- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,058
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
This is an engineering exercise and you have to know the equipment and materials you have available.
New Build - Vinyl Pool - Final Planning Prep - Digging Stage
- Thread starter Dambra
- Start date
- Jul 8, 2013
- 340
- Pool Size
- 17280
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite Pro (T-15)
I have bench with steps which we love. i have 4 returns along the bench so when heater is on everyone sits on the bench. also bench is good to just sit hangout with other people in pool. pic in my signature.
Reviving this thread. We are starting our dig in a few weeks, and have to finalize plan for auto cover or not. Wondering what others find in terms of pros and cons of having an auto cover..let’s put price aside, what do you enjoy or dislike? How is the maintenance and longevity in your experience? How is cleaning the cover before each open versus just cleaning a pool instead?
Appreciate any and all information, insight or experience of others.
Appreciate any and all information, insight or experience of others.
I will and kinda won't.
Although most manufacturers say you can use an autocover as a winter cover, i wouldn't up north with lots of snow.
So i would spend $3k on a safety cover for the winter, to protect the $15k auto cover and hopefully extend its lifespan. Food for planning thought.
Hang tight for user experiences.
Totally agree and understand. I definitely wouldn’t use it as a winter cover.I will and kinda won't.
Although most manufacturers say you can use an autocover as a winter cover, i wouldn't up north with lots of snow.
So i would spend $3k on a safety cover for the winter, to protect the $15k auto cover and hopefully extend its lifespan. Food for planning thought.
Hang tight for user experiences.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,058
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Eventually autocovers tear, guide ropes break, and motors and hydraulics fail as they age. There also seem to be few companies who repair autocovers. So expect ongoing costs if this is your forever house.
Reviving this again - choosing between aluminum walk-on lid or coping lid for my coverstar autocover.
Who has one or the other or can share their personal experience?
My thoughts:
Aluminum - ease of access and maintenance, lacks aesthetically
Coping - more aesthetically pleasing, lacks ease of access
Looking for hear others peronsal experiences, regrets?
Who has one or the other or can share their personal experience?
My thoughts:
Aluminum - ease of access and maintenance, lacks aesthetically
Coping - more aesthetically pleasing, lacks ease of access
Looking for hear others peronsal experiences, regrets?
We have an autocover with a coping lid and absolutely love it. There are maybe 5 or 6 large coping stones that make up the cover for the autocover that are set on top of large brackets. The stones are heavy, but can easily be picked up by 2 people for access.
Attachments
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,282
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Stones, for me, provided the more upscale aesthetic we wanted in the space. Also allows for standing on them. They may say you can in aluminum, but I was suspect and it has to be less solid.
Repairs aren’t cheap when needed, but overall benefits have been fantastic. Yes you do have to move the pump around some, or brush the water to the pump, before opening, but the cleanliness and heat retention are big wins.
Repairs aren’t cheap when needed, but overall benefits have been fantastic. Yes you do have to move the pump around some, or brush the water to the pump, before opening, but the cleanliness and heat retention are big wins.
Thank you!
How often do you find yourself lifting stones and cleaning out housing?
Do you find your stones feel secure/level to walk on, or do you avoid it?
Thanks as well.
Same questions for you:
How often do you find yourself lifting stones and cleaning out housing?
Do you find your stones feel secure/level to walk on, or do you avoid it?
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,282
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
I’ve probably lifted them 4 times in 12 years.
I asked kids to avoid it. But I walk on it. I just don’t dive from it. I probably could but I’m under 150. A lot of weight on the leading edge could possibly tip it a bit. It does overhang a small amount. I also asked kids to avoid it because our dam wall extends 1’ beyond the stones and it is a slight hazard in that regard. The temptation would be to step on the tiles which are angled towards the pool and then slip. Bad.
I have the aluminum lid and so far so good, kids know not to step or walk on it. I walk over it when I clean the pool and it holds my 220 lbs of weight with no issue.
Thanks! Any pics?
Also, is yours not the walk-on lid, as to why you ask the kids not to walk on it? I am being sold the walk-on flat aluminum lid by coverstar and told no problem for anyone walking on them at all.
That's the one I have, I was told the same thing, but I choose the better safe than sorry method. Not the best of photos, but I attached a few and can get you some better ones.
Attachments
Thanks everyone for your input and expriences thus far.
We have decided to go with Coverstar Automatic Cover, flat aluminum walk-on lid. Several reasons we decided for were additional layer of security of small children (ours and neighbours), ability to keep pool cleaner, as well as keep heating costs down hopefully (Ontario).
We are now onto the deck/paver/extra features planning stage with the dig approaching quickly.
Coping - Any thoughts, recommendations or experience with different types of natural stones for coping? Would we need to factor in the salt water pool to possible degradation of certain stones?
Pavers - Any thoughts, recommendations or experience with light pavers and maintenance of them vs darker options?
Waterfall - if you have one, do you use it often or not often? Do you find water stains common or an issue on the wall after time?
We have decided to go with Coverstar Automatic Cover, flat aluminum walk-on lid. Several reasons we decided for were additional layer of security of small children (ours and neighbours), ability to keep pool cleaner, as well as keep heating costs down hopefully (Ontario).
We are now onto the deck/paver/extra features planning stage with the dig approaching quickly.
Coping - Any thoughts, recommendations or experience with different types of natural stones for coping? Would we need to factor in the salt water pool to possible degradation of certain stones?
Pavers - Any thoughts, recommendations or experience with light pavers and maintenance of them vs darker options?
Waterfall - if you have one, do you use it often or not often? Do you find water stains common or an issue on the wall after time?
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,851
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Coping, Pavers and Waterfeatures are very personal choices...You will get a wide range of feedback.
On waterfeatures, many comments from owners are that they would not install a waterfall again. I’d stay away from water features unless you really can’t live without one. The constant aeration can cause chemical management issues and the sounds they produce can range from a gentle trickle to a gushing waterfall. If you want the waterfall then you should try to find something you can see in person so you can hear the sound it makes. We have had users build pools with water features only to be annoyed, rather than soothed, by the sound it makes.
Appreciate that.
While of course a personal choice, just looking to understand experiences of others.
Thanks
There are multiple types. I have a rock waterfall where it flowed over 2 levels of stones then into the pool. The other is a sheer decent waterfall that simple decends into the pool from 18” to 24” above the pool.
Nice to look at and listen to but difficult to have a conversation due to the noise. Kids loved it to sit under it. We had to turn it off if there was a gathering on the patio as just too much background noise. I turned it on once a week just to circulate the water in the pipe but rarely had it on while swimming unless the younger kids were in the pool.