Swimming pool construction for pools with an automatic pool cover requires modifications to the construction process. Some of the changes are minor, but others are major and can cause significant problems if not done right.
In our last blog, we addressed some common construction mistakes related to the pool cover box. We will share a few more in this blog.
A common issue with concrete cover boxes is the failure to provide a suitable drain. Adding a drain to the pool cover box is not something many builders consider because it is not standard for any other part of the pool, except for the obvious main drain. A pool cover box requires a drain to remove water that enters it from pool splash over and, to a much lesser extent, from the operation of the pool cover. Pool cover boxes made from shotcrete or gunite are often incorrectly installed by either not sloping the floor to the drain or by adding the drain to the sidewall without placing it flush with the floor of the cover box.
Alternatively, some builders make their pool cover box without a concrete floor; they fill the bottom with gravel to create a basic French drain. The problem is that these pool cover boxes are often not deep enough, allowing water to accumulate in soils with high clay content and rise to the level of the pool cover. This style of pool cover box can also cause pool covers to become very dirty if the box is not made deep enough. A pool cover box can be made as a French drain, but they are rarely done correctly.
Failure to provide adequate drainage for the pool cover box not only creates conditions that can make the pool cover dirty, but it also damages the pool cover system and can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. In some cases, water backup can even cause structural damage to the pool walls.
Normally, shotcrete/gunite pools are made with coping-style walk-on lids, which require special bracket installation to support them. Very few builders nationally make adjustments to ensure they avoid issues with the cold join. A cold joint can occur when the pool cover box is made from shotcrete/gunite and then a concrete coping or deck, or a brick, paver, or travertine deck is installed above it. A cold joint does not reliably hold the anchors that support the bracket. To avoid this problem, modifications need to be made to either the pool walls or the pool cover box structure. If these modifications are not made, the brackets will eventually become unstable because the anchors will not hold.
The issues shared in this blog can have significant impacts on the pool and the overall quality of the swimming pool construction. Modifications must always be made for pools with a pool cover. Builders who don’t know the changes will build the pool, and it will appear fine until it doesn’t.
Builders who say building a pool with an automatic pool cover does not require modifications are ones that you might want to avoid.
Use a pool builder that specializes in building pools with automatic pool covers if you plan to include one in your project.