The Fence Post

Safety Above All 

Getting serious about a swimming pool? Great! However, don't ignore the fence around the pool and pool area--particularly in the case of young children who are curious and are intrigued by water, and will undoubtedly want to investigate the area where all the fun happens. The right fence and mesh products provide indisputable protection. Too many folks have suffered tragic losses--when one thinks about how easy it is to get caught up with what you're doing and for a toddler to slip from your sight. Vigilance is naturally the key, but it's advised, well more than that, it is mandatory to have solid backup--meaning reliable products that help in our struggle to keep our pool environments a safe place--reserved for refreshment, relaxation, and fun. 

No doubt you have put a lot of thought into the plans for the pool and its surroundings--the shape, depth, and position of the pool, the appropriate (and beautiful) landscaping, and all the details that will bring your ideas to fruition. Here are some thoughts about some necessities to check off your list.

Required--Self-Closing Gates

Consulting the town building inspector is one of your first stops. Requirements and restrictions are an important key to your pool project. If this is a DIY project, familiarizing yourself with your local pool safety laws concerning your fence and various specifications is vital. Self-closing gates are a good example: a child is not necessarily going to close a gate, particularly if the goal of being in the pool is tantamount! So a self-closing gate is really a universal requirement. Additionally, installing an alarm on your gate is an excellent idea.

If you are having the fence installed by a reputable fence company any questions you may have can be answered by them. Still, understanding the codes ahead of time will help you anticipate these obligations.

Guard Against the Unthinkable

We must face the fact that installing an excellent fence around the pool of your dreams is for everyone's safety and quite literally a protection for you and your family and friends against catastrophe. Planning the fence is as important as designing the pool.

Here are some, not all, above-ground and in-ground swimming pool barrier requirements: 

• 48 inches in height at a minimum, preferably higher
• Should not be climbable
• Foothold-free
• Handhold-free
• Have self-closing gates
• Have self-latching gates
• Able to be locked
• Small openings: horizontal - no wider than 1-3/4"; vertical - no higher than 4"
• Clearance from ground level to the barrier should less than 4 inches

Thankfully, there are a variety of styles of pool fence that meet code requirements. 

Moving on, If you are presently planning to upgrade your current fence or planning to install a new fence, one of your choices is fence panels or cutting a welded wire fence roll. Here are some further ideas:

Panels or Do-It-Yourself?

A little more costly, a swift and straightforward method for ensuring safety around a pool are panels that are made flat and cut to your specifications. The savings in time may be worth it. The number of finishes, gauges and configurations of mesh are many and come in sheets that are unframed. The frames can be created during the time the panels are being delivered. 

To save some money, you can cut the welded wire fence roll into panels yourself. Bear in mind that this will provide some challenge and that two cuts are required for each panel, the first panel excepting. The cut wires that remain exposed must be trimmed so that they are not left ragged. Some fortitude is necessary as wire cutting demands a steady hand and some patience. Naturally, the thicker the gauge of the wire, the more strength will be required. On that, going the panel route saves quite a bit of your time and spares your hand.

And for you Do-It-Yourselfers--as welded wire has a memory, so to speak--roll the cut panel in reverse, tie it up, and let it soak up the sun for a day. 

Important Choices

The mesh openings, wire gauges, and finishes are identical in the cut panels or in the rolls, and on that, we have a post that may be helpful in making the right fence choices--just follow this link to read about it. 

Opening sizes for mesh are available in various possibilities of finish: galvanized, vinyl coated, stainless steel, and plain steel. Standard-sized roll widths for the panels, which are made flat and cut to size, come in 72", 60", 36", 24", and 18". However, the length can vary somewhat, depending on your need. Please feel free to ring us with any questions--(800) 225-0508.

However! Relying on these precautions is not enough.

Here is a sobering video showing the ingenuity of toddlers as they outsmart barriers created for their protection.

Vigilance 

Parents: Put down cellphones, tablets, and laptops! At all times you should be in the pool with children 6 and younger and have your eyes on children 7 and above. And never put off swimming lessons!

Investing in Safety

Each year, thousands of drownings and near-drowning events occur in the U.S. So many of these swimming pool tragedies are preventable. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has studied this problem extensively. Their conclusion about the best way to reduce and hopefully eliminate these incidents:

Pool owners must install and maintain effective barriers to prevent young children from entering the pool area.

Now is the time to install a pool fence and/or upgrade your existing fence. The question is, do you choose fence panels or cut the welded wire fence roll yourself? What other details do you need to know?   

Deciding on Panels vs. Cutting Wire Yourself  

Fence panels are the easiest and fastest way for pool owners to increase safety around an outdoor pool. Why? Panels are flattened and sheared to size. They might cost a little more; however, the time savings is priceless. The panels are sold in many different gauges, mesh configurations, and finishes. Panels are sold as flat unframed sheets. You can create the frame while your wire panels are in transit. 

If you are up to the challenge of cutting a welded wire fence roll, you can save a little money and order a roll to make your own fence panels. Keep in mind that there are two cuts per panel except for the first panel. For each additional cut, you must cut the exposed wires left from the previous cut. Cutting wire takes hand strength and patience. The heavier the gauge, the harder it is to cut through the wire. Pre-cut panels save you a ton of time and won't tire your hand!

>Hot Tip for DIYers: To minimize the welded wire "memory", reverse roll the cut panel, tie it and leave it in the sun to heat for the day.

Mesh and Gauges: What You Need to Know

Both panels and rolls have the same finish, wire gauge and mesh opening options. If you want to know more about finish, wire gauge, and mesh opening, read our post on the keys to choosing the right fence for you. The same opening sizes are offered in the following finish options, Plain Steel, Galvanized, Vinyl Coated, and Stainless Steel.  Panels are flattened and sheared (cut) to size from standard size roll widths (18”, 24”, 36”, 48”, 60, & 72”), but may be available in an alternate length. Just call us with questions, 800-225-0508.

Serious Consideration Required

 Swimming pool barriers should generally meet the following requirements:  

• at least 48" high
• free of footholds
• self-closing gates
• free of hand holds
• self-latching gates
• made with small openings:
• horizontal - no wider than 1-3/4"
• vertical - no higher than 4"
• locking devices on all gates
• less than 4" clearance from ground to bottom of barrier

Before installing any swimming pool barrier, it is very important to check your local codes, whether solid, with horizontal and vertical members or made using welded or woven wire mesh fence. Local codes may vary.

We believe pool fences are essential to everyone's safety. Contact us at sales@louispage.com or 800-225-0508. We can answer your questions and help you choose the product that is right for you and even calculate the right amount of panels if you choose the panel option. 

What are welded wire meshes and fences?

• As the name implies, welded wire mesh fences are made from wires that have been welded into a mesh
• In most cases, the same gauge of wire is used throughout the roll
• Welded joints are rigid and have little flexibility
• Many welded products with larger openings are used as fencing on ranches, farms, in parks and on construction sites.
• Mesh sizes can range from ½" x ½" up to 6" x 6"
• Meshes with smaller openings are usually made with lighter gauge wires
• These are mostly used for screening
• Some specifications of welded meshes are vinyl coated

And how can you use them?

Welded fencing is ideal to use on flat terrain where little flexibility is necessary. Some examples of uses:

    -Swimming pool fences

    -Emu and Ostrich Fences

    - Garden Fences

    - Dog kennels

    - Sheep and Goat Fences

     -Railing safety panel inserts

Woven Wire Mesh and Fence

What are woven wire meshes and fences?

• Fences made by weaving the wires into a mesh
• Different gauge wires are sometimes used in the same roll
• Woven joints are flexible yet very strong
• There are a wide variety of mesh size openings available
• Hexagonal netting (chicken wire), field and farm fence, deer and wildlife fence, and ornamental fence are some examples

And how are they used?

Woven wire fences are ideal in situations where the ground is uneven. The inherent flexibility allows the fence to adjust more easily to grade changes. Some examples of uses:

    - Garden Fences

    - Horse Paddocks

    - Boundary Fence

    - Orchard Fence

    - Farm Fence

Keep these differences in mind when you are planning to install a fence. Which type do you want to use? Or maybe you need expert advice on what products to use?

Call us today for a free quote! 800-225-0508 or email sales@louispage.com