Winter safety cover cost/vendor is this good?

[Davegnh]

I have a 16X32 gunite free form pool. I was just quoted the following for safety cover. Is this a good product and any comment on price? Thanks

Promesh (higher quality) $4000

ProMesh Safety Covers



Sapmesh $3200

Secur-A-Pool Mesh Safety Cover

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Hello Dave... those prices sound fairly common. They *are* an investment for sure, but should last for years.
The second cover will allow some water in the pool which you may or may not want? The first looks to be a solid cover which will not let much of anything in.

Maddie

 

[Homebrewale]

It's probably a good price. On the purchase of the first safety cover, you have higher installation costs due to drilling the deck for the installation of the anchors. Your second cover will be cheaper since that work is already done. But since these covers can easily last 15-20 years, you may not need that second cover.

 

[klanel]

Does that include a pump for the first one? We will have to get a cover before Fall and I am interested in this topic as well and want one that will last a long time.

Just took a look at your link and see it allows water to pass through. I was thinking of something solid but these may be much easier to handle?

 

[Davegnh]

Both are mesh and allow water to pass through. This does not include a pump I had planned to get a separate one. I can't really tell much difference between the two other than one has a 12-year warranty and the other has a 15 but the warranties are pretty limited. Does anybody know if this is a good manufacturer?

 

[TKpoolOH]

Can't speak to the quality of the manufacturer, but prices are pretty reasonable.

 

[sktn77a]

A standard 20x40 rectangular is about $2000. This doesn't include installation (brass anchors, drilling), springs, etc. If those prices are fully inclusive and installed, its probably the going rate.

 

[Davegnh]

Any input on the options is the extra 800 worth it?

 

[JamesW]

GLI is a good company.

I recommend a solid cover.

Here is a story about what can go wrong when you don't have a safety cover.

 

[Headbanger783]

I just got a pro-mesh cover from GLI through my PB. Not installed on a 14.5x28 fiberglass pool was $2200 and change. PB wants $20 per hole for install…I’ll probably just do it myself.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

PB wants $20 per hole for install…I’ll probably just do it myself.

Ouch! Seems a tad greedy to moi!

 

[JamesW]

Ouch! Seems a tad greedy to moi!

It's not as easy as you think.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Got a primer you can share?

I take it back- after watching this video the initial strings business got me anxious.... the drill work tedius.... maybe it *is* harder than I thought?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

The GLI video-

 

[JamesW]

This is a tricky pool to install a cover on and it takes a lot of time and skill.

When considering prices, you have to look at a variety of factors.

1) Pool shape, size and weight?

2) Is the cover a standard premade size or freeform custom?

3) Web spacing?

4) Deck type?

5) Cutouts?

6) Raised wall treatments?

7) Hammerdrill or diamond bit hole saw?

8) Cover material (Mesh, dense mesh or solid)?

Installers should provide you with quality standards such as:

1) Making sure that the overlap is equal everywhere to specific tolerances.

2) The tension is correct at all springs (Not too tight, not too loose and just right).

3) The straps are all straight +/_ specific degrees of tolerance.

4) The holes are smooth and avoid chipping, spalling or other deck damage as much as possible.

5) The straps are all adjusted to a good length in the middle of the range and not too short or too long.

6) The springs are all centered in the middle of the vinyl spring guards.

7) No damage to the cover during installation (nicks, cuts, scratches, punctures etc.).

 

[JamesW]

Got a primer you can share?

I take it back- after watching this video the initial strings business got me anxious.... the drill work tedious. maybe it *is* harder than I thought?

The string method is goofy in my opinion.

There are a lot of how-to videos and it depends on the specific cover installation.

If you have to core drill due to having a brittle deck material like tile or certain types of stone that are hard to drill without cracking, the cost goes up substantially.

Raised walls and cutouts are more complicated and require more time.

In any case, hopefully, any price will be for a job well done and not a job...well...done (aka a botched sloppy job).

Also, you can always get multiple quotes if you don't like the price.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

You make excellent points, as usual, @JamesW

 

[Headbanger783]

Oh @JamesW I wasn’t complaining about the install cost. Just stating what the cover cost then the install price

 

[SecoSteve]

So, do all mesh material covered pools open to green water? We did our first opening with the new pool this spring and have a solid cover. Our water was clear. I did have to use the cover pump until the temperature got too cold, but it was worth it to me.

 

[Newdude]

So, do all mesh material covered pools open to green water

Nope. The two others available when i got mine 10 years ago were 95% and 99% mesh. Both removed their respective amounts of UV exposure, just not quite 'all'. I liked my 99% mesh because it allowed me to drain more pool, increasing the drain intervals. With the solid cover, it will hold less before spilling onto the patio.

The 'mesh' cover (which looked solid, even if you held it up to the sun) stopped all but the finest silts from getting in the pool, which were long settled on the pool floor come opening. It took 2-3 passes with the vacuum to get out and wasn't any kind of deal breaker. There was some leaves that found their way in when the cover blew in high winds, that would have happened with any safety cover.

The only year I opened to a swamp was the winter we had 70 degree days in Feb and I didn't check or add the appropriate chemicals when I should have because the whole winter was so warm. That was my mistake and it didn't matter which cover I had.