You’ve decided that this is the year to get your swimming pool. Congratulations! While budgeting for your new pool, remember to protect your investment, and your family. Over the past 10-15 years emphasis has been placed on regulating and enforcing fence safety requirements across the country. Typically, there are three prominent types of fence used around pools. Here, you will find a detailed breakdown of the fences, as well as the pros and cons of each type.
Ornamental Aluminum
Ornamental aluminum is currently the most popular type of pool fence due to its durability and appearance. Ornamental aluminum is often confused with wrought iron, based on the look of it. Iron fence is not frequently used around pools because it is much more expensive and requires a lot of maintenance, whereas aluminum is very low maintenance.
The pros:
- Extremely durable
- Low maintenance
- Relatively inconspicuous (especially darker colors)
Cons:
- There is little privacy.
Ornamental aluminum fence is perfect for any setting where low maintenance is important and privacy isn’t a concern. It’s a great choice for waterfront or anywhere you don’t want an obstructed view. Although the thin aluminum rails are visible, they don’t block out much, so it’s a great choice for backyards where you don’t want the pool to feel too closed off from the rest of the yard. Aluminum fence is also available in a variety of colors. The most popular color is black. Other color choices include white, bronze and green.
PVC
PVC fence is also frequently used around pools. We can build it using slats and posts, or the full privacy fencing, with a lattice ornate topper. Here’s the breakdown:
The pros:
- Great privacy fence
- Relatively low maintenance
- Many solid and picketed styles available
Cons:
- Pickets and rails are much thicker and considered bulky by some consumers
- White color tends to be very conspicuous
- Mildew can form on fence in wet, shady areas
PVC is the undisputed champion of privacy fences. It’s durable, low maintenance, and provides great privacy. However, because of its high price value, it’s also extremely obtrusive in your landscaping. It creates walls around your pool. Make sure to take into consideration how closed off people inside your fence may feel. Rail style fences may not meet your town’s pool safety requirements. If your main concern is privacy and low maintenance, this is most likely your go to fencing option.
Wood
Wood is a tried-and-true building material and continues to be a popular fence material used around pools. Over the past decade it has been overshadowed by PVC and aluminum because of their low maintenance benefits, but thousands of wood fences are still installed around pools every year.
The pros:
- Size and style are totally customizable
- Less expensive than PVC or aluminum
- Can paint or stain a wide variety of colors
Cons:
- Requires more maintenance
- Can warp and twist over time
Wood has some very strong qualities to take advantage of, if you’re willing to do your part on the maintenance end. The natural feel of wood provides an earthy feeling in your design and can breathe extra life into the environment. Notwithstanding the maintenance aspect, there’s no disputing the fact that it looks great in any setting and also makes a wonderful privacy fence.
