Time to get the pool ready for another summer season. If this is the year you're considering a pool shade, here are a couple of options for permanent installations. Both the shade sail and the louvered roof can also shade other parts of the yard.
Shade sails
Colorful fabric stretched into deltoid, astroid or similar geometric shapes first became popular in Australia. Tucsonans have caught on, says Conrad Masterson, owner of Pool Hat Shade Sails of Tucson.
His sails are high-density polyethylene fabric engineered to withstand high winds and with a warranty to last 10 years against sun wear.
The fabric, which comes in 22 colors, is pulled tightly by cables attached to steel poles in the ground or anchors to a structure.
Customized shapes and a color mix of sails provide a sculptural, contemporary look to the backyard. Masterson has designed shades to simulate breaking waves. He can cut holes in the sails to accommodate trees. Some of his clients have embellished the shades with strings of lights and grass skirting.
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Poles can be powder-coated to any color. Natural rust is popular in Tucson, says Masterson. He's shaped poles to mimic saguaros for a client in the Phoenix area.
Installation starts at about $1,500, he says. A typical project of covering part of the pool and a seating area next to it runs between $3,000 and $5,000.
Louvered roof
It may look like a lattice cover or pergola, but the louvered roof is a different kind of shade. The slats can close to fully shade what's underneath.
"The magic of my system is that little button you press," says Rob Weaver, owner of Equinox Louvered Roof.
The solar-powered motor, operated by a switch or remote control, can angle the slats to any degree, including horizontal.
The roof can be a freestanding structure or attached on one or more sides to the house, depending on how close the pool is to the structure. It can be installed as a gabled, horizontal or angled roof shaped as a square, rectangle or with curved sections.
The slats and frame come in different colors either in glossy or matte finish. The aluminum support posts can be colored or covered with material to match the house, such as stucco.
On average, a project costs about $30 a square foot. Providing shade for a "normal size pool" runs about $10,000-$15,000, says Weaver.
» Considerations
• Always check with your homeowners association before installing a permanent pool shade.
• Pool shades lower air temperature but not water temperature to a noticeable degree.
• Take into account diving activities and water-jet and fountain effects when determining how high to install the shade.
• Heights of shade sails are also determined by views, the home's architecture and the length of the sail.
• If attaching a louvered roof to a house, consider matching the height to the ceiling height of the room that leads to the backyard.