Diving into the glittering turquoise waters of a backyard swimming pool is so refreshing when it?s hot outside, but very few climates offer comfortable weather conditions for year-round swimming. By October, swimming season is over in most locales. Built-in pools in cooler regions tend to go unused for most of the year, obscured by sad swaths of vinyl for protection from fall leaves and other debris. But sliding glass pool enclosures help hold in heat while offering shelter from wind and rain, making the prospect of a fall or winter dip a lot more tempting.

Available in manual or automatic models that you either slide open on rails or push a button to retract, these glass and polycarbonate swimming pool enclosures can open all the way on warm, sunny days or close completely for a greenhouse effect. That makes them a lot more versatile (and aesthetically pleasing) than indoor pools, which tend to be dark and musty. And if you’ve ever huddled in an outdoor hot tub in the rain, enjoying the warm water but wishing for a roof, you’ll appreciate the genius of dome-shaped spa covers. Of course, in addition to their main function as pool covers, these retractable enclosures are great for creating weather-resistant outdoor spaces for lounging, dining, and housing children’s play equipment.
Libart Freestanding Pool Cover

This traditional home on the coast of Maine overlooks the beautiful Casco Bay, so why wouldn?t the owners want to spend as much time in the yar...