Steel spring cover fasteners vs. rubber bungee cords

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fre1102

Well-known member
Jul 26, 2019
46
Saint Louis, Missouri
I'm ordering my first pool cover. Or the first safety cover, anyway.

There are already mounting anchors in the pool deck. The cover was long gone when we bought the house.

The vendor says they think the original cover must have been fastened to the deck with rubber bungee cords rather than steel springs. The covers I've seen before attach with the springs.

I don't know what sort of rubber bungee cord we're talking about but the picture they sent me looks flimsy at best (attached). It seems to just punch through the 'hem' of the cover. I don't think the cover itself would be that sturdy--you couldn't walk on it--and I have doubts about the rubber straps themselves or the durability of their attachment to the cover.

But I have no experience. Can anyone school me on rubber bungee mounts vs. steel springs?

For that matter, what's the difference between mesh and solid covers? Or I get what 'mesh' and 'solid' mean--what are the differences in practical application?
 

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Gor pics of the mounting anchors ?


fre1102 said:
For that matter, what's the difference between mesh and solid covers?
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They both appear solid, but the (tightly wound) mesh will allow water through it slowly. Sometimes it takes hours after a big rain.

With a mesh cover, you need to drain the pool as the off season rain accumulates. I keep an eye on the long term forcast and drain right before any deep freezes to buy more time.

With a solid cover, you need to drain above the cover (cover pump) as the rain accumulates.

It's your choice if you'd prefer draining above or below.
 
Those are standard issue safety cover anchors.


Screenshot_20240815_172440_Chrome.jpg

Maybe the vendor is used to having paver patios which use a longer tube style, but still the same screw head. Or they're new. Lol.
 
The rubber bungee style they gave you pics of is not a safety cover, just a cover. You have anchors setup for the safety style cover springs.
 
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Classic Solid Covers unique in the Anchor safety pool cover products line because they connect to deck anchors using super durable rubber straps rather than stainless steel springs. The Classic Cover rest on the surface of the water and requires the use of an automatic pump.

anchorinc.com

Classic Solid Pool Cover | Anchor Industries

The Classic Solid Safety Pool Cover from Anchor Industries is available in both 14 oz. and 18oz. vinyl coated fabric. Explore our products today!
anchorinc.com anchorinc.com
 
Anchor Safety Covers 10″ Rubber Tie Strap 850RT10 Hookless with aluminum bolt and nut. Rubber Tie measures 11-7/8″ long tip to tip. Anchor Industries MPN: 850RT10 KitKit Includes:4043400A Rubber EPDM Strap 10″ (11-7/8″ Overall)3022500 Aluminum Saw Bolt & NutAlso known as Bungee Cord or Bungee Strap. Fits Classic & Tuff Stuff II Swimming Pool Safety Covers. This is the Original Equipment patented 10″ rubber strap by Anchor Industries Evansville Indiana.

Will also replace: Merlin PGTD Rubber Tension Strap for Pool Guard, Pool Guard Plus and Pool Guard Kaleidoscapes Solid Safety covers with rubber straps.Also Available in a 17″ Double Strap See below
 

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The Anchor brand covers are good quality and the straps are very strong.

You can A/B the cover and anchors and send the measurements to any company for a quote.

Merlin used rubber straps.

Merlin PGTD Rubber Tension Strap for Pool Guard, Pool Guard Plus and Pool Guard Kaleidoscapes Solid Safety covers with rubber straps.

Check with Loop-Loc and other manufacturers for a quote on spring safety covers.
 
fre1102 said:
The vendor says they think the original cover must have been fastened to the deck with rubber bungee cords rather than steel springs. The covers I've seen before attach with the springs.
Click to expand...
Why do they think that the original cover used the rubber straps?
fre1102 said:
Yeah, I didn't have the original cover so I did the A-B measurements.
Click to expand...
Did you A-B the pool and anchors or just the pool?

You need to do both on the same form.
 
JamesW said:
The Anchor brand covers are good quality and the straps are very strong.

You can A/B the cover and anchors and send the measurements to any company for a quote.

Merlin used rubber straps.

Merlin PGTD Rubber Tension Strap for Pool Guard, Pool Guard Plus and Pool Guard Kaleidoscapes Solid Safety covers with rubber straps.

Check with Loop-Loc and other manufacturers for a quote on spring safety covers.
Click to expand...
I got a quote from poolcoversdirect.com. They're Anchor?

Can I walk on an Anchor cover? Or more directly, can a toddler fall on it and it will hold them up and I could go get them? I don't anticipate that ever happening, but belt and suspenders...
 
JamesW said:
Why do they think that the original cover used the rubber straps?

Did you A-B the pool and anchors or just the pool?

You need to do both on the same form.
Click to expand...
She didn't say why she thought that the original cover used rubber straps. She just said she thought that it did (use rubber straps). They're not super-responsive, which is why I'm asking here. I suppose it might be their busy time of year.

I A-B-ed the pool and the anchors. There was no space to put the anchor measurements on their form so I gave them the measurements on paper. They translated the pool and anchor measurements to a rough drawing and it looks pretty close to reality.
 
Pool Guard covers feature a 13 oz. supported solid PVC material and rubber tension straps.

They are available in Blue, Green and Gray.*

Pool Guard Solid Safety covers feature an all-welded solid vinyl cover material. Pool Guard covers use our standard brass anchors and a new & improved rubber tension strap.

In order to meet ASTM F1346-91 Safety Standards, Pool Guard covers require the use of an automatic pool cover pump (additional charge). Pool Guard and Pool Guard Plus covers should be priced using a 2’0” overlap. (add 4’0” to overall Length & Width). Pool Guard covers have a “relaxed fit”

 
fre1102 said:
I got a quote from poolcoversdirect.com. They're Anchor?
Click to expand...
I don't know what brands they sell.
fre1102 said:
Can I walk on an Anchor cover? Or more directly, can a toddler fall on it and it will hold them up and I could go get them? I don't anticipate that ever happening, but belt and suspenders...
Click to expand...
If Anchor says that the pool cover is a safety cover, then it meets accepted standards.

I would feel safe with the rubber Bungee straps from Anchor if the cover is listed as a safety cover.

As long as you have the A-B measurements, you should be able to send them to any manufacturer and ask for a quote.
 

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