GLI Secur-A-Pool 14x28 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover

Yes, for the right buyer. The GLI Secur-A-Pool 14x28 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover ranks #6 in our Best Pool Covers You Can Walk On list. Its biggest strength: same ASTM-rated construction as the larger GLI covers, scaled down for plunge pools and small rectangles at lower hardware cost. The main caveat: smallest review base (74) of the GLI covers in this roundup.

The main trade-offs owners and reviewers point to: smallest review base (74) of the GLI covers in this roundup; not usable on a pool larger than its rated 14x28 footprint without a different size order; no step cutout option in this specific listing.

ASTM F1346-certified polypropylene mesh, Stainless steel and brass hardware, 14x28 ft rectangular sizing, Full perimeter anchor system and Self-draining mesh weave.

Worth comparing: WaterWarden Inground Pool Safety Cover 20x40 Ft Rectangle, Blue Mesh, WaterWarden Inground Pool Safety Cover 18x36 Ft with Center End Step, Green Mesh and GLI Secur-A-Pool 20x40 Ft Rectangular Mesh Safety Cover with Center End Step. Each ranks near it in our research for a slightly different buyer.

It's sold on Amazon. Prices and stock change often, so check the current listing before you buy, our link takes you straight to it.

Above-ground pool covers hook to the top rail of the pool wall using an elastic cable or winch-and-cable system, so the cover only needs to match the pool diameter plus a few inches of overlap. Inground pool covers anchor to the surrounding deck, which sits at ground level, so the cover has to extend well past the water's edge onto the coping and deck itself. Standard inground winter covers add a 4 to 5-foot overlap on every side (a 20x40 pool needs roughly a 25x45 cover), and safety covers are measured to the exact deck anchor points, which is why safety covers are far more often custom-fit than stock-sized. Buying an above-ground-style cover for an inground pool will leave gaps at the edges regardless of how it is anchored.

That depends entirely on who has access to the pool. If small children, pets, or anyone unable to swim can reach the pool area unsupervised, a winter tarp is not adequate protection, it is not weight-rated and can fail catastrophically under a person's weight, especially once pooled rainwater or snowmelt sits on top of it. Local and state codes in many areas require a compliant barrier (fence, cover, or both) around residential pools; an ASTM F1346-rated safety cover satisfies the cover portion of that requirement in jurisdictions that allow it. If the pool area is already fully fenced with a self-latching gate and unsupervised access isn't a realistic risk, a winter tarp is a reasonable and much cheaper choice for keeping debris and sun out during the off season.