How can you hide, integrate or recess roller shutters in your pool?
Installing roller shutters on your pool offers you a host of advantages, from comfort through to safety. This system may, however, take up quite a bit of space and it's not always visually-pleasing. So, how do you go about hiding it or recessing it in your pool? Let's take a look at the solutions of offer to integrate your shutters well with your pool.
Roller shutters: which model should you choose?
Pool shutters are a great idea for in-ground pools. When they comply with the NF P 90-308 standard, it means they're safe and reduce the risk of drowning. What's more, by protecting your pool, they limit water evaporation and the development of algae and dirt. They'll also help keep your water temperature stable so you can enjoy your pool for much longer throughout the year.
There are two types of roller shutters on the market:
- Above-ground shutters, which are installed at the pool edge. This is the most cost-effective solution but also the most visible.
- Immersed shutters, set in a recess inside the pool, highly-discreet, but also more expensive.
To choose which suits you best, you'll need to take your budget and your style requirements into account and see what would work for your pool.
Immersed shutters: the invisible solution
With the immersed shutters, the rotating shaft that the shutter slats roll around is set in a recess in the pool, under the water level. Its main advantage is its design as the roller is generally hidden under a deck. This will be the perfect solution if you'd like to create a sleek, harmonious pool space.
The immersed shutters will, of course, be equipped with a motorized system, which enhances comfort and makes the shutters ever-so easy to use. You should, however, think about this when building your pool as it cannot be installed on all types of pools afterwards. Because it's located inside the pool, it also means you'll lose some bathing space, but the deck under which it's hidden can be used as a pool bench.
How can you hide the roller of above-ground shutters?
Is the immersed system the only way to hide pool roller shutters? Non, because if you choose to invest in above-ground shutters, you can also find a way to integrate the roller in your space that's stylistically-pleasing.
You can, in particular, create casing, in wood for example, around the roller. This installation can as such be used as a bench that can be useful and on which you can lounge or sit. As the roller is quite bulky when the shutters are rolled up, this bench will be of a somewhat substantial size, so you need to choose the right material that will blend well with your outdoor setting.
How do you install pool roller shutters?
Irrespective of whether you choose above-ground or immersed roller shutters, you can install them yourself. You'll need someone to help you and you'll need to follow these steps:
- Gather all the shutter slats and slot them together.
- Lay your assembled shutters alongside your pool.
- Place the roller in the two units intended specifically for this use.
- Place the units in their respective positions and fix them to the ground.
- Lay the shutters along the water surface and screw the straps to fix them on their shaft.
- Roll and unroll the slats to make sure they work correctly.
- Connect your shutters if they're motorized by connecting the control unit to an electric panel in your equipment room.
Based on your pool and the type of shutters chosen, the operation is more or less tricky. With motorized shutters, you'll need to dig trenches for the power cable and then connect your electrics. If your pool has protruding coping, you'll need to cut it back to make sure the shutter slats can pass through.
In any event, follow the manufacturer's instructions that will be included with your shutters. And, don't hesitate to call on a professional. This service will add more to the budget for installing your shutters, but you can rest assured they'll be installed correctly without any risk of damaging your pool.
The immersed system is without any doubt the most visually-pleasing way to cover a pool with roller shutters. If this solution doesn't suit you because it's not tailored to your pool or it's too expensive, you can always find a way to hide your above-ground shutter roller. You may also decide that the benefits of roller shutters are more than compensate for losing a bit of space and stylishness around your pool !
