Enclosure Disclosure
By Rachel Lee Harper
Never having to set a rain date for your child's pool party…check.
Squeezing in a few laps before going out to shovel snow...no sweat.
Taking a leisurely dip when the sun goes down and mosquitoes are ready for attack... what mosquitoes?
The benefits of having a pool enclosure may seem obvious, but when it comes to choosing a structure that will meet your needs based on your location, budget, and lifestyle, a little help from the experts can go a long way.
Benefits
How can an enclosure enhance the entire pool and/or spa experience?
Cynthia Caldwell, Garden Prairie Pool & Spa Enclosures: To get the most out of their enclosure, many homeowners add casual furniture, themed decorations and plants to the deck area within the enclosure. By providing additional seating and a beautiful décor, the pool area becomes a place where people will congregate. Since enclosures often serve as an additional room in the house or just a few steps from the backdoor, they allow homeowners to incorporate swimming into their everyday lives.
Robert Thompson, Carolina Solar Structures: When your pool is enclosed, it is like having a party space for weekend entertainment and your own private gym for daily exercise. We have seen a continued interest in fitness, and water exercise is beneficial because it puts less pressure on the joints.
How have enclosures changed over the years? Has this made them more popular and affordable?
Caldwell: Forty years ago pool enclosures came in rectangular shapes and were available in only a few sizes-there was no custom work. Now you can have a rounded-end, an octagon-shaped or even a two-storied enclosure.
We also offer enclosures in a variety of nontraditional colors, such as purple and red, so customers can be as creative as they would like.
Standard enclosures-with options such as fixed or retractable roofs and sliding glass doors or screens-require no special engineering or design work so they are more economical. Customers looking for a one-of-a-kind design may have to pay more, but they get what they want.
Thompson: I have been in the enclosure business since 1969. Back then we used fiberglass glazing, but for the past 20 years we have used polycarbonate because it holds up better. Since the current trend is investing more money in your backyard and spending more time at home, it helps to know that your enclosure is built to last.
How can a pool or spa enclosure help save time and money?
Caldwell: When a homeowner has a pool or spa enclosure, it cuts down on maintenance. Since debris will not be blown into the pool, vacuuming and cleaning become less of a chore. It also reduces the amount of chemicals that can escape through evaporation. Permanent enclosures typically have roof panels made of light-transmitting polycarbonate that act as passive solar collectors, helping to save on heating costs for the pool or spa.
Thompson: An enclosure's ability to block UV rays not only protects your skin, but extends the life of your pool as well. It protects vinyl liners from deterioration and fading and reduces the amount of chemicals needed by 50 percent.
Materials
Which materials are used for these structures?
Caldwell: Leaders in the industry, including our company, offer rigid frame aluminum pool enclosures, which serve as a permanent solution to creating an indoor pool. All of the materials used are impervious to damage from chemicals, humidity and temperature changes. The aluminum superstructure and framing has been given a baked-on powder coat finish and is held together by stainless steel fasteners. Insulated light-transmitting polycarbonate roof panels maintain the pool's temperature and prevent evaporation and chemical loss. In addition, sliding glass doors with screens maintain views of the surrounding landscape and create a beautiful sunroom.
For homeowners who wish to build a lean-to or single-slope enclosure, which uses an exterior wall of the home as the enclosure's fourth wall, we tell them to prepare for some extra maintenance to that area. Due to damage from humidity, a wall made of conventional construction can deteriorate over time and may need to be re-grouted. We also advise the customers to incorporate a separate heating unit so humidity is not circulated back into the house.
Does the type of structure dictate the materials used?
Thompson: Nationally known companies build enclosures that can essentially be installed on any house, anywhere in the country. Our firm offers polycarbonate roof panels that vary in thickness; the standard is 5-wall 16mm, but for colder climates, we use 25mm (1 in.), which provides twice the R-value (a measure of insulation effectiveness). For warmer climates, reflective polycarbonate roof panels are ideal because they reflect heat and prevent the pool room from getting too hot.
Location
Does a home's location in a particular region of the country limit customers' choices?
Caldwell: Not at all. Homeowners can have whatever kind of enclosure they choose because it is not the location that matters, but the local building codes. We have installed enclosures across the US and engineered each structure to meet the requirements of a particular area. Structures in California require a certain resistance to tremors, while other areas require a specific wind resistance.
Thompson: Certain regions of the country require roofs that support a set live load, which is the amount of snow or debris a structure holds. In Bangor, ME, the live load is 56 pounds per sq. ft., while Atlanta, GA, only requires a 24-pound live load per sq. ft. In coastal regions, enclosures are built to withstand winds up to 140 mph.
How do enclosures hold up in periods of extreme heat?
Thompson: Enclosures hold up in extreme heat very well because air movement helps cool the air, preventing the room from becoming overheated. Since a retractable roof can be opened almost 50 percent and most side walls are made of sliding glass doors, the air circulates and rises, escaping through the roof.
Caldwell: During the warmer times of year, a retractable roof system acts as a natural chimney, and screened doors offer ventilation while still keeping insects out.
Planning
How should a potential customer begin planning and preparing for the installation of an enclosure?
Caldwell: It is important to think about the positioning of the enclosure. Some homeowners choose to have the pool at one end, rather than centered, so they have a larger area for sitting and dining without being too close to the pool.
It has become more common for pool builders to suggest an enclosure when initially meeting with clients so customers can weigh their options and prevent the project from being delayed. To ensure that installation goes smoothly and is completed in a timely manner, our company manufactures all materials inhouse and preassembles them in the largest pieces possible before arriving on-site.
Thompson: Most of the enclosures that we build are for homeowners who are building a new pool. The best thing for them to do is to contact the enclosure company first to get an idea of size and cost.Cynthia CaldwellCo-Founder, National Sales, Garden Prairie Pool & Spa Enclosures, Manufactured by CCSI International, Inc.
Cynthia Caldwell, Co-founder, Garden Prairie Pool & Spa Enclosures, mfr. CCSI International, Inc.
Cynthia Caldwell and her husband, Charles, founded the company over four decades ago. Both Cynthia and Charles have helped guide the company's growth in rigid frame aluminum glazed structures. Working together, they have brought the company national and international recognition.
Robert Thompson, President, CEO, Carolina Solar Structures
Robert Thompson transitioned from building homes to building swimming pools in the 1960s. He built pools with enclosures until 1986 when his company concentrated on building enclosures exclusively. Mr. Thompson is a long-standing member of APSP. He has a B.S. from Indiana University.
Photo courtesy of Garden Prairie Pool & Spa Enclosures, mfr. CCSI International, Inc.; Photographer: Howard Gardiner