Commercial Dome Removal Instructions

Pick a warm, dry day. You need the sun and the heat to help you get the dome dry.

NOTE: Have enough help available to move the dome without dragging and scuffing it on the pool deck.

Hose the dome down, inside and out. Also, rinse the pool deck down both inside and outside of the dome so that your work area is as clean as possible.

Spray the dome on the OUTSIDE with a solution of chlorine and water (no more than 20% chlorine). We recommend using a "Gilmour" Type Sprayer, (See pic #1 below) which attaches directly to your garden hose for this part of the job. Use full strength chlorine in the canister and set the sprayer to its maximum delivery setting. The chlorine solution will dissolve oxidation on the outer skin of the material thereby keeping the material soft and supple.

On the inside of the dome, use a stiff bristled long handled scrubbing brush (See pic #2 below) to scrub the interior air flap on both top and bottom (if applicable) and the base of the interior wall (up a foot or so off the pool deck) with a solution of warm water and dishwashing liquid. The dishwashing liquid will not harm the dome and it cuts grease & grime pretty well. Rinse the soap solution off the walls. To rinse off the pool deck in the dome, you can pull a hose into the dome underneath the cable (if applicable)  or through the door. All pool decks are slanted away from the pool so water and debris will not run into the pool. This creates a situation where the excess runoff in the dome accumulates at the base of the dome wall. To help drain off this excess, do this: If you have a cable anchor system, elevate the cable at the corner area by sliding a piece of 2x4 wood under the cable (stand it up so the longer side of the 2x4 is vertical) to create an opening where the rinse water can escape the dome. The air pressure in the dome will actually help to force the water out. If you have a rail type anchor system, remove enough of the bolts in the corner areas to allow a 2x4 to be used as a support under the rail thereby creating an escape for the water. When using the hose, spray towards the corner of the dome where the water can escape. 

If your dome has zippers, spray them thoroughly with the fresh water to dilute the chlorine from rotting the material which surrounds the teeth of the zipper.

Allow the dome to air dry completely on the outside then cut the power to the air supply. Open zippers and airlocks/crash doors to deflate the dome. 

Remove all base bolts and/or eyebolts.

Go to the end of the pool opposite from where you want to fold the dome. We will call this end "B".

Fold the "B" end wall of the dome over itself (dry material against dry material) so that the dome will float when being pulled across the water. As you fold the wall inward, try to flip it in a way that would force air into the fold for better floatation. Two or more people are required to do this properly.

Move to the other end of the dome (end "A") and begin "accordion" folding the dome off the pool onto the deck, dry material against dry, wet against wet. Check after each fold to make sure the side edges of the dome are up on the concrete and that the folded end is floating freely. Continue to accordion fold (approximatey 3' folds) until the dome is in a strip across the end of the pool.

Once the dome is folded across the end of the pool, roll each end tightly toward the center of mass, then roll one half up on top of the other half.

Place the dome on a pallet-carrier built large enough to handle the size of your dome. In most cases a 4x8 sheet of HEAVY plywood (3/4" thick) screwed onto 2 pallets will work fine. It'a a good idea to round or 45 degree the corners so the dome does not get snagged on them and to prevent injury to anyones ankles due to sharp corners.

Move the dome to a paved area with concrete (tennis court, parking lot etc.).  This process will most likely require a pallet jack or forklift.  Be sure the area where the dome is to be placed is relatively clean and free of any small rocks or pebbles that may puncture the dome if anyone was to walk on it.

Once at the paved area, unroll and unfold the dome, wet side up, and allow to air dry COMPLETELY. You may want to dry off any excess water with towels at this point to speed things up. 

Once the inside of the dome is dry, Flip the dome over once more so that the outside is facing upward as in a normal "installed" position.

With the outside of the dome facing up, fold the walls in neatly over the top of the dome. Make sure that the walls are flat and that the corners are folded neatly.

Accordion fold the dome into a strip as described before. Take your time and fold as neatly as possible. Make the folds so that they correspond with the width of the pallet-carrier. Allow air to escape out the ends after each fold prior to making the next fold.  

After accordian folding the dome, and before completing the "double cinnamon roll" it's a GREAT idea to band the dome with a soft rope (Home Depot See Pic above) at approx 6' intervals. This helps to keep the dome from sliding off of itself. 

Roll each end toward the middle as described before. Roll the dome onto the pallet-carrier and use the  ratchet straps to secure the dome down. 

Securely place a note with a drawing on the top of the dome showing how it's folded up (in relation to the pool) so next season you will know which end of the pool to position the dome at and what direction to pull the dome when re-installing.