Custom pool builders in Orange County will discuss your options with you and guide you toward the decision that best suits you when choosing the right pool cover. This is an essential piece of equipment that ensures your pool’s health when not in use—and the safety of your family, especially young children, and pets.
Pool covers range from simple tarp to hybrid automatic systems. The good news for people with freeform or irregularly-shaped pools is that most pool cover types can be customized to accommodate different shapes.
No Limits for Custom Pool Builders
Gone are the days when homeowners were limited to round, oval, and rectangular pools. Now, homeowners can take advantage of technology that enables them to work with custom pool-building companies to design the shape of their own pools.
These freeform or uniquely shaped pools bring great enjoyment in summer when every day is a swimming day. However, they can become a headache when it’s time to close them for winter. Numerous pool cover suppliers have kept up with swimming pool design trends and have adapted their services to include custom covers for custom pools.
Types of Freeform Pool Covers
Freeform pool owners can choose from all of the most commonly used covers, including the following:
Tarp Covers
Tarp is the cheapest and easiest of all the pool covers to customize. Just go to your local home improvement store and buy the size that you need. With a little bit of stitching here and there, some sandbags to weigh it down, and you’ll have your DIY pool cover to see you through winter.
However, there is a serious downside to a tarp, and that is—you get what you pay for. It doesn’t have the same quality as other safety covers and doesn’t last nearly as long. Depending on the severity of the weather in your region, your tarp cover could last for three seasons before it needs to be replaced.
Mesh Covers
Mesh pool covers are one of the best options available for in-ground pools. They’re made of lightweight, durable material that is designed to keep out all debris—but let in sunlight, rain, and snow. This keeps the water level stable, so pool owners use less water to fill when spring rolls around, and they open their pools again.
They’re compact and are capable of bearing a lot of weight, up to 4000 lb, which is great if your toddler falls in the middle of the cover and you have to walk on it to get him.
The downside is that mesh pool covers are not UV-resistant and aren’t cheap—and you’re likely to pay more for a custom design. You’ll need professional custom pool builders in Orange County to install the cover because it doesn’t lend itself to easy DIY. However, with correct maintenance, these covers have a lifespan of up to 16 years.
Net Covers
Net pool covers are similar to mesh covers in that they keep leaves, twigs, dead insects, and other debris out of your pool while letting rain, snow, and sunlight in. They are not as compact as mesh covers and are cheaper than most other products.
Solid Covers
A solid cover is exactly what you think it is, a solid barrier that doesn’t let anything in. Its materials are non-permeable and include polypropylene, vinyl, and a high-tech UV protection material. There is no questioning the safety of the solid pool cover, that it will be weighed down by rainwater and snow. This is because a submersible water pump is placed in the middle of the cover to safely drain away accumulating water.
The downside, however, is they aren’t as strong or durable as mesh covers. They also need to be installed by professional pool builders with experience in pool safety covers. Moreover, their lifespan is generally six years to 12 years.
Hybrid Covers
Hybrid pool covers are the perfect combination of mesh covers and solid covers. Benefits include UV resistance, solid security, strength, and permeability—and they can last for up to 16 years.
Their downside is the price, as they are arguably the most expensive of all pool covers, and then you have to factor in the cost of professional installation.
Winter Covers
Winter pool covers are made from heavy-duty materials designed to ensure your pool never freezes, no matter how bad the weather. They are generally UV resistant so that they won’t be damaged in the winter sun, nor will they let algae grow. They can be used for above-ground and in-ground pools.
However, they can’t bear much weight. So, if you have small children or pets or are in an area where wildlife roams, it’s a good idea to support the safety cover with a fence around the pool. There needn’t be a permanent one, but it would need to keep people and critters off the surface.
It is worth noting that they are very affordable and easy to install on your own. However, like tarps, they don’t have a long lifespan and may need to be replaced after four years.
Solar Covers
Solar covers aren’t designed to withstand fluctuating temperatures or keep out debris. Instead, they maintain your pool’s warmth—so that you can swim comfortably on chilly days. They’re unsecured, so they’re easy to put on and take off, making it easy for you to access your pool.
Automatic Covers
Automatic pool covers are considered next-level because they are the automated version of the mesh, solid, and hybrid options. These let you utilize the right cover for your pool shape using push-button control. You can choose from the following:
- Covers that run on tracks above the pool, and
- Covers that are recessed below the pool deck’s edge.
Keep in mind, though, that they are far more expensive compared to the other pool covers. They must be professionally installed and are very difficult to remove. Generally, repairs are complicated and expensive.
You may want to discuss the ins and outs of automatic pool covers with a luxury custom pool builder before making the financial commitment.
Trust a Reputable Company that Specializes in Custom Pool Design in Orange County
Having a custom pool design in Orange County can turn your backyard showpiece into an alluring and enjoyable hideaway. We specialize in above-ground, in-ground, and on-ground swimming pools.
The best pool cover for a freeform or irregularly-shaped pool is the one that meets your precise needs. We will provide you with all the information you need to make the right decision. Contact us at 714-235-3294 at Calimingo Pools today!