Pool cover installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What pool cover installation is

Pool cover installation fits a safety, solar or winter cover to a pool and secures it with anchors, springs or straps. A rated safety cover that is fitted and anchored correctly helps keep children and pets out of the pool, and any cover cuts debris and holds through wind and weather when it is fitted well. Solar and winter covers are not made to carry a person.

Signs you need it

  • You want a safety cover that keeps children and pets from falling into an uncovered pool
  • Your solar cover is shrinking, curling or no longer fits the pool shape
  • Debris builds up in the pool faster than you can skim it off
  • The winter cover is worn, torn or sagging, or its anchors are failing
  • You want an automatic cover that rolls over the pool at the push of a switch

What the pro does

  • Measure the pool shape, the deck width and the anchor points to size the cover
  • Check the deck or coping for anchor locations and confirm the surface can hold the anchors
  • Set the anchors, springs or straps at the points where the cover needs to hold tension
  • Lay the cover over the pool, tension it evenly, and secure every anchor
  • Check the tension, look for sag at the low points, and confirm the cover holds in wind
  • Show the owner how to remove, store and reinstall the cover without damaging it

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Cover type, such as a safety cover, a solar cover or an automatic cover with a track or roller
  • Pool shape, size and the number of anchor points needed
  • Deck, paver or concrete surface, and whether anchors must be set into it
  • Whether an automatic cover needs a motor, track, roller or electrical connection
  • Condition of the existing anchors, springs and straps
  • Access to the pool and deck for measuring and installing

What a written quote should spell out

  • The cover type, size, material and product line
  • Anchor types and the number of anchor points, with the surface they will be set into
  • Whether the old anchors are reused or replaced
  • Any electrical or motor work, listed separately for the licensed trade doing it
  • Removal and storage instructions, and the storage method recommended
  • Warranty on the cover, the anchors and the labor

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Which cover type fits how I use the pool, and what does each one do well?
  • How do you anchor the cover to my surface, and will the anchors leave holes?
  • Does the cover need to be removed each season, and how is it stored?
  • Who handles the electrical connection for an automatic cover?
  • What warranty covers the cover, the anchors and the labor?
  • How do you check the fit on the day of install?
  • What should I do if the cover shifts in a storm?

Red flags

  • They measure by eye and do not check the pool shape or the deck
  • They anchor the cover into a surface that cannot hold the load
  • They leave the cover loose or sagging, with no tension plan
  • They do not show the owner how to remove and store the cover
  • They skip the electrical question for an automatic cover

What you can do yourself

A homeowner can measure the pool and the deck, compare cover options, and clear the deck area before the crew arrives. Do not drill into the deck for anchors or set anchors into concrete until the pro has confirmed where and how, and do not connect an automatic cover motor or its power. Call a pro for installation, anchor work and any electrical connection.

Licenses and permits

Cover installation usually does not need a contractor license on its own, but anchor work that involves drilling into structure, and any electrical connection for an automatic cover, can require licensed trades or permits. Check with your state or local licensing agency and your local building office before the work starts.

Pool cover installation questions

Is a safety cover the same as a winter cover?

No. A safety cover is built to hold a person's weight and is fastened to the deck, while a winter cover is made for seasonal use and may not carry that load. Ask the pro which one fits your need and what the rating covers.

Does a solar cover keep the pool warm?

A solar cover holds heat and reduces evaporation, so it helps the pool stay warmer for longer. It works best on sunny days and does not replace a heater.

Will the anchors damage my deck?

They can if they are set wrong. A pro should show where each anchor goes, how it is set and what the deck surface needs, so the holes are sealed and the deck stays sound.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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