Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
(OP)
This looks like a simple solution to keeping my pool clean. Do you think that this kind of project can be something we simply have designed and built? It's a 20x40 pool, so I'd have two 11x41 foot roof sections that hydraulicaly lift off the pool into a pergola position. Apparently it hasn't been done since the 40's.
... Here it is. Youtube Video of it in action
... Here it is. Youtube Video of it in action






RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH, MA)
American Concrete Industries
www.americanconcrete.com
RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
Are we talking 5k,10k, or higher? (diy after the design phase)
RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
I'd make sure you have access to basic machinist tools and welding equipment, a lot of the hydraulics will likely require custom brackets and supports for lifting the pergolas and will require some large forces to reliably lift them.
Definitely not trying to turn you off from this. Our shop has custom built our own concrete coring machine and vacuum truck. While it's not 100% perfect they came out well and definitely show that some heavy DIY projects can turn out well if you start out knowing how to do it and doing it right the first time.
Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH, MA)
American Concrete Industries
www.americanconcrete.com
RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
Professional and Structural Engineer (ME, NH, MA)
American Concrete Industries
www.americanconcrete.com
RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
I think a re-sequencing would be in order there to prevent that.
B.E.
You are judged not by what you know, but by what you can do.
RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTctqB-co4k
RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)
RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
I can see it now. CNC=2,000 Aluminum = 4,000 Hydraulics = 5000, Home owner association = wtf is that.
I guess I'll just go for the pool cleaner and fence. Thanks guys.
RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
The hinge detail at the top of the column, and the hinge offset from the column and from the roof beams bears close examination. Stability of the pergola in the erected position depends on the end of the column in one direction, and on gravity, i.e., location of the roof CG relative to the hinge line, in the other direction. I would worry about the roof flopping to a vertical position with the columns upright in certain wind conditions.
I might be more comfortable with a parallellogram arrangement, i.e., two columns, or a column and a strut, at each column position, both for stability in windy conditions and to keep the roof always level so the accumulated crap doesn't fall into the water.
Talk to a commercial awning builder about doing up the roofs as fabric stretched and tied over steel pipe frames, instead of joists and plywood and membrane roofing.
With roofs framed lightly, built and skinned on site, over a perhaps shop-built metal skeleton of truckable size, and tractor/logsplitter hydraulics, it should be do-able for way less than 100 large.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?
Just wait for the first hurricane or microburst to arrive ....
The awning material should breakaway at some appropriate wind speed otherwise one could lose the investment in a rather unique setup.
Ralph
Structures Consulting
Northeast USA
RE: Hydraulic pool cover that lifts off the pool and turns into a pergola... Am I nuts for trying this?