Debating a new cover: Mesh or Solid Safety Cover in Northeast

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4rings6stars

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Oct 4, 2016
39
Littleton, MA
My pool is under oak and cedar trees and we get lots of snow and cold here.

Last year I bought the house just in time to close it. I used the big green tarp and water bags the previous owner left. I closed in November and drained water off the cover but still ended up with some water / ice on top. Leaves found their way in, but it wasn't too terrible of a task to clean it in the spring.

I'm considering making the upgrade to a safety cover, but I have a few questions:

- Would I be better off with a mesh type cover or should I go solid?
- Are the $300/$400 covers on Amazon worth it or should I get a more expensive name brand?
- What are other people in similar climates using?

The pool is still 85 degrees, but I will turn the heater off after this weekend and look to close once the water drops below 60.
 
Mesh covers are lighter weight, usually a true safety cover (eg loop lock can in theory be walked upon), require concrete drilling of anchors and are rarely $400...eg my estimate for my grecian was $4,000 ;)

Solid covers are heavier to work with, are not really a true "safety" cover in that the straps can handle weight and snow loads but the vinyl between the straps is certainly not meant to be walked upon, and also require the installation of brass anchors. The advantage is they completely block light, ergo better chance of opening clean.

The mesh covers rated for walking weight are likely the safest for errant toddlers, though I suspect the solid vinyls would also hold toddler weight.

Despite their reports of blocking light, however, just know that every spring I hear a lot of complaints about mesh covers allowing algae to grow.

If you open cold and close cold, with water below 60 degrees, this is less likely to be an issue, but temp extremes last year were pretty wild and few folks open in March...hence my caveat about mesh.

If I had a toddler, grandchild, etc., I would likely opt for a true mesh safety cover, confirm with the mfg its a weight-bearing safety cover, and be prepared to pay a good deal more than a few hundred bucks for it.

Hope that helps you sort options!
 
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Mesh safety cover here, wood deck anchors. I close my pool the first weekend in September regardless of temperature. Get chlorine up nice and high a week before, then add poly quat 60 and I have been algae free for 13 winters. The key is to having your pool good and clean. Tighten up the straps and an elephant can walk across my pool only getting his ankles wet. For a toddler, he/she won't get a drop of water on their socks. 15,000 gallon isn't that big a pool, I'd be surprised if you couldn't get one under $1,000. My pool is 15,000 as well.
 
Swampwoman said:
Mesh covers are lighter weight, usually a true safety cover (eg loop lock can in theory be walked upon), require concrete drilling of anchors and are rarely $400...eg my estimate for my grecian was $4,000 ;)

Solid covers are heavier to work with, are not really a true "safety" cover in that the straps can handle weight and snow loads but the vinyl between the straps is certainly not meant to be walked upon, and also require the installation of brass anchors. The advantage is they completely block light, ergo better chance of opening clean.

The mesh covers rated for walking weight are likely the safest for errant toddlers, though I suspect the solid vinyls would also hold toddler weight.

Despite their reports of blocking light, however, just know that every spring I hear a lot of complaints about mesh covers allowing algae to grow.

If you open cold and close cold, with water below 60 degrees, this is less likely to be an issue, but temp extremes last year were pretty wild and few folks open in March...hence my caveat about mesh.

If I had a toddler, grandchild, etc., I would likely opt for a true mesh safety cover, confirm with the mfg its a weight-bearing safety cover, and be prepared to pay a good deal more than a few hundred bucks for it.

Hope that helps you sort options!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info.

Here is the specific cover I am considering: Amazon.com : 16 x 32 Rectangle Safety Pool Cover : Swimming Pool Covers : Patio, Lawn Garden

This guy from the forum just did a DIY install of one of the amazon safety covers: The last time I paid the ....
 
If your pool is square with no steps and you're inclined to drill those anchors yourself, that's a steal if its truly the material they say. It might even be worth getting one of the loop-lock with the 15 year guarantee for a few hundred more. Even that one on amazon is less than a quarter of what our pool co. quoted me ;) Ours is unfortunately a custom size.

We've had occasion to drill multiple anchor holes into our deck for a winter air dome we decided to buy last year. We wore through carbon bits real fast, though fortunately a friend with a "real" (as in giant construction-style drill) came to the rescue. If you have access to a big pneumatic drill through friend or rental, its worth pursuing!

Granted, cover anchors are way fewer than what we had to do for the dome (every 3 feet) but it was a bear of a job. Measure twice, as they day, drill once ;)
 
I purchased the following cover from Amazon last year and couldn't be happier with it.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00SIS4KQ6/ref=twister_dp_update?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

At the time I paid 335.00 for it so for me it was a no-brainer. Not sure why it was so inexpensive but it was so much less expensive than any others I had looked at I figured if it only lasted a few years it would still be a great deal.

When it arrived, it was damaged and I was concerned that it would be a hassle to resolve, but I was pleasantly surprised when I contacted the manufacture and they immediately sent me a new cover and a prepaid return tag for the damaged one.

As for the quality, I don't have anything else to compare it to but it appears to be high quality and lasted through one Chicago winter without any damage or apparent wear so I am satisfied that I made the correct choice.

I should also add that I figured since it was a "safety cover" and people will purchase them to keep pets, children, etc. safe from falling into the pool, there is an implied warranty to that effect and the manufacturer would want to minimize their liability by insuring that the cover performs as advertised.

That said, I am not sure it would support an elephant or automobile but really how often would that be needed anyway?
 
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I had an 18' AGP in Cleveland OH for about 8 years. Always used one of the cheap-ish solid woven tarp-type covers with various ways to keep it on; having to pump water off/clean ice off, and worried about critters (2 or 4 legged) getting either underneath or clawing thru, tho it never happened.. And those covers are only good for a season or 3...despite the "warranty"

My current house near KC has a 16x32' IGP with a Loop Lock mesh cover. I have no doubt I could walk across it. Just sometimes need to drain pool after early Spring rains. It's been around for a few years and still plenty of life left in it.

It should support a heffalump AND a woozle...
 
I've have a mesh cover anchored in the concrete since July 1996, original cover and have loved it.
When I replace it I will get a solid cover. If I don't open in early spring (March or April) the pollen that goes through the mesh and algae starts growing too.
I have a friend who has a solid cover and every time I helped him take his cover off it was crystal clear water. That is the main reason I want a solid cover is to make it a lot easier on getting it going in the spring.
 
There are sites that sell the Loop Loc covers because I'm in the market for a replacement and had been looking around. If you have a standard reqtangular pool you are looking at about $1800 for one with hardrware. Just internet search and you will find them. We have a solid cover that has a meshed square drain window in the very center..works for us.
 
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