Got It Covered

The installation of a pool enclosure can transform an outdoor pool, protecting users from the elements and also reducing costs spent on heating and cleaning, and can extend the swimming season from a few brief months in summer to an all year round experience.

�A pool enclosure is there to minimize heat loss through evaporation and the cooling effects of the wind, and also to promote heat absorption from any sun we may have,� explains Jonathan Howkins of specialist supplier, UK Pool Enclosures �The effect of both of these is to maintain a higher water temperature in the pool, and therefore reduce the amount of additional heating needed.

UK Pool Enclosures supply telescopic enclosures, which provide shelter during inclement weather, but can still be opened out to expose the pool when required. �We believe these offer the most benefits in terms of heat retention and pool cleanliness, combined with ease of use and unobtrusive design,� continues Howkins. �We currently market two standard ranges of low profile enclosure, one of which can be customized to client requirements.�

Jonathan Howkins also considers security to be one of the key benefits of a pool enclosure. �Our lockable swimming enclosures are AFNOR approved as effective safety barriers for swimming pools,� he says. �For many people with small children, an enclosure allows them to effectively control when the pool is used, and to ensure it is secure when not in use. It provides privacy and protection for the pool.�

The extra usage that can be gained from a pool enclosure can also make it a worthwhile investment. �It’s great for people who have had a pool for some time, and have realised that they need to find cost effective ways of making more use of it, spending less time heating and cleaning it, and who wish to be able to swim when the weather is not great,� he says. �If our clients are in anyway representative of what people are thinking, then a swimming pool enclosure means you really get to enjoy your pool far more, and for more of the year, and it costs you less.�

A telescopic enclosure proves extremely cost effective, especially when offset against heating and cleaning. �The products we market have been specifically designed and developed for home assembly, and consequently, can generally be installed by two people, with no prior experience, in less than a day,� adds Howkins. �This approach to product development and manufacturing enables us to offer these enclosures at very competitive prices. An enclosure for a 6m x 3m pool starts at under 3,500 and the top of our range goes up to just under 18,000.�

The case for covering outdoor pools is a strong one, and the benefits to pool owners are clear to see. This is an increasingly popular way of ensuring that the pool can be used all year round, and in addition, the installation of a cover can prove surprisingly cost effective.

By protecting the pool from the elements, it is possible to make substantial heating and maintenance savings, and by using natural sunlight to warm the enclosure, it will also be more environmentally friendly.