wrote in message
...
I am trying to figure out a way to cover my pool. Here is a picture of
it... www.drumrx.com/9.jpg
Priority # 1 - I need to keep my 1 year old and 4 year old from
drowning.
Priority # 2 - I need to have the rain run off toward the back of the
property (narrow decking on opposite side of pool in pic)
Priority # 3 - Notice the trees... no leaves allowed!!!
Priority # 4 - It would be cool to be able to claim some of the space
in my yard in the 9 months that we do not use the pool. We are in the
north east.
The problem...
Notice the brick patio and the wood decking near the pool stairs... It
is about 14 to 16 inches above the rest of the decking around the
pool.
Notice the cut-out for the stairs, this makes the pool somewhat of an
L shape.
I have been told by the company that services my pool that a standard
safety cover will not be suitable for my application because of the
height of the patio.
I thought about 2 options...
First, to build some sort of a removeable deck that can span the 15
feet from the brick patio to the narrow decking on the other side of
the pool, and cover it with a tied down tarp. The problem with this is
A. I am worried about the weight of the entire thing when on the pool,
and B. because I would have to remove and store these "removable deck
sections" they could not be that wide, or that heavy. Fat chance being
that I would have to use 2 x 12's of PTL to span the 15 feet.
Second, I thought it would be cool to have a bunch of floating dock
sections like offered by a company called EZDock... Again, covered by
a tied down tarp. I thought this was a neat idea until I found out
that it would cost about $13,000... Not worth that kind of money.
Although I would not rule out some other floating mechanism as it
would allow me to walk on it and use the space in my yard.
I still do not know what to do. I need to replace the "tarp with water
bags" system that I have now, it is a pain to maintain, and my kids
cannot use my yard for 9 months out of the year for I fear that they
would drown.
Any suggestions would be helpful...
Thanks,
Frank
Start with the simplest thing. Watch your kids. This is the major cause of
children drowning.
From what I can see, the fence around the pool is the last and only line of
defense? Is that so? IOW, if the children can get out the back door, is
there or is there not another fence between them and their ancestors?
You may want to put up another fence that will isolate the pool further. I
know this is going to cut down on the usability of the yard, but you have a
small crowded yard already.
My daughter and SIL have a small yard like you, and were able to put up a
system they bought that has posts, and screen sections that can be stretched
across and retracted in different combinations depending on the yard usage
and children present.
What you seem to want to be able to do, and cannot do is to have the yard
like it is, and somehow have a floating barrier on the pool. Well, yes, you
can have that, but they are expensive, heavy, and a real PITA to move around
when you DO want to swim.
About all I can see you doing is putting up a fence close to the pool and
losing some of the usable back yard you do have. You are limited because of
the size and shape of the pool, the heights, and the size and shape of the
back yard itself. What is code where you live? Maybe you already need a
perimeter fence around the pool ONLY, as you plainly understand your present
situation presents a drowning hazard to the children.
You sound like it's the children are a bother, no one understands your
plight, and everyone wants to sell you an expensive system.
Stand back and look at it like it was someone else's house. What would you
suggest then? You can't have it all unless you expand your yard, buy a
bigger house, or make some compromises.
Steve, who was a steel erection contractor for ten years, and solved many a
pool hazard.