Automatic pool covers from Europe are making their mark in South Africa.
Caryn Formby tells you more.

When an illustrious Swiss banker decided to set up his holiday home at Fancourt in George,he wanted an automatic pool cover
just like the one he had back home in Switzerland.More specifically,he wanted the best a Roldeck.

It may not be wellknown here,but the Roldeck brand name is a pool cover name which is known and trusted by Europeans and it has an excellent reputation for being the Rolls Royce of pool covers. Since neither the architect nor the pool builders commissioned to build his swimming pool knew where to find a Roldeck,PowerPlastics,a Cape Town-based company which specialises in pool covers,was asked to undertake the sourcing and installation of the cover. Needless to say they were successful in their search.

The pool at Fancourt was constructed by local builders and PowerPlastics installed the cover.The results were spectacular. All the mechanical equipment was placed inconspicuously under the coping.so that the cover could roll up to one end of the pool and be stored,totally out of sight.

The silent motor is engaged at the single press of a button.As soon as the cover is fully open or closed,the motor stops automatically,but you can stop the movement of the cover at any time.Wireless remote control is available,making it as easy to operate as locking or unlocking your car.This also means the swimming pool can be covered for shorter periods,making it more convenient to use.By covering the pool,there are considerable energy savings and less time needs to be spent on pool maintenance.

The Fancourt pool cover was installed three years ago,and since then, the company has installed a number of Roldecks, although other installations have had the placement of the roller in other positions. Depending on the shape and configuration of the pool, covers may be installed above the ground, assembled in a recess, at the base of the pool or even below the floor of the pool.

These covers take the concept of pool covers into an aesthetic realm.Stephen Doyle

Article sourced from the NSPI website: http://www.nspi.co.za/ with their full knowledge and permission.