Many homeowners live in an area inhabited with insects, birds and other animals that are attracted to your pool water. A simple pool fence does not solve the problem. Either you have an indoor pool or a fully enclosed outdoor pool to screen out the wildlife. These days it is a legal requirement to have a pool fence so why not go further and install a swimming pool enclosure to prevent young children entering the pool area, keep out the annoying wildlife and enhance your swimming enjoyment.
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What is a Swimming Pool Enclosure?
Swimming pool enclosures are much more than just a pool fence. They cover the entire area around your pool to protect your family from wind, heat, light, insects and debris entering your pool area. Children have been known to climb over pool fences and drown but they won’t be getting through a pool enclosure.
Swimming pool enclosures are usually made with an aluminum frame covered with varying materials such as security mesh, polycarbonate, safety glass, insect mesh, etc. Usually the enclosure is attached to the back of the house to provide extra strength and durability to the enclosure. There will be a security door from the house to the pool enclosure and a security door from the enclosure to the rest of the back yard. Some property owners with a small backyard prefer to enclose the whole yard turning the enclosure into an atrium style structure. Some enclosures will include BBQs, fire pits, hot tubs, kids play areas, lighting, fans, TVs and entertainment systems.
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Why Do I need a Swimming Pool Enclosure?
Do you find that you don’t enjoy using the pool in the evening because the mosquitoes are biting? When you are grilling the meat are you attracting swarms of flies? Are you tired of fishing out frogs and other animals from the pool? Have you ever had a family of ducks take up residence in the pool? Does your pool seem to easily accumulate dirt and leaves that clog up the skimmer basket and filter?
If you meet the following criteria then a fully enclosed pool area is what you need.
If you live in an area with:
- Mosquitoes & Insects
- Swamps, lakes or rivers
- Frogs & Toads
- Wild bird life e.g., ducks
- Often windy
- Extreme heat or cold
If you want to:
- Make your pool area more private
- Keep children out of your pool
- Extend the swimming season
- Reduce evaporation from the pool
- Keep your pool area cleaner
- BBQ or grill food outdoors
- Dine outdoors without insects
Keep out the Wildlife
A swimming pool enclosure will guarantee there are no more ducks, frogs or toads vacationing in your pool. Are you sick of the croaking and quacking noises? Your family may think the wildlife is cute but all animals carry diseases and go to the toilet and reproduce in your pool.
You will be able to enjoy relaxing around the pool without annoying flies and mosquitoes bothering you. Cooking on the BBQ and eating outdoors is now insect free.
Please read our article on How to Keep Ducks out of your Pool
Keep the Children Safe
Children are attracted to swimming pools that’s why thousands of young children drown or are injured in a pool every year around the world. Pool enclosures guarantee small children cannot access the pool area. They cannot stack up furniture to climb over a pool enclosure or work out how open the security door.
Keep your Pool Area Clean
A swimming pool enclosure dramatically reduces the amount of dirt and debris entering the pool area. Your pool stays cleaner for longer reducing the burden on you and your filtration system. No more skimming out all the leaves before you can go swimming. You will find that there is a lot less sweeping and hosing the pool area to keep it clean. You can even get away without having a pool cover.
Keep out the Weather
Depending on the type of pool enclosure the effect of weather can be reduced or eliminated completely. Enclosures made with glass, polycarbonate or other weather proof materials can keep out weather and extend the usefulness of your pool. Preventing rain from entering your pool helps preserve the water chemistry and prevents your pool from overflowing. An enclosure will reduce evaporation from the pool by wind or direct sunlight which reduces the need to top up the pool and rebalance the chemistry.
Keep out the Neighbors
Have you ever suspected that when you go out your neighbors are enjoying the use of your pool? A fully enclosed pool area will stop them in their tracks.
If you want to increase the privacy of your pool area you can build some of the structure with opaque glass or solid panels. This is common around the bottom level of the enclosure while the top part may also be opaque to reduce the impact of sunlight on the pool area.
Enhance Your Pool Area
When you have a swimming pool enclosure you can install extra fittings to extend your usage of the area into the evening or when the weather is unfavorable. Common fittings are:
- BBQs
- fire pits
- hot tubs
- kids play areas
- lighting
- fans
- TVs and entertainment systems
It is much easier to add and maintain overhead lighting to a pool area than install underwater lights in the pool. Pool enclosures also give you some more security from burglars trying to steal your backyard equipment.
A Swimming Pool Enclosure Adds Value to Your Home
A home with a fully enclosed pool area will be more attractive to home buyers and potentially increase the value of your home. Homebuyers love to purchase a home that is move-in ready with nothing to do. They certainly do not want to start digging up the backyard and going through months of renovations.
Some enclosures will include BBQs, fire pits, hot tubs, kids play areas, lighting, fans, TVs and entertainment systems. All of these features makes your home more attractive to potential house hunters. And they will be encouraged to pay more to get it. However, you still need to be careful that you are not putting too much money into your backyard for the size of your house and neighborhood. Usually home buyers are only prepared to pay so much for a home in the area irrespective of how wonderful a backyard you have. Before you spend any money renovating your property you should check with a local real estate professional to ensure you are not over capitalizing into your home. You don’t want to spend money that doesn’t increase the value of your home.
In some areas building a swimming pool in the backyard can make your home less attractive for resale as potential buyers do not want to maintain a pool. This occurs when the average buyer is in the older age group with no children living at home. Often older people are looking for a smaller size, single level home, with no stairs, no pool and very low maintenance.
Compliance with Pool Safety Regulations
It is now compulsory to have a pool safety fence around your pool in most jurisdictions around the world. The requirements are very strict and you need to have a safety check completed by a council safety inspector. Many local governments prevent homeowners selling or renting their properties without a pool safety certificate.
Rather than building a pool fence why not spend the money on a pool enclosure that gives you all the extra benefits that a safety fence doesn’t. Many pool owners are forced to spend thousands of dollars on pool fencing when they don’t have young children living in their household. The fence provides no extra benefit to the homeowner.
A pool enclosure provides all the above mentioned benefits to homeowners and adds value to your home. However, first you need to check with your local authority that a pool enclosure meets all their regulatory requirements for making your pool safe. The local authority may have additional specifications that your enclosure will need to address to conform to the law. Sometimes you need a building permit for an enclosure as it is usually attached to the house or seen as an extension of the home.
Please read out article on How to Pass a Pool Safety Inspection
Conclusion
A swimming pool enclosure is another option that you have to enhance the appearance and functionality of your home. If your home is located in an area where insects and wildlife are a problem then an enclosure can be the answer. Enclosures are more expensive than a pool fence but they give you a lot more value for your money and enhance your lifestyle.