Who Installs a Winter Safety Cover You Buy From Calm Water Pools?
Calm Water Pools sells the cover; installation is not included. Your custom Latham cover ships with an anchor template and hardware. You, or a pool professional you hire directly, set the anchors and tension the cover. This guide explains what that involves, how anchors differ by deck type, and what to ask before you hire someone.
By the Calm Water Pools Team | Last verified: September 28, 2026
What installing a safety cover involves
- Lay the cover flat and align it with the pool’s edges.
- Mark the anchor points on the deck using the anchor template or the cover’s strap layout.
- Drill the holes to the depth in the hardware instructions and set each anchor flush with the deck.
- Attach the straps and springs to the anchors, working around the cover so tension stays even.
- Check the tension. Latham advises that all the springs be under about the same tension, roughly halfway compressed, and that you adjust the straps through winter to keep the cover fairly taut (Latham, winter cover care).
Installation quality matters for your warranty. Latham’s published warranty excludes damage from improper assembly or installation, and from excessive load on the cover such as snow, standing water or walking on it. The warranty that ships with your cover governs, so read it (Latham warranty and registration).
Can I install it myself?
Latham’s literature describes an installation tool that ships with the cover, and its warranty registration form has an “installed by” box that includes “consumer purchaser” and “private installer” alongside “dealer.” Latham’s published materials do not say a professional is required. Some other cover makers do require professional installation for their warranty, so do not assume that rule applies to every brand.
We do not install covers and cannot advise on your particular deck. If you are not comfortable drilling into your deck or judging how a cover should sit, hire a pool professional.
Anchors by deck type
| Deck surface | Typical anchor | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete | Brass concrete-deck anchor set in a drilled hole | Sits flush with the deck when the cover is off |
| Wood or composite | Brass wood-deck anchor with a flange | Use the anchor made for wood; a concrete anchor is not a substitute |
| Pavers | Depends on how the pavers are set: an anchor in a solid base, or an anchor-in-pipe tube driven into the soil if the pavers can shift | Have a professional assess the base |
| Grass or soil edge | Aluminum lawn tube (Latham lists an 18-inch version) | Set into the ground at the pool edge |
| Raised wall | Stainless steel flush wall anchor | Head sits flush with the wall when the cover is off |
| Flagstone or bluestone | No manufacturer guidance found | Ask your installer |
The anchor types above come from Latham’s published hardware list and from cover makers’ installation guidance. Your deck may need something different, so confirm with an installer.
Replacing a cover versus buying your first
If you are replacing a cover, the anchors from your old cover can often be reused, because the new cover is measured from the old one. A few may need to be repositioned. We confirm whether your existing anchors can be reused when we quote your cover.
For a first cover, anchor positions follow where the new cover’s straps land, so the anchors are set after the cover is made. The ordering timeline shows how long that takes.
Questions to ask before you hire a pool professional
- Are you licensed, and for what? Virginia contractors can be checked in the DPOR License Lookup, and Maryland home improvement contractors through the MHIC license search. Ask whether the license applies to this work, and get the license number in writing.
- What is in the written scope? Who supplies the anchors, who removes the old cover, and what happens if the deck is damaged during drilling.
- Will you follow Latham’s tension guidance? Ask whether they will recheck the straps after the first big storm.
- Do you carry insurance? Ask for proof.
Not sure which cover to order first? See our quick picker or the winter safety covers page.
Frequently asked questions
Does Calm Water Pools install safety covers?
No. Calm Water Pools sells the cover, and installation is not included. Latham arranges free pickup of your old cover for measuring, and the new cover ships with an anchor template and hardware.
Who sets the anchors and tensions the cover?
You, or a pool professional you hire directly. The anchors are set using the template or the cover’s strap layout, and the springs are tensioned evenly.
Can I reuse my existing anchors?
Often, because the new cover is measured from your old one. A few anchors may need to be repositioned. We confirm whether existing anchors can be reused when we quote your cover.
Does incorrect installation affect the warranty?
Latham’s published warranty excludes damage from improper assembly or installation. Read the warranty that ships with your cover, and register it within the time it specifies.
What if my deck is pavers, wood or a grass edge?
Each surface uses a different anchor type. Latham lists anchors for concrete, wood decks, raised walls and lawn edges, and pavers depend on how they are set. A pool professional can assess your deck.
Sources: Latham, winter pool cover care tips; Latham, warranty registration and claims; Latham Coverstar safety cover brochure (hardware); Virginia DPOR; Maryland MHIC. This is general information, not installation advice for your deck.