Tight tolerances
Unlike the installation of an auto cover on a standard pool, a vanishing edge pool cannot be ‘out of square.’ The tolerances for a cover on this type of pool design cannot be off by more than 26 to 51 mm (1 to 2 in.). Unfortunately, the cover installer is often brought into the discussion very late in the construction process.
“Builders and architects don’t like to hear that they need to make a wall shorter to have an auto cover on the pool,” says Horwood.
Many designers do not realize the water level on a vanishing edge pool is much higher—to achieve the falling water visual—than a standard pool. The level must remain at the top of the pool wall, not only to create a vanishing edge visual, but also because the water supports the cover. The water level and the tracks need to align for the cover to function properly.
Some designers also make the mistake of telling their client that just one section of the length of the wall can have a vanishing edge—this will make it virtually impossible to achieve a properly functioning cover. The auto cover track cannot make the transition from regular to vanishing edge on the same plane—the entire length or the entire width of the pool needs to ‘vanish.’
Track height differential
A standard auto pool cover design is simple. There are two tracks that run parallel to one another on either side of the pool. Both these tracks are hidden under the pool’s coping, creating a clean, almost magical look to the opening and closing of the cover.
However, when one is working with a one-sided infinity edge design, one side of the pool’s track cannot be at the same elevation as the track on the opposite side of the pool. To have a track on the vanishing edge side of the pool, it must be flipped over and brought down on the wall just below the level of the track on the opposite side of the pool.
The goal is to have minimal track height differential to accommodate the track that has been flipped and placed down on the wall that leads into the catch basin of the vanishing edge.
“You don’t want to place the track on the infinity edge wall down more than 26 to 51 mm (1 to 2 in.) if possible,” says Horwood.
The importance of hiding the track below the wall is critical to the installation.
“We had a customer who could see the track on the vanishing edge wall as he drove up to his house,” says Horwood. “And it was very important to him that the track ‘blended in’ or was ‘invisible’ along the blue tiled wall of his vanishing edge.”
Horwood’s company took the aluminum track to a local powder-coater and had them paint it to match the colour of the tiles in the catch basin.
“We had to take it to a recreational vehicle (RV) paint shop to powdercoat the 7-m (22-ft) long track.”
One must also remember to consider the elevation of the house or deck in relation to the pool. Depending on where the pool is located or how it will look from the house or deck, one may completely choose to eliminate the vanishing edge effect—if they can see over the edge.
