Achieving value on all levels
Even though the phrase “money is no object” is often heard in the high-end pool design/build marketplace, it certainly does not mean value is of no concern to the homeowner.
In fact, on this project, this discerning client wanted to see the value of every component used in the construction and finishing of their pool, as well as what advantages they offered. That said, each product had to pass the test not only in terms of creating value, but also in maintaining the beauty and harmony of the overall design and functionality.
One area of importance was energy efficiency, and one of the products used on both the pool and whirlpool that spoke directly to this necessity, without sacrificing design integrity, was the cover.
Having more than four decades experience in automatic pool covers—traditional track and slatted systems—Alka Pools referred the client to a U.S. Department of Energy report which noted “75 per cent of all pool heat loss is through evaporation.” Although this is common knowledge in the pool industry, the information contained in this report emphasized the importance that the pool’s design and peripheral components also took this into consideration to minimize this effect. Therefore, to achieve energy savings on the pool and whirlpool during the extreme climate changes experienced in this locale, an automatic pool cover became a mandatory requirement.
Designing for efficiency
With the initial design concept in hand, Alka Pool’s Rob Danieli contacted the pool cover manufacturer to co-ordinate the seamless installation of the cover system.
In doing so, a high-efficient, automatic pool cover was selected that features extruded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) slats that have sealed air chambers, giving the cover a higher insulating R-value (a measure of thermal resistance) over traditional vinyl covers. The higher the R-value the more effective the insulation.
This particular cover design also eliminates the rope/track/leading-edge bar interface used for traditional automatic pool covers, allowing it to be deployed from a hidden recessed area to accommodate the most complex pool shapes and designs. These features, along with the clean lines of the slatted pool cover, co-ordinated with the architectural design of the home and helped to blend every element together.
