To accommodate the spa owner’s desires, installers need to use a heavy-duty bracket that will support the weight of a stone lid. However, this does not mean the client can walk on a lid the way they can walk on the other three sides of the spa.
“We take the time to explain to the client the stone cannot be mortared in and should not be walked on as it can shift and move, it is just gravity that is holding the lid in place.”
Most auto cover installers agree they should set the expectation that the stone will need to be lifted for regular maintenance of the mechanism.
“Cover service technicians have to be able to lift the heavy stone to maintain the mechanism and the cover—and the lid isn’t something you can walk on and that’s it, so it isn’t like the rest of the deck around the spa or pool,” says Harms.
It is also important to plan enough space in advance for a service technician to perform necessary maintenance on the auto cover. Not only do installers need to consider the access by a service professional, but they should also keep in mind how the homeowner will approach the spa.
“I always take the time to consider how one will walk up to and around the spa,” says Horwood. “In some instances, we might even move a path to ensure users won’t sit or walk on the lid cover of the mechanism box.”
Mike Shadoan has more than 25 years of experience working as a service tech in the field. In 2013, he worked his way 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. He can be reached via email at mshadoan@apc-mfg.com.
