STAIRS AND MULTILEVEL DOMES

The Dome needs a flat surface to be mounted to, both for anchoring and for the air seal flap.  Most customers cut wood wedges or construct a concrete slope to create this flat surface. 

 

The slop that is added to the steps must be air tight so that any air that tries to escape under the air seal flap will be held in by the added slope(a 3:12 pitch is best). Multilevel domes are not easy but very possible. Some customers overlap their slope with material such as extra vinyl or indoor/outdoor carpeting to get it air tight.  It is best not to use rubber as it tends to stick to the vinyl – this can be a hassle when removing the dome.

SNOW

 

Often snow will just melt or fall off the dome.  If the snow does stick, it needs to be removed or the pressure will be too great for the dome.  This is done by deflating the dome and allowing the snow the melt from the heat of the pool water.  The water is then removed (with a siphon or pump) and the dome is inflated again. 

 

Snow can also be removed using a thick soft rope with several knots tied in it.  The rope is pulled back and forth by two people in a zigzag pattern over the top of the dome, thereby removing the snow.  The same can be done using an old rug or towel joined by two pieces of rope.

Be sure to always keep the pressure switch open and free from debris and snow so it can properly perform its function.

PERIMETER SHAPES

Domes can be made in various shapes and sizes because they are custom manufactured.  The most common shapes are rectangular square or circular (all with rounded corners).  With our measuring system you can provide us with measurements for your custom shaped pool.

Domes that are longer and skinnier tend to bulge somewhat on the side walls and sometimes towards the middle (as much as 1 to 2 feet).  Keep this in mind when measuring for a dome.

WALLS

The walls of the dome are just under 6 feet tall.  We can adjust this to make a tapered wall to help accommodate overhangs or other objects.  For multilevel domes, given your measurements, we can cut the wall to fit the contour of the stairs.

Although wind is a greater issue, we can even increase the wall height to accommodate objects inside a dome.

 DECKING

A concrete deck is the best type of decking for a dome.  Pavers can work but they must be cemented in place or the dome may pick them up in the wind.  You must be careful with pavers so as not to crack them when setting the anchors.  Water tube domes are also available but still must be anchored down in order to keep the warranty.  Domes that will be anchored to the ground will need ground anchors.  We do not offer these.  They should be purchased locally by someone familiar with the local soil type.  Wood decks will require customer to create an air seal on the flooring.  Most people use indoor/outdoor carpeting or a piece of vinyl for this job.  If you are attaching to a wood deck, be sure you are able to get underneath the deck to install the anchors.

OBJECTS INSIDE THE DOME

Think about what objects will be inside the dome.  Will you leave them in and install the dome over top of them or will you need to get an L zipper entry to have room to bring them in later.

 

 

Be care full when you are measuring to include everything (even the back of the handrails).  If objects are left inside the dome when installing, they should be covered with something to pad them to keep the vinyl from tearing over a corner or other protrusion.  In windy situations the dome may need to be deflated often (30 mph or greater).  Customer will need to determine if having objects inside is a wise idea for them or not.

 

BEWARE OF OBSTRUCTIONS

 

 

Keep plenty of room between the dome and any fences or other objects.  We recommend at least 2 feet.  The domes can sway a bit in the wind. (the dome should be deflated prior to winds 30 MPH or greater)

 

 

Be sure to keep plenty of distance between the dome vegetation that could cause a puncture.  Keep overhanging branches trimmed back to avoid damage from falling limbs.

 

STANDARD CORNERS

 

 

Rounded corners are needed to keep the strength of the dome.

 

 

Smooth the air seal flap as much as possible.  In some places, like curves or corners, you may need to fold the flap over to avoid an air leek.

 

INSIDE CORNERS

 

Inside corners have a high amount of pressure on them and are therefore not recommended.  However, if you need one and the corner is not to sharp, they are available.

 

 

Inside corners are also a little tricky to handle when trying to get the air seal flap to lie smoothly.

 

DOME HEIGHT

The Vinyl Material is very flexible and the more heat and air pressure there is the more it will stretch.  Average domes heights reach about 12 to 16 feet high in the middle.  Skinnier domes tend to be a bit less.  Because of the different factors, there is no way of telling for sure how tall the dome will be.