for a 7 yr warrantied cover (it was about 95 bucks or something for a 20 x 33 chunk and was very easy to trim to size) i have a kind of kidney shaped pool.
Poconos
09-02-2006, 11:09 AM
Me thinks the 7 year warranty is just a ploy. Maybe but maybe not they will find an excuse not to honor the warranty. Be thankful if you get 3 years out of one. One Leslie cover I got had a statement that chlorine levels ove 1.5 ppm will void the warranty. Thought it was a misprint...nope. Didn't bother me though...I got my 3 years even at significantly higher chlorine levels. One important thing is to be sure and cover them with a white something when rolled up in the sun. You can get enough infrared heat into the center to melt the things.
Al
South_Texas_Sun
09-02-2006, 11:17 AM
try intheswim.com..they are having fall sales all over the place that i note from their emails, free shipping offers, etc. that's where i got my solar cover and reel solution at the start of the summer and i'm very happy with it..price seemed decent for a 7 yr warrantied cover (it was about 95 bucks or something for a 20 x 33 chunk and was very easy to trim to size) i have a kind of kidney shaped pool.
Thanks again, Tenax. I looked at the website, but the widest they have is 20 ft.
Our pool is 14' width at the narrowest swim point, and 22' width, if I measure into the grotto from the near side raised beam. There's also a gradient beach entry, which makes the shape even stranger.....probably going to need a 30' foot width if I use one piece to cover the entry and opposing grotto further down the pool.
Is there any disadvantage in having 2- half pool covers? Maybe I could economically (without delving into the custom-cover netherworld) cover the odd shapes with 2 regular covers, turned sideways and cut to shape?
I'm just worried about having 2 pieces and finding out later that the wind picks them up because of the seam.
Thanks again,
STS
tenax
09-02-2006, 11:24 AM
i won't know on the warranty, P, until i decide i need to use it:) nevertheless, if for 100 bucks it lasts 3 years, i'll be thrilled:)
texas, i've seen other people talking about using multiple pieces and they don't seem to have an issue with it..i haven't myself, but i can say my cover has been through 70KM per hour winds during 2 rainstorms this year. there is a 2 inch gap around the entire edge of the cover and it sits about 2 inches below the edge of the pool at the waterline..so, i watched with great curiosity to see if it would be picked up..not a budge..the water "adhesion" seems quite able to overcome, even though the cover doesn't rest completely flat against the water at all points, all the time (it will have small ridges here and there when i put it back on everytime)