Zip Screens for Pool Areas: A Lake Macquarie Guide

A pool area is where a family spends most of summer, and it is also where the sun, glare and neighbours are hardest to escape. Water reflects light straight back at you, pool fences leave you on show, and leaves and bugs end up in the water or on the lounge.

Zip screens are one of the most popular ways to fix that around Lake Macquarie. This guide covers what they do well beside a pool, which fabric to pick and what to ask before you order.

Why are pool alfrescos harder to shade?

A pool area cops the sun twice. There is the direct sun, and there is the glare bouncing off the water and pale paving. Low western sun in the late afternoon comes in under the patio roof, which is exactly when most families are out there.

• Glare: reflected light off the water makes it hard to sit and watch the kids.
• UV and heat: tiles and pavers soak up heat and the alfresco turns into an oven by 4pm.
• Privacy: pool fences and open yards leave you in full view of the neighbours.
• Leaves and bugs: wind blows debris into the water, and mozzies arrive at dusk.

How do zip screens help beside a pool?

A zip screen runs inside aluminium side channels from top to bottom, so the fabric edge is held the whole way down. There are no side gaps and nothing to strap down, and the screen stays tight when the breeze picks up across the yard.

Sunscreen mesh blocks a large share of the sun's heat and glare while you still see out to the pool. That is the key point for parents: you cut the glare without losing sight of the water. You can also drop a screen partway in the late afternoon to stop the low sun and keep the top open for airflow.

Can zip screens give privacy from the neighbours?

Yes, in daylight. From outside, sunscreen mesh is harder to see through, while from inside you keep a clear view out. If a neighbour's deck or a second storey window looks straight down into your pool area, a denser privacy fabric on that one side gives more screening.

Many pool alfrescos end up with a mix: privacy fabric facing the neighbours and a more open mesh facing the pool and the yard, so you keep the view where it matters.

Do zip screens keep leaves and bugs out?

Because the fabric is locked into the side tracks and a weighted bottom bar sits on the floor, a closed zip screen leaves far fewer gaps than a blind that hangs free. That helps keep blown leaves off the alfresco and makes it much more pleasant to sit outside at dusk when the mozzies come out, especially near the lake, creeks or bushland.

When every opening has a screen in side tracks, the alfresco becomes a room you can use after dark.

Which fabric suits a pool area?

Zip screens come in sunscreen mesh, privacy and waterproof fabrics, and the choice comes down to how you use the space.

• Sunscreen mesh keeps the view and airflow and dries quickly after a splash or a shower. It suits most pool areas.
• Privacy fabric suits the side that faces a neighbour or a path.
• Waterproof fabric keeps the area dry in wet weather, but it does not breathe, so it is usually kept to the most exposed side.

Darker mesh colours such as charcoal are the easiest to see through, which helps when you are watching the pool. Lighter colours reflect more heat but look more solid from inside.

What about chlorine and salt water?

Pool water splashes, and salt water pools and damp lakeside air are harder on hardware than a dry patio. In general terms, ask for powder coated aluminium tracks and stainless fixings, which cope with moist and salty air far better than bare steel. Zip screen fabric is made for Australian UV, and a hose down with fresh water now and then stops splashes and salt building up.

Keep the tracks clear of leaves and cobwebs, especially on motorised screens, so the fabric runs smoothly.

Should pool screens be motorised?

Spring, crank and motorised operation are all available. A single small screen next to the pool fence is fine on a spring. If you are closing in two or three sides, a motor lets you drop every screen at once from a remote, wall switch or your phone, which is handy when a summer storm rolls in and the kids are still in the pool. Our guide to motorised vs manual zip screens covers the trade offs.

Are there other options around a pool?

If you mostly want shade over a sheltered side rather than a closed in room, a straight drop awning is a simple, lighter option. For shade over an open deck beside the pool, a folding arm awning works well, as long as it is retracted in strong wind. The full range is on our outdoor blinds page.

How long does it take to get zip screens in?

Zip screens are made to measure, so allow about 3 to 4 weeks from measure to install. Christmas orders cut off in early December, so if you want the pool area sorted for the summer holidays, book your measure in spring. For a rough idea of budget, see how much zip screens cost.

CBI Blinds is based in Warners Bay and fully mobile, covering Lake Macquarie, Newcastle, Maitland and the Hunter, and Port Stephens, and every screen comes with a 5 year warranty. Book a free in-home measure and quote and Kyle will bring fabric samples to your pool area, check the glare and the neighbours' sightlines, and give you a fixed written quote.