DIY Pool covers???

[mariner09]

Imagine my chagrin when the company opening my pool showed me all the tears and rips in the cover of the pool in the new house I moved into in May when they opened it up for me. Oh well, I won't need a cover until the end of the season, swin on...

Just got a quote for one of those nice mesh covers...

$1450!!!

Ouch...

Any covers out there in a better price range or DIY types for a 15x32 IG pool???

[tphaggerty]

There are a number of places on the Web that sell them. Otherwise, the money is well spent! The looploc type covers really help keep the pool in good shape over the harsh winters up here in NY.

[mariner09]

I just went to the PoolCenter and saw that the LoopLoc cover was about $700...

What the heck would I be paying $1400 for? Are they that difficult to install?

[ChristopherS64]

I use 6-mil black poly. It cost me around $65.00 for a 40' x 100' roll. This gives me plenty for 2 closings. Summer comes I pull it off and throw it away. Pool is always crystal clear when I open. I have an 18' x 35' kidney.

[mariner09]

How do you secure the tarp?

[waste]

Mariner, if you want to install the spring loaded mesh cover yourself, I'll give you some tips on doing it (the company I work for installs 30 -50 of them a year). You'll need a hammer drill and a new 3/4" bit (Home Depot should rent the drill, but you definately want a new bit - we pay ~$85 per). This also ***umes a concrete deck at least 3' all around the pool, if you have a different type deck, let me know. Also, is the pool ~ rectangle?
If you want to tackle it yourself, I'll gladly tell you how to do it, but the post will be a long one. Good luck, whichever way you choose.

[mariner09]

The pool is rectangular with steps at one end and cut corners, not rounded.

I'll have to do some measuring to be prcise, but I'm sure it's the 16x32 w/ 4x8 steps.

The only reason I'm thinking of the LoopLoc cover is because I have dogs and kids.

There is concrete all around the pool, I'm noy sure it's 36" in every direction, will check and get back. LoopLoc site claims only 18" required.

[JohnT]

There is concrete all around the pool, I'm noy sure it's 36" in every direction, will check and get back. LoopLoc site claims only 18" required.


18" from the pool is where the anchors are set. Steps and corners can get tricky, so 3 ft is good to have. Get a good, accurate drawing of your pool and the concrete, including steps, diving boards etc.. They will custom design a cover for you and send you a drawing to show where holes need to be. You can put posts in the ground outside the pad if needed.

I got a Loop-Loc for my 20X36 grecian from poolcenter.com for around $1275, which included everything needed to install. I bought a new 3/4" hammer drill bit for around $30 at Lowe's that did a fine job on the 36 holes I needed. Even if you have to buy the drill, installing it yourself is the way to go.

[waste]

Mariner, a word of caution - it's probably best to keep your e-mail address from the boards, there are a lot of ***holes out there, I'd suggest editing and removing your info. Ben has closed registration because of 'hackers', don't open yourself up to any that haven't been removed :( That said; I usually prefer to keep my advice 'on the boards', for 2 reasons - 1) If you have a question, someone else probably has the same one, so the info is not 'case specific' and posting it here may save someone having to ask a question. 2) I may 'misspeak' myself or offer some questionable advice that someone else here would catch and correct, getting just 1 source of info can be a bad thing! However, if for some reason, you'd prefer to keep things private, pm me and I'll give you my e-mail address and phone #.
John's response was correct (as usual - can't give 'rep' anymore but can say that someone gave a great response;) ) I want the 3' as a safety measure (some manufacturers give an 'uneven' overlap on the cover, so 'playing it safe' keeps the need for the 'lawn-stakes' out of the picture). But, all other things aside, John and I can probably talk you through the installation, if you decide to DYS. (and others will chime in with advice)

[noworries]

I'm in need of a pool cover as well, but don't need anything as fancy as a loop-loc. I had to google it to find out what it is--man is that chick on their website ANNOYING. Any advice for a DIYer who needs a pool cover, but has no dogs or kids to worry about? Any recommendations on where to buy online? I'm guessing I'd want to get a reel locally due to shipping costs? Should I start another thread?

[waste]

noworries, sounds like you're looking for a solar cover (I've never seen a winter cover that goes on a reel).
Whichever cover you're looking for, if you have steps that extend beyond the wall of the pool, include their length in the size of the cover (eg. 18 x36 IG pool with 8 x 4 steps in the center of the shallow end should be measured as a 22x 36 pool) Some companies make covers with a 'step flap' included, but if you don't include the steps, you could end up with a cover that falls a little short ;) That said, a new thread might have been a good idea.