DIY Pool Canopy

Floating around in the family pool is a great way to survive a hot, sunny, summer day. A pool canopy can improve on that experience by giving you and your family relief from harmful ultraviolet rays while you lounge in the pool enjoying your favorite float or mat. A DIY pool canopy requires very little financial investment to create. All you need is a flexible tarp with grommets installed and a few tools to assemble a fast, easy and colorful DIY canopy.

Things You'll Need

• Measuring tape
• Tarp
• Anchor bolts
• Eye bolts
• Nylon-poly rope
• Utility knife
• Ladder
• Hand drill
• Wood primer

Instructions

Preparation

1. Examine the pool and the pool area. Identify safe items to which to anchor a pool canopy such as the house, older, well-established trees or the garage. You will need four points to anchor the canopy. If you only have two or three points, explore the idea of adding a stable post or two to the yard.

2. Measure the pool. If the pool has a shape, find the widest points by measuring top to bottom (top being the point closest to the house and bottom the point farthest from the house) and side to side.

3. Watch the progression of the sun and decide the manner in which you want to canopy the pool. Take further measurements as needed. The full extent of the pool does not necessarily need to be under the canopy to take advantage of the shade the canopy provides.

4. Choose a tarp color and size. A tarp that is 10-by-16 feet would work well as a canopy for a pool that measures 10 feet by 20 feet. You can find tarps precut and reinforced with grommets at sporting goods and home-remodeling stores or through suppliers that sell tarps, carport coverings and outdoor shelters.

Assembly

1. Arrange the canopy on the ground and across the pool area in the direction in which it needs to be anchored -- you will need several helpers to accomplish this. Point each corner toward the object to which it will be anchored.

2. Attach the tarp at its four corners to the anchor objects you have chosen. Use anchor bolts and rope on inanimate objects, such as the house and garage, and rope only at trees. Anchor bolts can be drilled into brick and fascia boards. Rope can be looped through corner grommets and around established trees to anchor the tarp. Use an eye bolt sized so that the rope is easily wrapped through the eye opening and choose a rope made of a nylon and polyester blend to prevent mildew and rot.

3. Tighten and knot the rope as needed.

4. Paint around the exposed wood at the bolts with a wood primer that prevents wood rot.

Tips & Warnings

• Always assemble the canopy with a helper. Helpers can keep ladders stable, keep track of tools while you are working and hold the canopy to keep it out of the water.

• Always wear enclosed shoes when climbing ladders. Flip-flops and sandals can cause you to trip or stumble when climbing.

• Place the canopy high enough so that everyone can easily walk under it. A good height is at least seven to eight feet from the ground to the tarp.

• Use an old sheet to lay out the canopy before purchasing tarp and rope. Use the mock-up canopy to measure how much rope you will need to purchase.

• Do not premeasure and cut rope before assembling the tarp. Instead, work from the roll of rope, assembling one corner at a time. Knotting rope works just fine for this DIY canopy. However, splicing rope together provides an even stronger connection.

• Drilling into siding could invalidate a warranty and allow moisture to enter into the walls of the structure.

• Remove the canopy during bad weather or repair it immediately if a corner comes loose. Tarps are resilient in many weather conditions, but high winds can destroy them. A loosened tarp can whip around and damage windows and injure people during high winds.

• Do not climb on or add other items to the canopy. Extra weight could bring the canopy down and cause injury.

• Do not tie the canopy to items that are not anchored properly. Movable posts used for portable volleyball or basketball games are not safe items for anchoring a canopy. Make sure additional posts are anchored in the ground using concrete.

References

• "Home Maintenance for Dummies"; James Carey, et al.
• "Popular Mechanics"; Made in the Shade