Automatic Pool Covers in the Algarve
We supply and install automatic pool covers across the Algarve, working exclusively with PS Cover, a Spanish manufacturer based near Alicante with 40 years of experience. All PS Cover covers are certified to NF P90-308, the French safety standard for pool covers.
What does an automatic pool cover do?
An automatic pool cover closes over the water at the press of a button and does three jobs at once. It holds heat in the water overnight, reduces evaporation by up to 90% and, when certified to NF P90-308, acts as a safety barrier while the pool is unattended. Because it takes no effort to use, it actually gets used.
That last point is the one that matters most in practice. A manual cover that takes ten minutes to pull across tends to stay rolled up, and a cover that stays rolled up saves nothing. For the full case on running costs and safety, our article on whether an automatic pool cover is worth it sets out when we recommend one and when we do not.
TERRA above-ground covers
The TERRA range fits onto the pool surround without excavation, structural work or modifications. The roller is housed in supports fixed to the pool edge, finished in high-resistance stainless steel or lacquered aluminium and available in a range of colours to suit the surroundings.
TERRA
The standard TERRA model is operated by remote control and powered by a low-voltage motor that runs quietly and safely. The roller drum is made of 20-micron anodised aluminium to prevent corrosion. It suits pools with mains electricity nearby, where simplicity and appearance are the priority.
TERRA Solar
TERRA Solar is the most sustainable cover in the PS Cover range. The motor runs entirely on solar energy from a panel mounted on one of the supports, so there is no excavation for cables, no electrical installation and no running cost. Installation is completed in a single day.
PACIFIC submerged covers
PACIFIC covers are for owners who want the cover out of sight when it is not in use. The roller is concealed within the pool structure, leaving the surround clear. PS Cover offers four models, each suited to a different installation.
PACIFIC DECK
The roller sits in a compartment built into the pool floor or forming a step or bench. A panel finished in the same tiling as the rest of the pool closes the compartment, so the cover disappears when retracted.
PACIFIC TOP
The roller is housed in a compartment with a grating top in Iroko hardwood, sourced from controlled forests, or in composite. TOP 1 places the compartment at the first step of an access ladder, TOP 2 in a submerged bench and TOP 3 in the pool floor.
PACIFIC CAVE
The roller is hidden inside the pool wall itself, which keeps the whole swimming area clear. It suits pools where every metre of swim space counts.
PACIFIC DUO
A submerged cover that needs no construction work. The roller sits in a three-beam compartment covered with two panels that can be tiled or finished to match the pool, which makes it the usual choice for an existing pool.
PVC or polycarbonate slats
PS Cover slats are 17 mm thick and 75 mm wide, giving more buoyancy and a flatter surface than the narrower slats common on the market. Internal water-circulation chambers stop algae growing inside the slat, and all slats carry the highest hail-resistance rating from the VKF Institute.
Opaque PVC slats block light entirely, which inhibits algae and keeps the pool cleaner between uses. They come in white, sand, blue sky, grey and dark grey, at 4.3 kg per square metre.
Polycarbonate slats let sunlight through to heat the water beneath, raising the temperature by 4 to 6 degrees according to PS Cover. They come in clear, blue, silver and bronze, at 3.5 kg per square metre. On a pool with a heat pump, the two work on the same problem from opposite ends.
Supply and installation
We measure each pool individually and provide a written specification before any order is placed. PS Cover manufactures every cover to order in Spain. Above-ground TERRA models can be installed in a single day. Submerged PACIFIC systems can be installed in any pool, new build or existing, subject to a site visit to confirm what the installation requires.
Frequently asked questions
Can an automatic cover be fitted to a pool that already exists?
Yes. The TERRA range fits any pool with a suitable surround and installs in a day, and the solar version needs no cable trenching at all. Among the submerged models, PACIFIC DUO goes into an existing pool without structural work. The other submerged models depend on how the pool was built, so we confirm them on a site visit.
Do polycarbonate slats really heat the water?
They do. Because they are transparent to sunlight, the water underneath keeps gaining heat while the cover is closed, and PS Cover puts the rise at 4 to 6 degrees. PVC slats do the opposite on purpose, blocking light to stop algae. The right choice depends on whether the pool is heated and how much of the year it is used.
Does an automatic cover count as a safety barrier?
A certified one does. NF P90-308 requires the closed cover to carry the weight of an adult, at least 100 kg, without giving way, and is designed to stop young children getting into the water unsupervised. It works alongside supervision and fencing, never instead of them.
How do the covers stand up to sea air?
Well, provided the materials are right. The TERRA roller drum is anodised aluminium at 20 microns specifically to resist corrosion, with supports in stainless steel or lacquered aluminium. On coastal properties we also advise on where to position the roller to limit direct salt exposure.
How long does installation take?
An above-ground TERRA cover is installed in a single day. A submerged PACIFIC cover takes longer, because the roller compartment has to be prepared first, and the timing is set out in the written specification after the site visit.
If you would like to know which cover suits your pool, get in touch to arrange a visit.
Gallery
Click a photo to see it larger.
Swipe to see more photos
Ready to get started?
Get in touch with us to learn more.