Evaluate Your Needs

Please see below a list of family details that can have a surprising influence on how you protect your pool:

1. Age and number of children:
• Babies need constant attention, often at the expense of other slightly older siblings,
• The more children, the more distractions,
2. Childrens personalities and sex:
• Active or strong willed and inquisitive children may find ways through poorly constructed or installed systems. Consider Protect-A-Child fiberglass posts, point-lock latches and lock-in-deck features.
• Climbers (especially boys) may find ways over small fences, consider 5 ft high.
• More accidents happen with boys than girls!
3. Lifestyle:
• if the fence must come down for those late night parties when the kids are in bed, and its a regular occurrence, consider manual gates.
• however, if children are always around the home and stay up for the parties, install the gates and never take the fence down!
4. Stay at home or working mom:
• If mom stays at home, she may be comfortable with manual gates and/or lower fence.
• On the other hand, if a child carer is used regularly, consider 5 ft fence and a locked self closing gate.
5. Teenage children also living at home:
• Chances are your pool will be well used on hot summer days when the older kids are home. Self closing gates are recommended.
• Education on the dangers of the pool, the importance of security at the pool and watchful eyes for younger siblings should be regularly stressed.
• Do not take the fence down.
6. Household pets:
• Fence the pool, pets can drown!
• Nets don't help,
• Do not pen dogs in a small area using mesh fencing, they will tear through it sooner or later.
• However mesh fencing is usually acceptable for protection poolside, as long as dogs have freedom to roam elsewhere,
• Avoid fencing off a dogs regular "business area" within the pool fence,
• Consider a pool safety pet ramp such as the Skamper-Ramp in case Fido goes swimming, but also as a way out for other pets and wild "critters" that are attracted to the water.
7. Financial committment to child safety:
   • While the initial outlay for a responsible pool safety system may mean forgoing something else, the cost is generally pennies a day over the life of the fencing (and the children!).
   • If the initial burden seems high, ask us how to maximize safety and minimize cost with efficient design and materials.

 

Now lets look at the physical attributes of the pool location that can also greatly effect the design and implementation of pool safety systems:

1. Aesthetics of the pool area:
• There is a wide range of opinion between pool owners as to the importance placed on "the look" versus pool safety. The majority of clients consider safety as the overiding concern, while still aiming for the most pleasing design possible. We are happy to oblige, by providing as many safe alternatives as possible to make the decision one of personal taste. The routing, height and color of the fence all impact the aethetics of the protected area. Occasionally, we meet owners who have an idea in mind that is either unrealistic or unsafe. Our job is to explain the shortcomings of such an approach and hopefully steer the pool owner to a more logical decision. For specific detail on aesthetics and safe design, please go to On Line Fence Design.
2. Spa attached to pool:
• An important consideration that arises when a spa is attached to the pool is frequency of use. In circumstances where the spa is used daily (or nightly), it only makes sense to consider this as a primary location for a self closing gate. Quite often a pool is designed with the spa alongside the main pool entry area. In this case, by moving the fence line back a little from the pool edge and positioning the gate at an angle between the two, it may be possible to provide good access to both areas with the one gate.
3. Size of pool area and surrounding yard:
• Large gardens and deck areas allow the use of safety fences that encircle the pool. This is an ideal situation for safety since it keeps all non-pool activities beyond the fence and safe from harm.
• In Southern California with land prices at a premium, property sizes are often smaller and we find many locations where a pool is squeezed into a tight rear garden, either taking up the whole area, or off to one corner. In these cases, thought needs to be given to utilizing perimeter fencing and walls. While this results in less pool fence installation, it often means a difficult installation with elevation changes, smaller distances between poles and issues with maintaining a safe environment. In these circumstances the advice of a knowledgeable installation professional is essential to avoid installations errors that may be unsafe.
4. Pool area is elevated with steps from one section to another: Stepped areas can be made safe by pool fencing if done correctly, but will inevitable be more expensive per foot due to the need for more holes, more poles and smaller panels of fence. Steps with a deep overhang from one to another also require a different approach when installing. See On Line Fence Design.
5. Pool area is surrounded by small retaining walls or planters:
• We treat retaining walls the same as steps, and the same safety issues arise with both.
6. BBQ and/or seating area is within close proximity to pool:
• This can be an especially difficult area to make safe, and may well result in the need to place the fence around the area, with the result that the BBQ and seating are within the pool area and not protected. Alternatively, we must stretch the typical installation parameters, and place that section of fencing very close to the pool (e.g. in the coping).
7. Pool has slides and/or diving boards:
• Typically this scenario means moving the fence back as far as possible from the pool edge and providing a manual or self closing gate in the area.
8. Pool area is tile, pavers, pebblecoat, dirt, grass or a combination:
• Removable pool fencing can be installed in any hard medium that can be drilled. Tile, Travertine, stone etc usually present no problems.
• Typical non-mortared pavers that are correctly installed in sand and are at least 2 1/2 inches thick are also fine for fencing.
• Pebblecoat that has been correctly applied is difficult to work with, but can be drilled successfully, however pebblecoat with incorrect installation can crumble when drilled, resulting in unsuitable pole placement. If in doubt, we will drill a test hole in the least conspicuous area before committing to the whole installation.
• Pool fencing can be placed in dirt and grass areas by placing sleeves in the area to hold the fence posts. They are either pounded into the surface with a mallet or cemented in if needed.
• Grass is not ideal for pool fencing simply because the fence must be removed regularly to mow the lawn. Alternatively a strip of the sod maybe 1 foot wide can be permanently removed, so that the fence can be left in place while mowing and edging. Needless to say the finest mesh fencing is no match for mowers and strimmers, so its important to keep them well away from the fence.
• Pool Fencing should be placed at least 3 inches from the edge in areas where grass is alongside a deck, to allow edging without damaging the fencing.
9. Pool is completely rectangular:
   • In this instance we admit that pool fencing may not be the ultimate weapon in aethetic pool safety. For those owners with a rectangular pool and deep pockets have the choice of an automatic pool cover that operates with the push of a button. Unlike other covers this can happen quickly and as often in a day as needed.
   • If the finances do not stretch to the above scenario, install a pool fence!