Installing a swimming pool in your backyard is an exciting event. How to choose the best pool fence for your home can be difficult as there are so many options.
The most common types of pool fencing are frameless glass, semi-frameless glass and aluminum. These fences meet safety requirements and are easy for a do-it-yourself person to install. A major consideration is how your new pool fence complements your existing backyard landscape. Glass pool fencing has a low impact and is less obstructive of your pool. The modern appearance and stylish lines will add value to your home. Aluminum pool fences are less expensive and can match the color of your home.
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Why Do I Need a Pool Fence?
There are many drowning deaths around the world every year due to young children falling into a backyard swimming pool. You cannot watch your children every second of the day but if your child drowned in a pool and it was your fault you would never forgive yourself.
Many authorities around the world now require pool owners to fully fence their outdoor swimming pools for safety reasons. The regulations vary between countries and states so please check with your local authority.
Unfortunately, there are many pool owners who have been made to fence their pool when they don’t have young children living at the property. I strongly agree with the requirement to have pool fences when home occupiers have small children but there really should be a relaxation for owners without children. Regulations should enforce the installation of a pool fence only when the property is sold or rented. These pool owners should install a pool alarm that is a lot less expensive and intrusive than a fully fenced backyard swimming pool.
Read our article on Do I Need a Pool Fence
Types of Pool Fences
The choice between glass and aluminum pool fencing really comes down to personal choice, fitting in with your existing decor and your budget. Both types of pool fence meet all safety requirements and are used in luxury homes, apartments and hotels.
Glass Pool Fences
Some people may still be dubious about glass pool fencing because they worry that the glass can easily break and cause injury. They think the glass will not stand up to stormy weather.
Glass pool fencing is manufactured with hardened safety glass that is at least 10mm to 12 mm thick. This glass is very tough and very difficult to break. You can hit it with a hammer and the hammer will bounce off it. If you do manage to break a glass panel it will not shatter into sharp pieces but will break into larger pieces without sharp edges.
Advantages of glass pool fencing:
- Complete safety – young children cannot scale a glass panel as there are no footholds or handholds.
- Non-corrosive – pool chemicals do not affect safety glass panels.
- Weather proof – toughened safety glass panels are strong and not impacted by sun, rain or wind.
- Low maintenance – easily cleaned with a cloth & glass cleaner.
- Durable & Strong – tempered safety glass is made to international standards.
- Added value – these attractive & modern fences add value to any property.
- Protect the pool area – glass fences block dirt & debris from entering the pool water reducing the need for chemicals & filtering.
- Unobstructed views – transparent glass panels allow clear views of your garden and pool.
- Modern Appearance – glass pool fences complement your landscape design.
- DIY Installation – a do-it-yourself person can install a glass pool fence
Disadvantages of glass pool fencing:
- Expensive – glass pool fences are an expensive option
- Cleaning – just like windows glass gets dirty and will require regular cleaning
Aluminum Pool Fences
Advantages of aluminum pool fencing:
- Weather resistant – powder coated aluminum fences are strong and resistant to the sun, rain and wind.
- Non-corrosive – pool chemicals do not affect aluminum and it doesn’t rust.
- Low maintenance – powder coated aluminum never needs painting.
- DIY Installation –a do-it-yourself person can easily install the fence
- Low profile – these fences are sleek and low impact in appearance.
- Color choice – powder coated aluminum fences come in a wide range of colors to match with the existing colors of your home.
- Affordable – aluminum fences are less expensive than other fencing options.
Disadvantages of aluminum pool fencing:
- Color Fading – the powder coating color may fade over time but usually takes many years for the fence to lose its color.
- Prone to Bending – aluminum fence rods can be bent out of shape with enough force.
Styles of Aluminum Pool Fencing
- Flat top
- Spear top
- Alternating Spear top
- Picket top
- Alternating Picket top
- Loop top
- Alternating Loop & Spear top
- Federation style
- Decorative border top
- Customized designs to fit your existing home decor
Choosing the right color for your aluminum pool fence
Choosing the best pool fence for your home and the color for your aluminum pool fence should be an easy decision but this often frustrates home owners.
Aluminum pool fencing comes in an almost unlimited range of colors but the most common colors are black, mid-grey, green and white. Black is a popular choice as it provides a bold, modern and striking effect on your landscape. It is the best color to blend in with your landscape while being less intrusive in an outdoor area.
Another popular choice is to match the color of the pool fence to the color of the house trim, guttering or downpipes. This provides an effect of consistency with the look and feel of the home.
Other popular colors are mid-grey and heritage green to match the colors of nature. Both these colors are discrete with a low visual impact across the backyard landscape.
Earthing Your Pool Fence – Electrical Safety Standards
Many pool owners are totally unaware that their new swimming pool fence may need to be earthed to comply with electrical safety standards. There is the possibility that a person can suffer an electric shock from a pool fence if there is an electrical current in the pool water caused by an electrical fault.
An equipotential bond (earthing) may be required to all metal structures around the pool including steel reinforcing in the pool shell, pool light fittings, support structures, handrails and fences.
As aluminum pool fences are one continuous structure the fence only needs to be earthed in one location. However, glass pool fences may need to be earthed at every metal panel fitting as they are all individually attached to the ground.
Pool owners should make their own enquiries at their local council for pool fencing requirements and the installation of an equipotential bond. Only use a licensed electrical contractor to install an equipotential bond.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a fence around a hot tub?
Generally, when a hot tub is secured with a child-proof cover there is no requirement for a pool fence around the hot tub. However, hot tub owners should make their own enquiries at their local council for fencing requirements to ensure they are compliant with local regulations.
I still recommend having a pool fence around a hot tub or spa pool to guarantee that a young child cannot access the water unsupervised.
What size fence do I need around my pool?
Swimming pool manufacturers produce pool fencing materials to comply with local pool fencing requirements. When purchasing a pool fence make sure the fence is a proper “pool fence” and not a garden fence. Pool fences are at least 1.2 meters (48 inches) high and are constructed so there are no handholds or footholds that young children can use to climb the fence. The ultimate pool safety fence is one constructed with glass panels. These are the best pool fence for your home.
Check with your local council for pool fencing regulations that apply to your home. Generally, all pool fencing regulations require:
- Minimum fence height 1200mm (48 inches)
- Maximum gap from ground to the bottom of the fence is 100mm
- Fence must have no horizontal bars that can be used as footholds or handholds
- The pool gate must have a self-closing and locking mechanism
- The gate latch must be at least 1500mm high
- The pool gate must swing outwards to prevent children pushing the gate open
- The latch must be on the inside of the gate making it more difficult for young children to reach it
- Gaps between bars or glass panels must be less than 100mm.
What type of pool fence lasts the longest?
The two most durable and long-lasting fencing materials are glass and aluminum.
Glass pool fences are made from hardened or laminated safety glass that is very difficult to break and will never shatter. A glass pool fence will last longer than the pool and house. Aluminum fences are constructed from powder coated aluminum that is rust-proof, weather proof, strong, light-weight and long lasting. Other types of fences such as steel or iron will require maintenance to remove rust and repaint.
What is the safest pool fence?
Both aluminum and glass pool fences are proven to be very safe and the best pool fence for your home. They both prevent young children entering a pool area. I personally recommend glass pool fences because they look great and a child can never climb a glass panel. Glass is also the easiest to clean and maintain. Just give it a wipe down with a cloth and glass spray cleaner.