Fencing Options and Considerations
Your fencing ideas should stem from the reasons you want to enclose your pool in the first place. Is your pool fence primarily for decoration, privacy or utility? In every case, safety will factor into every design decision, but aesthetics and functionality need to be weighed as well.
Popular materials for pool safety fences are wood, metal and vinyl. Wood fences are typically made of cedar and pressure-treated pine. A swimming pool fence made of cedar tends to last longer, as its higher-density grain makes it less vulnerable to insects and moisture. Many hot tub enclosures are made of cedar for the same reasons and therefore cedar may be a great choice if you already have, or plan on buying a portable hot tub. Metal and vinyl, particularly wrought iron, have an even longer life span and require less maintenance. The rods should be no more than 4″ apart to prevent kids from squeezing through, and any horizontal framing members should be faced on the inside of the fence to prevent giving kids a foothold for climbing. These, and other safety specifications, are often mandated by local governments and can be found in their guidelines.
If you’re mainly concerned with purely functional fencing, chain link fences are a popular and seemingly straightforward choice, but regulatory restrictions in your area may not allow it. Chain link fencing is a safety risk for children, since the links easy to climb. Needless to say that while chain link fences are an easy and inexpensive option, they are not usually considered one of the best looking.
For privacy fencing, a solid wood privacy fence with no gaps between its wood slats provides maximum privacy. Needless to say, this also provides no view of the surroundings, and no view of the pool from the outside, which may feel uninviting before long. To discourage kids from climbing, solid wood plank fences should be at least 48″ tall. Some regulations also require that the bottom edge of the planks be no more than 4″ off the ground to discourage kids from crawling underneath the fence. Such privacy fences are a common choice for more crowded suburban areas where yards are close together and privacy is a premium.
Regardless of the style fence you choose, make sure to check your local laws and guidelines to ensure that your fencing is up to code.
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