Pool covers are a must in South Africa. Whether for child safety or sustainability reasons or for general aesthetics and property value, every pool needs a cover. It has always been preferable to design the pool with a cover in mind, particularly if it is a safety cover, but what about covering existing pools with elaborate designs and fixtures? Until now, such pools frequently meant the pool owner had to forgo a cover. Having recognised the extent of this problem and the frustration of so many pool owners wanting to do the right thing, PowerPlastics Pool Covers, the leading pool cover brand, has just introduced a Special Projects team.

“We try to avoid saying no to customers, and we’d never sell a safety cover if not designed and installed in line with compliance requirements. So we’re really excited about this team as it opens a world of possibility when it comes to architecturally designed pools and accommodating pool covers,” says Carolyn Idas of PowerPlastics Pool Covers.

Outdoor living trends have seen the rise of intricate pool designs. Pools with numerous levels, circular spas on the side, fire pits and flower beds in the middle of the pool, rim flow designs and minimal coping on the sides – great to look at but these artistic masterpieces just aren’t practical.

A safety cover needs to be tensioned if it is to perform correctly. The PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover is drawn over batons that require 300mm of coping around the pool and 600mm at the shallow and deep end to secure the cover. Where there are obstructions, you can’t just cut the cover and fit it around them as the cover will no longer be safety compliant.

“We’ve always been proud of our ability to innovate and our new team really embodies that culture. We went back to the drawing board and took each of our leading covers and challenged ourselves to create new installation methods that respect the pool design and the general style of the outdoor area without compromising on quality and ease of use.

“We recently covered a circular pool with a solid safety cover, retaining the round aesthetic when the pool is covered and the pool owner couldn’t be happier with the way the cover looks and performs. We’ve also secured a rim flow pool set in decking with a side splash pool. In the past, we couldn’t always cater to such designs. It requires a completely different approach,” says Idas.

Compared to child safety covers, it may seem less important if a tricky-to-fit thermal bubble cover that lies directly on the water doesn’t perform at optimal levels, but it is more critical than one would imagine.

“We are still stuck in a loop of loadshedding and one of the heaviest consumers of power in the home is the pool filter. Our GeoBubble covers assist with pool hygiene, reducing filtration times by as much as 50% and reducing chlorine input too. Pool design really does have an impact on the national grid! It’s always about the bigger picture, and it is about being sensible this summer.

“We may be inching our way out of a pandemic lifestyle, but across the board, people are definitely being more sensible and that extends to the pool. A sensible pool owner has a safe, covered pool with certification. A sensible pool owner has a sustainable pool that is lighter on natural resources. If you have tried to cover your pool in the past but have been turned away, please do get in touch with our Special Projects team. We are very likely able to cover your pool. Similarly, if you are planning a new pool but holding back on design features because of cover limitations, chat to us and let’s design it together!” says Idas.

PowerPlastics Pool Covers has been covering pools for 30 years and offers an innovative range of pool covers. Our solutions directly address local issues and we have tailored a range of thermal covers in response to the ongoing electricity and water crises and the need to shrink carbon footprints. Child safety around pools is also key. We give parents peace of mind with the leading safety cover, the PowerPlastics Solid Safety Cover. At the top end of the market are fully automated slatted covers from Roldeck. A perfect finish to the no expense spared home.