Lid challenge
As mentioned earlier, the lid on the top of the automatic cover housing also needs to be level for proper operation. The manufacturer usually provides a flush, pre-painted walk-on lid to make the installation fast and easy; however, there are also many lid-tray options available that can be filled with concrete to accommodate popular stone, paver, and stamped concrete options. It is important for builders to remember there must be an area for the cover and lead-edge to exit the housing area.
“Sometimes, we have customers who want a particular finish that is different than the standard lid tray system we prefer,” says Horwood. “However, this presents challenges if you only have about a quarter of an inch to work with because you cannot have a lid that is higher than the track as the cover will not operate.”
Outsourcing automatic cover installations
Fortunately, there are now many pool professionals throughout Canada and the U.S. who now install and maintain automatic covers exclusively so it is easier for pool professionals to subcontract this portion of the job. This allows builders to easily offer automatic pool covers, and still profit from selling them, without having to train or have personnel or staff on hand to install and maintain them.
Horwood’s company specializes in automatic cover installation, and pool builders enjoy working with his company not only because it makes the initial installation easier and faster, but also because his company is there to help with servicing the cover after the installation.
“With automatic covers, it is important to go back and make one or two adjustments on the cover once it is installed,” says Horwood. “Many pool builders like outsourcing the automatic cover portion to me and my crews so they can stay focused on the construction aspects of the project and not have to worry about the cover install after we are done with the pool.”
Installers like Horwood agree it is important to work closely with builders to eliminate any issues that are easy to avoid early on by thinking the
job through.
“Those who specialize in automatic cover installation realize there are ‘tips and tricks’ that can be used to avoid problems, such as a smashed track,” says Chris Hunt, an automatic cover specialist in Wichita, Kan. “Knowing how to prepare the concrete to be poured is key. We use small supports above the mechanism to stabilize and reinforce the track below it, ensuring the track is not compressed by the weight of the concrete deck above it.
“In addition, when we install the cover, we put little pieces of track that act as a shim. This way, if we are called out to make a repair, we take out the shim, straighten the track, and fix it—which is much easier post-installation than having to break up the deck.”
Automatic pool covers are experiencing exponential growth as homeowners look to extend their swimming season—children are home doing virtual learning and more families are ‘staycationing’ in their backyards and maximizing their pool investment. As the demand for fibreglass pools and automatic pool covers continues to soar during this pandemic, pool professionals need to take the time to strategize their approach and be prepared to maximize their profits on these products while avoiding frustrating mistakes in the field.
Mike Shadoan has more than 25 years of experience as a service tech in the field, working his way up into the position of vice-president of sales for Automatic Pool Covers in Westfield, Ind. Shadoan has been an integral part of the company’s rapid growth as a result of the innovative automatic pool cover products it offers. He can be reached via email at mshadoan@apc-mfg.com.
