Dome Measuring "Need to Know"
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Items You Will Need for Measuring
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Measuring Tips
- About Tape Measures: A steel tape or fiberglass tape works best. Always use a tape measure that is long enough for the job. Attaching a rope, string, or other object to the end of a tape that's too small will virtually guarantee you will receive an incorrect estimate or the wrong size product! Beg, borrow, or purchase a tape that's long enough to measure properly.
- Two is better than one: Use an assistant to help you measure the pool. This way you can pull the tape tightly enough to provide accurate dimensions. Pull the tape tightly as you work your way around the pool.
- Measuring units: We currently use the traditional U.S. units of measurement, feet and inches. It is imperative that you also use these units when measuring as neither our design team nor our manufacturing plant will take the time to convert all of your dimensions. Also, whenever possible, please use the forms provided on our website to submit information, or fill them in on your computer, print, & fax the information. This speeds things up and helps to prevent mistakes.
- Common Errors: The 2 most common measuring mistakes are "estimating" or "guessing" a dimension and misreading the tape. Here's an example of misreading a tape: You're looking down at the tape and say it's pulled out to 28'-11". As you look down, the eye tends to catch the 29' mark (as it's right next to the 28'-11" mark). 29'-11" is accidentally written down and now we're a whole foot off! This happens more times than you could imagine. We usually can catch such a mistake when calculating here at the office, but it's an inconvenience for both you and us.
- Clearances from the walls to objects outside of the dome: Allow at least 18" clearance between the walls of the dome and obstructions such as fences, overhangs, trees, shrubbery, etc. This allows for freedom of movement of the dome in windy conditions and during inflation or deflation. If your situation requires the dome to be closer than 18" from an obstacle, we can make protective curtains or covers for these items that will protect the dome from damage.
- Clearances from the walls to objects inside of the dome: Allow at least 18" clearance between the walls of the dome and obstructions inside the dome such as slides, patio furniture, the back of the diving board, etc. In most cases a slide will need to be removed while the dome is in place. Again, we can usually make a protective cover to protect the dome from these items.
- Corners of your dome: Most domes will have a 4' radius corner if the dome is a straight rectangle or a square shape. Some of the smaller units will have 2' radius corners. We try to leave this decision up to the designers as they have the ability to determine the most practical corner radius for your specific dome size in order to produce not only the strongest enclosure possible, but also one that is pleasing to the eye.
- A word about "inside" corners:
If your dome is a straight rectangle, you would have 4 walls with 4 "outside"
corners. An inside corner occurs when the wall of a unit changes direction
as shown in the diagram below.
We will manufacture an enclosure with a very "slight" inside corner in some instances. The main reason inside corners are avoided is to avoid the excess strain they can place on a dome. Being an air-filled structure, the walls are forced out away from the center of the pool. An inside corner will also try move away from the center of the pool as the internal air pressure attempts to push it out. This excess strain is applied not only to the "welded" seams of the unit, but to the vinyl material itself.
- Entry Location(s): Zippered entries are preferably placed at specific locations for strength. The optimum entry location for a zipper type entry is 8'-6" from any corner. The next possible location is 11'-6" from any corner. Experience tells us that the closer a zipper is placed to the center of any wall, the greater the chance of zipper failure. The zipper is the weakest part of the dome (by design). Since it is the weakest part of the dome and the only moving part, we place them in locations that have the least amount of strain when the dome is inflated.
- Off the Deck Installations: Should the configuration of your dome require that a wall traverses over a flower bed, grass, or even up a set of stairs, please contact us for special measuring information and to explore what your options are. We get many requests for "special situations" and take pride in developing solutions to our customers needs.
Questions? Give us a Call: 800-982-6966
