Mesh vs Solid for snowy winters

[ddma]

Hi everyone,

Deciding between the following:

Solid ( with drain in the middle ) - I'm leaning towards this due to all day all sun, even in winter when there is no snow on the ground
12 x 24 ft Rectangle Safety Cover Hyper Light Solid | Pool Supplies Canada

or Mesh
12 x 24 ft Rectangle Safety Cover Sunshade 99 Mesh | Pool Supplies Canada

Typical winter to be used for:
1. No leaves will be accumulated - most of tress around are evergreens
2. Snow - No heavy accumulation - if I use my backyard dining table, I'd say, 8-10 inches, maybe 5-8 heavy snowfalls
3. All sun all day

Any insights would be appreciated. I'm planning to install myself as opposed to using my pool guys.

Thanks
David

 

[Saturn94]

Personally, I prefer solid.

When I used a mesh cover, the pool was much dirtier at spring opening, and sometimes green if I didn’t close late and open early enough, or if we had a mild winter.

Since switching to a solid cover (actually a solid tarp over my original mesh cover), spring cleaning is MUCH easier and never open to a green pool no matter when I close and open.

 

[ajw22]

I like my solid Mayco pool cover. It just needs a pump to clear water off of it. Pool always opens pretty clean.

 

[gerg887402]

I am in the third summer, entering the third winter, in my house and have had an old school tarp/waterbag winter cover the first year, a mesh safety cover last year, and just bought a solid safety cover for this coming year. I went with the mesh safety cover and opened with clear water but very green/dirty bottom this year. When I had the tarp I opened clean and clear. So since I had my pool replastered this year I am paranoid of any possible staining from the limited material that got through this year and bought the solid one. Typically they have shorter lives so I figured in 5-8 years when this solid one meets the end of its useful life I will switch back to the mesh one and by then will not be worried about any possible staining. So long story short, I have had all 3 and would suggest a solid cover, just keep in mind you will need a pump to get the water off the top.

Take a look at this one, I have both the mesh and solid of this and it was easy to install: Amazon.com : Water Warden SCSB1224 Pool Safety Cover for 12 by 24-Feet Pool, Solid Blue : Garden Outdoor

 

[ajw22]

Typically they have shorter lives so I figured in 5-8 years when this solid one meets the end of its useful life ...

I have been using the same solid cover for 17 winters.

 

[Perpetual summer]

Just out of curiosity, OP said solid cover has a drain in center, where would this drain to? For those with solid covers on an ig pool, how do you manage water collection?
I have a mesh cover-water will slowly drain thru. After a wet heavy snowfall the cover will lay on the water or ice, depending on temps. A solid cover would have to be drained. My mesh cover will keep anything smaller than 1/32 of an inch out, however I get a lot of stuff that gets blown under the edge and into the pool. Not to sure how to stop that.

 

[ddma]

Thanks everyone. From what I'm hearing, mesh does not block sunlight 100%; and depending on when you close and open, water might be green - clear, but green.

And I'm seeing that a solid cover would most likely have clear water when pool is opened in Spring.

Assuming that all the prep work are done the same and done properly - water chemistry, when to close and open, etc

 

[tlevy]

I like my tarp cover - but have never used mesh.

I like the tarp since I can scoop leaves and gunk off it, making my life easier in the spring. None of that residual waste ends up in the pool. I bought a fairly cheap submersible pump from Home Depot and whenever I can, I pump water off the tarp...once things freeze they remain that way until spring, at which point I continue to remove leaves and pump water off the tarp as soon as I can get to them.

Never opened up to a green pool yet....

 

[1Sammy]

I like my tarp cover - but have never used mesh.

I like the tarp since I can scoop leaves and gunk off it, making my life easier in the spring. None of that residual waste ends up in the pool. I bought a fairly cheap submersible pump from Home Depot and whenever I can, I pump water off the tarp...once things freeze they remain that way until spring, at which point I continue to remove leaves and pump water off the tarp as soon as I can get to them.

Never opened up to a green pool yet....

Same here and in my 40th closing. That snow gathers a lot of dirt that will end up in the pool doing it any other way.

 

[tlevy]

Same here and in my 40th closing. That snow gathers a lot of dirt that will end up in the pool doing it any other way.

Booyah

 

[Geebot]

Previous owner used a tarp and water-filled wights. It worked but was a massive pain (weights leaked and needing constant replacing; dogs would bump them out of place in winter (YOU try reasoning with a dog); storage was cumbersome and unsightly. We purchased a solid cover a few years ago and it works great. Really easy to install/remove; folds neatly into bag; looks neater and the dogs can run across it all winter long without a problem (supports a LOT of weight).

 

[$wiming pool$]

Old School for me, closing pools here in Toronto for past 40yrs always using a Heavy Duty solid tarp w straps and water bags. In April I Pump off snow melt & Spring rain water, scoop and remove cover/bags. Yes its a messy, wet and wild clean up of tarp and bags. Benefit - spring always opens to clear, clean water under the pool cover. Closing with a tarp takes a few hours, opening is a full day.(mostly cleaning the tarp and bags)

My dad "up graded" to Mesh safety cover; every spring now has layer of fine dust & algae-green water spring openings. What a mess. The Mesh cover goes ON & OFF easy but it takes weeks & cost / effort to clear the water. He throws a floater with pucks in under the Mesh cover to try to beat back the Algae but the sun light goes thru the mesh and its a challenge. His spring opening is often a week or 2 to repeatedly vac to waste & chemically clear the water.