So, after months of meeting with landscapers and contractors and maintenance men, you’ve finally gotten that pool installed in your backyard – without a fence. It’s a dream come true for many homeowners, promising rest and relaxation during the seasons of summer and spring.
But as you’ll come to realize, pool fencing is there for a reason. Sure, pool fences and barriers provide safety, privacy, and aesthetic beauty to your property, but they’re also required by law depending on your geographical location. With all those benefits (and the long arm of the law at your heels), purchasing a swimming pool fence or barrier should be a no-brainer. But which one should you choose? After all, any fencing should match your personality and home, as well as serving its intended function.
First, Consider the Two Broad Types of Pool Fences.
Pool safety fences have many different forms – posts, panels, meshes, chain-links, etc. – but they can all be sorted into two separate categories: interior or perimeter. Both don’t necessarily refer to artisanal design or material. Instead, they encompass the layout of your fencing.
- A perimeter fence is simply a safety fence that encloses the entire rear side of a property. It isn’t so much a pool fence as it is a backyard fence that also happens to serve as a safety barrier for a swimming pool.
- Interior fences enclose a smaller area within a yard, separating the pool from the rest of your lawn. Have small children or pets? An interior fence will prevent them from falling into the pool while they’re playing around in the yard unattended.
The one you choose will largely fall on preference and the makeup of your family. Keep in mind that interior fences are typically less tall than perimeter fences.
What purpose will your fence serve?
1. Privacy Fencing
If you’re not one for nosy neighbors and curious onlookers, you’ll probably want to stay away from fancy post fences and stick to a paneled option.
Depending on how much privacy you want, you can for either a partial or complete shield from the outside world. Both wooden or vinyl options are available, but aluminum fencing is a non-starter (unless you can find a solid aluminum fence – but who would want lug that thing into a backyard?)
2. Appearance and Ornamental Fencing
Maybe you’re not the reserved type; in fact, showing off a little bit might be more your style. The right aluminum or iron fencing, while requiring occasional maintenance and upkeep, can improve your property value while looking lovely and quaint. If you have a pool overlooking a mountain, forest, or another body of water, ornamental fencing will allow you peer through each post, and enjoy the natural beauty around you.
3. Security Fencing
You don’t have to live in a rough area or neighborhood to be concerned about crime or your children’s safety. As we stated before, a solid interior fence can prevent pets or children from entering the pool area, but it can also keep strangers out while they’re swimming.
While it doesn’t look pretty, a chain-link fence might be the most secure fence you can purchase. If you’re not a big fan of the utilitarian appearance, wrought-iron and aluminum fencing can come with picket points, the sharp spires at the top of a fence, to prevent people from climbing over.
What materials should I go for?
1. Wood
The idyllic perimeter fence, wood fencing is perfect for privacy or those trying to match the rustic design to their home. Vertical boards will alleviate wind noise, so that’s something to consider if you’re living in a valley or large plain.
While cheap and relatively easy to construct, wood fencing requires more maintenance than its counterparts. They should be plumbed and tamped every three years, and any coating should be reapplied every four years.
2. Vinyl
Want a fence that doesn’t require ongoing upkeep and repainting? Vinyl picket fences are the way to go. Just take a hose or super soaker to your fence, and you’ve got an instant cleaning solution. And if rains a lot where you live, this probably won’t even be necessary.
At the outset, vinyl is more expensive than wood. Think of it as a preemptive investment. Since wood rots and requires constant attention, you’ll end up paying more in the long run anyway.
3. Aluminum
Aluminum’s strongpoint is its rough-and-tumble durability. Fairly resilient and lightweight for a metal, aluminum will bear the elements for decades to come, while still being easily transportable and installable.
Pricing is comparable to vinyl fencing, though it will vary from seller to seller. The only qualm people may find with aluminum fencing is that it doesn’t offer a solution to outdoor privacy.
For a great selection of fencing at discount prices, check out our extensive portfolio at Out Back Casual Living & Fence in Grand Rapids, MI.
On the porch or the patio, next to the pool or even down a small garden path, let Out Back Casual Living create a comfortable retreat where you and your family can relax and enjoy the beauty all around you. We offer custom fencing projects that’ll accent, define or protect your residence or commercial property! For more information, visit our website today.