Knowledge Hub
The engineering behind the ball cover
Plain-spoken, technical guides for engineers, operators, and procurement. Every article leads with a self-contained answer.
What Are Shade Balls? (And What They're Really For)
Shade balls are hollow plastic balls floated on water to block sunlight. What they do, where the idea came from, and how Armor Ball® differs.
Read articleBromate, UV & Disinfection Byproducts in Open Water
Sunlight on chlorinated, bromide-bearing water can form bromate. Here's how a floating ball cover limits the reaction by blocking UV at the surface.
Read articleIs HDPE Safe for Potable Water?
HDPE is widely used in drinking-water infrastructure. How it's certified for potable contact under NSF/ANSI 61 and how Armor Ball® documents it.
Read articleWhy Floating Covers Blow Away — and How Ballast Fixes It
Wind is why floating covers fail on exposed sites. The physics of wind uplift and how pre-filled, sealed water ballast lets Armor Ball® AQUA hit 75 MPH.
Read articleFloating Cover Types Compared: Balls, Membranes & Tiles
A neutral comparison of floating cover types — hollow ball covers, geomembrane covers, and hexagonal tile covers — and when each is the right fit.
Read articleThe Lifecycle Cost of Ball Covers
How to think about total cost of ownership for a hollow plastic ball cover — install, maintenance, lifespan, reuse — and the 2018 cost critique.
Read articleDo Shade Balls Actually Save Water?
Yes — hollow plastic ball covers cut evaporation up to 90% by removing most of the open water surface. The physics, the numbers, and honest caveats.
Read articleHow Many Hollow Plastic Balls Do You Need Per Acre?
A 1-acre pond needs roughly 435,600 Armor Ball® covers at 10 balls per ft². The coverage math, worked examples, and how to size your order.
Read articleHow Much Do Hollow Plastic Ball Covers Cost?
Hollow plastic ball covers are quoted per project. What drives the price — surface area, ball type, freight — and why lifecycle cost matters most.
Read articleGet a custom Armor Ball® quote
Tell us about your site — surface area, liquid, and goals — and we'll size a cover and respond within 24 hours.
Manufactured by AWTT · 700+ installations · 25 countries · 10-year warranty