Unseen. Unmatched. Undercover.

Lothian has been a highly connected fixture within the pool industry for almost twenty years. From 2006 to 2022, he owned a fibreglass pool installation business, offering a uniquely comprehensive service with his history as a landscape contractor. From this wealth of experience, he was well positioned to identify the areas in which pool installation could be improved. He elaborates, “one of the factors that regularly came to the fore was the total integration of the pool area into the whole design of a property, with practical functionality as well as beautiful finishes. When you hand over a completed project to a customer, you want them to be wowed by everything.”

This ambitious, professional standard led to the birth of Aussie UnderCover, originally named the Aussie Hideaway. Lothian had to be honest with himself and his clients. “Let’s admit it,” he starts. “An above-ground roller can be unsightly. They are bulky, take up valuable space and can be difficult to use, but a pool cover is essential and very effective at keeping the pool clean, warm and reducing overall costs. But a standard pool roller does not give practical functionality with a beautiful finish,” he expands.

Let’s Cover the Basics
Lothian’s guiding goal was to make pool covers more functional and stylish by designing them to be discreet, attractive and accessible, while remaining invisible. To pursue this, complete concealment within the pool’s surroundings was the standout choice. “Aesthetic integration is what the Aussie UnderCover is all about. Our aim is to make your pool cover completely invisible. Unlike other systems, an Aussie UnderCover can be completely disguised in the pool landscape,” he explains.

Aussie UnderCover can provide cover systems for a range of pool sizes and styles. “Our system can be used on any pool type – concrete or fibreglass – up to approximately seven metres wide.

We have systems on pools up to 25 metres long, but long pools can also limit the width of a system. An Aussie UnderCover can accommodate all natural or composite timber boards up to 35mm thick, tile products up to 20mm thick, micro cement and synthetic turf, and with the introduction of our all-new Power Lid Frame, we can also accommodate poured concrete finishes,” he details.

Seamless Setup
When it comes to installation, Lothian outlines the exact specifications necessary for an Aussie UnderCover. “We need a space of approximately 500-600mm where the structure to house the Aussie UnderCover is installed. This can be a concrete, brick, block type structure, a deck, or something else like treated pine or concrete sleepers. Our kit is then installed directly into the structure. We have 11 sizes which are all adjustable on site. Excluding the structure, full installation generally only takes one day. A second day may be necessary if a separate tiler is required,” he advises.

The Aussie UnderCover protects the pool and keeps it clean. This exposure to the elements necessitates routine cleaning. “As with all outdoor products there is a small amount of maintenance required, but this is as simple as giving the system a quarterly clean, wipe down and spray with a lanolin-based product, such as Inox Lanox. If your actual pool cover is dirty, it’s doing its job! There is specific pool cover cleaning products available, but a hose or sweep will also do the job,” Lothian assures.

Undercover Genius
All covers provide numerous benefits, elevating pool water quality and diminishing the need for constant maintenance. But Lothian’s intelligent, hidden design offers even more upsides. “As Aussie UnderCover is invisible in the landscape, you can walk on it or place furniture on the lid system.

Therefore, you gain valuable accessibility and space by incorporating our system into your design,” he says. The versatility of the design also sets Aussie UnderCover apart in today’s pool design landscape. “We have recently seen a massive increase in crazy paving around pools. Fortunately, our system is uniquely designed to allow virtually any product to be used as the finished look. As a matter of fact, ‘get the look you want’ is one of our favourite catch phrases. We specialize in offering a system that will seamlessly integrate into whatever finish surface is chosen which is why we have more and more designers and architects coming to us to help,” he informs.

Countless pool owners commit a common misstep in not protecting their covers, whereas protection is built into the design of Lothian’s system. “Many people are unaware that when a pool cover is off the pool, it must be covered to extend its life and maintain its quality. Most people ignore this, automatically reducing the life of their pool cover, but with an Aussie UnderCover, this happens automatically, which is just another benefit of our system,” he identifies.

Poolside Wisdom
Lothian concludes with some seminal advice, emphasizing that “it’s all about planning and choosing the right contractors. Ensuring you have your pool cover addressed in the initial design phase is imperative to getting a fully integrated look which incorporates seamless functionality with beautiful finishes. Also, don’t forget to consider if you want a manual winding or semi remote-control system. For those who want a little more convenience at their fingertips our Power Lid Frame with our semi remote-control system is an option to contemplate.”

Images courtesy of Aussie Undercover and Cronulla Pools