Retractable Pool Enclosures can Make Swimming a Daily Routine - Even When it's Raining, by Mike Plecash

So you've created your outdoor oasis, complete with a pool or spa, patio furniture, BBQ, and other amenities - but what do you do when the weather won't cooperate? An increasing number of North American homeowners are enjoying their little oasis year-round, in any kind of weather, with retractable pool enclosures.

Retractable Pool Enclosures - A New Concept

In the past, your options were to buy an outdoor pool, or at considerable additional cost, an indoor pool. Outdoor pools, as experienced pool owners in the northern US and Canada know, are only used and enjoyed for three to four months of the year. Indoor pools allow year-round swimming, but they cost three to four times as much as an outdoor pool and don't allow you to enjoy swimming outdoors on a beautiful day.

Now, with a retractable pool enclosure, you can have the best of both worlds - at a fraction of the cost of an indoor installation. Imagine a fully-glazed building, immune to the effects of moisture and harsh pool chemicals, surrounding your pool or spa and protecting you from the cold and pelting rain - yet can be opened up in minutes to allow you to enjoy beautiful sunshine and a warm, gentle breeze.

Protection from the Elements

Retractable enclosures provide protection from the elements, allowing you to exercise in your pool or spa all year long. But in addition to the health and exercise benefits, retractable pool and spa enclosures reduce the cost of heating and chemically treating pool and spa water. They also add value to your home and increase privacy and security. A pool or spa enclosure can be locked, allowing you to leave home for extended periods without the worry of someone getting into your pool or spa, with possibly tragic consequences.

Look For a Manufacturer Who Meets Local Codes

Look for a manufacturer who builds their enclosures to meet international and local building codes. These codes are there for your protection and a reputable company will provide you with an independently-reviewed and stamped engineering report that confirms that the enclosure you are going to purchase meets the code. The engineer who stamps the report must also be licensed to practice in the state or province where the building is going to be installed.

Imagine a fully-glazed building, immune to the effects of moisture and harsh pool chemicals, surrounding your pool or spa and protecting you from the cold and pelting rain - yet can be opened up in minutes to allow you to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and a warm, gentle breeze.

A pool enclosure company that suggests you buy their enclosure without obtaining a building permit should be eliminated from your list of potential suppliers. Building permits are generally required for pool enclosures. Also, enclosures that don't meet building code standards probably won't be covered by your homeowner's insurance.

Which Materials are Best?

High quality, tempered aluminum is the structural material of choice for a pool or spa enclosure. Aluminum won't rust and can be finished in a number of colors to match the exterior décor of any home. The paint finish should be a "powder coating" - a system where a dry paint is melted onto the aluminum surface for a lifetime finish. All fastening hardware should be stainless steel. You can feel safe knowing that any reputable manufacturer will offer a 10 year warranty.

Glass around a pool or spa where there is likely to be a lot of play activity is not recommended. Instead, look for polycarbonate and acrylic glazing materials. They are light, can be clear, tinted or opaque, and are up to 200 times stronger than glass. Some polycarbonates are available in an insulated form, which act in the same way as double pane windows, keeping the heat inside the enclosure in the winter.

Stay on Track!

Any pool or spa enclosure with a span greater than 6 m (20 ft.) must run on a track system. Suppliers who suggest that their enclosures are better because they don't use a track are selling you trouble. Make sure the enclosure that you are going to buy will remain attached to the deck at all times through a track clamping system. No track - no sale!

Take Your Time, Ask Lots of Questions

Don't be afraid to take your time and ask lots of questions. Request a set of drawings that show the location of the enclosure with respect to the pool or spa, all building dimensions, doors, windows, colours and glazing options. Don't accept a generic drawing, and demand that the documents that describe the enclosure you are buying state exactly what will be manufactured. Also, make sure that the company that delivers and installs the building is using factory-trained installers.

Enjoy year-round swimming, soaking and entertaining in your new retractable pool or spa enclosure!