Sheltering an existing pool

by Sally Bouorm | April 1, 2010 2:19 pm

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By Gary Thibault

Like any renovation project, the installation of a retractable enclosure requires adaptability to site conditions and customer desires. Size and design can vary considerably and customization is key. Of course, building code requirements must also be respected.

Site-specific engineering should be available in order to obtain the proper building permits. More specifically, this includes compliance with local snow and wind loads, which vary from area to area.

In most instances, a ‘standard’ installation should require no more than one week for the actual structure to be erected. Access to the site and other minor difficulties can delay construction, but project completion should still be rather quick with minimal disruption.

A good foundation

The first and most important issue, especially on a renovation project, is dealing with the enclosure’s foundation. The tracks on which it will rest and move must be level, otherwise the structure will bind.

Anchoring the structure to a concrete slab is ideal; however, if an interlocking deck surrounds the swimming pool, a line of bricks can be removed to make space for a concrete beam to be poured. This allows the enclosure to be properly secured to the deck using 102-mm (4-in.) lag bolts. Tracks can also be anchored to a deck structure, as long as it is properly supported by piers.

On a standard project, site preparation is minimal and can be included in the overall installation price. However, there are instances where building code requirements will call for more substantial work.

One recent renovation project, for example, required the installation of a 21 x 11.6-m (68 x 38-ft) enclosure, which would house a swimming pool and deck that were being remodelled. Due to the site’s proximity to a ravine and the size of the enclosure, retaining walls, which included the installation of 46 helio anchors. Helio anchors are steel rods with a large flange at the bottom like a cork screw. They are designed to replace concrete piers to support structures. In this case these anchors were screwed down 45 feet in order to reach the proper undisturbed soil and ensure a solid foundation to support a steel frame that would hold the concrete foundation for the enclosure.

When new infrastructure is being installed, as it was on this project, an in-floor heating system can also be included, along with the rebar and concrete during site preparation.

No pool is too big or too small

A retractable enclosure can fit around almost any type of existing pool, although in some cases, room to circulate between the pool and the enclosure wall can be limited.

For installation purposes, a platform is laid across the pool to support ladders and allow installers to work inside the enclosure without any danger. This platform can be moved quickly and easily and fits most situations.

First, each roof section is assembled on the ground. The sides in which the roof will sit are then assembled and set in the tracks. A hydraulic or manual lift is then used to help guide and set the top of each roof section into the wall.

If the enclosure is to be used year-round, some form of heat is required, not necessarily to keep the inside of the enclosure comfortable, but rather to raise the air temperature enough to prevent fog. Glazing materials such as light, twin-wall polycarbonate, which is 200 times stronger than glass, is used for some enclosure windows to capture solar energy from the sun while filtering out ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Heat is naturally generated and warms the enclosure’s interior quite efficiently, but natural condensation and fogging will occur due to indoor and outdoor temperature variances.

Small inexpensive heating devices can correct this. These structures do not need expensive dehumidifying equipment like a traditional indoor pool.

For comparison purposes, a regular indoor pool (with building) costs approximately $250,000, while a retractable enclosure, with pool and heater, can cost roughly $115,000 to $125,000 (exclusive of site considerations).

 

Gary Thibault is president of Vision Enclosures in Sutton West, Ont. The company specializes in retractable enclosure systems. Thibault has more than 25 years of experience in the residential, commercial and industrial enclosure and sunroom market. He can be reached via e-mail at garyt@visionenclosures.com[2].

Source URL: https://www.poolspamarketing.com/trade/sheltering-an-existing-pool/

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