Here’s what you should know about automatic pool covers

Understanding cover esthetics

Though it is not necessarily among the top reasons
a pool owner chooses an automatic cover, the product does offer an added ‘esthetic’ bonus that it can ‘disappear’ when it is opened. This feature often seals the deal when selling these products on a new pool project.

Pool professionals should encourage customers who are wrestling with the idea of selecting an automatic cover to do so prior to the construction of their pool. By doing so, it allows the cover to be installed under the coping with a hidden track. If they wait to add the automatic cover later, they will need to contend with a track on their deck, which is not as appealing for those who are concerned with the overall esthetics of their pool and backyard.

Finally, with so many colour options available today, automatic covers can complement the backyard design and complete the look of the entire pool area.
A cover’s colour options are an added esthetic benefit that pool owners can easily choose to co-ordinate with other feature items in the backyard.

Understanding installation and labour options

Installing automatic covers requires a certain amount of skill. As with any installed product, the question pool professionals need to determine is whether they want to sell, install, and service the automatic cover, or simply include it in their quote and outsource everything.

Some builders start the process by selling and installing these products but then outsource these services as their sales volume increases. Another reason why some builders choose to outsource automatic pool cover installation and service is it eliminates the need to hire, fire, and/or lay off employees in the off-season. In fact, by outsourcing these services, it allows builders to concentrate on installing more pools. In either case, the final decision comes down to each builder’s personal preference and competitive advantage.

The market demand for automatic covers continues to grow each year. Pool professionals have tremendous profit potential when they truly understand how automatic pool covers work and the benefits they can offer their customers. Whether a builder chooses to install and service them or subcontract this work, now is the time to become educated on automatic covers and add them to the company’s product offerings. It is up to builders whether they are ‘scared of automatic pool covers’ or not. Once a builder becomes familiar with these products, they will soon relate with pool owners who say, “I’d never own another pool without an automatic cover.”

Many pool professionals across the country agree the automatic pool cover market is growing exponentially.

Michael Shebek is the president and owner of Automatic Pool Covers Inc., a manufacturer of covers based in Westfield, Ind. Shebek has more than 20,000 hours of in-field pool cover service experience. His business was started in 1979 as a pool cover installation and service company and today the company creates innovative automatic pool cover products. He can be reached via e-mail at mshebek@apc-mfg.com.