If you want a cost-effective safety barrier for your swimming pool, installing a pool fence yourself is a great option. DIY pool fence installation can help you create a safer swimming pool area using professional-grade, ASTM-certified pool fence materials and methods. If you’re handy with tools, willing to put in the attention to detail to do the job right, and want to tackle a unique home improvement project either alone or with the family, your pool fence can be ready in as little as a weekend. It’s a great way to create your own peace of mind that your investment in your property and the people and pets you love are better protected from the risk of accidental drowning.
Every year, over 4500 lives are lost to accidental drowning, with tens of thousands of victims seeking medical attention after surviving a drowning incident. In the majority of these cases, a lack of adequate safety barriers has been cited as a contributing factor. Safety barriers help prevent unsupervised access to the swimming pool and accidental immersion, two of the highest risk factors for drowning incidents. Installing a pool fence creates a secure perimeter that keeps people and pets out of the pool area, reducing the risk of a tragedy.
Removable mesh pool fencing is a modern fence style that’s durable, user-friendly, and perfect for DIY pool fence installation. It uses strong, lightweight poles anchored in deck sleeves placed around your pool’s perimeter to support a tightly stretched mesh material. The mesh is resistant to damage from the elements, UV rays, and pool chemicals, and it doesn’t provide the perches needed for easy climbing. Properly installed, there are no gaps large enough for children or most pets to fit through, and the self-closing and latching gate prevents an unsecured fence gate from providing easy entry.
Before you begin installing your pool fence, you need an idea of the layout you intend and the necessary measurements to order your pool fence parts. The majority of layouts fall into one of three categories:
While these may be the most common layouts, the versatile nature of removable mesh pool fencing lets you create a safety barrier in almost any shape that makes sense, incorporating fencing, the home, or auxiliary structures, using a curve on one side and straight lines on the others, or most combinations of the two.
Your pool fence should be at least 20 inches from the edge of the pool per ASTM guidelines. While straighter pool fences can be measured using a standard tape measure, a rope or garden hose can be handy to account for curves and turns. Simply lay out the rope or hose, make layout marks as needed to denote where the fence begins, ends, or has a gate, and then measure the length of the rope or hose with your tape measure. Remember that gates require a 9’7” straight line to accommodate the 33” gate, two 2½” gaps for gate posts and spacing, and two 36” fence segments on each side of the gate.
Once you have this measurement in feet and inches, subtract 38 inches from the total to represent a 33” gate and its posts. Divide the remaining total by 15 feet–the length of a mesh pool fence section–rounding up to the next whole number. Now you know how many sections of fence you’ll need for your DIY pool fence installation.
Buying by the section makes installing your pool fence easier because each 15-foot section comes pre-assembled and includes all necessary installation hardware. Fence sections are either 48” (four feet) or 60” (five feet) tall to meet the requirements of most jurisdictions and insurance carriers. Next, choose from peg poles or the stronger Y-beam 1” poles in the color that best matches your backyard’s aesthetic. Finally, choose the color of your mesh material and whether you want the Hampton or Malibu mesh on your pool fence. The Hampton has a density of five by seven squares per inch, while the denser ten by ten weave of the Malibu makes it perfect for homes with pets as it provides fewer claw perches.
Pick the gate posts that best fit your fencing needs, then customize your pre-hung gate frame to match the rest of your pool fence. Add a latch system, and to increase the protection leading to your swimming pool, add a gate alarm.
Installing a pool fence may require pool fence installation tools you don’t already have in your garage or workshop. Coring bits help you make smooth, precise holes through cement and concrete for your decksleeves. Drill templates help make accurately placed deck sleeve holes, and our drill guides ensure your angle is perfect for vertical poles as well as those needing a light or heavy lean.
Depending on your layout, you may need extra poles, hardware, or replacement mesh. Poles are by far the most common additional purchase, as these are frequently needed for corners and curves.
Here are a few things to remember as you go:
Lay out your pool perimeter and mark your 9’7” gate section, including the positioning of the gate, posts, and fence sections. Mark every 36” of the fence line. Be as precise as possible to ensure you have a strong, taut fence once you’re finished. Remember that corners will be created from two 45-degree turns and not a single 90-degree angle. Position your drill guide and select the appropriate drilling angle:
Drill through your concrete to a depth of four inches. If you aren’t sure what may be under the concrete, just drill until you hit the dirt, and then stop. This avoids risking pipes and power lines with your DIY pool fence installation.
Once your holes are drilled, install your deck sleeve in each one, using a light hammer tap to set them, if necessary. Erect the mesh fence walls around your pool, checking the fit and making necessary adjustments. Terminal poles up against structures should be secured with wall anchors for stability.
We offer several different gate post designs. Refer to our knowledge bank for gate-specific instructions. Once the gate is hung, adjust it to ensure it can swing closed freely on its own and that the positioning allows the latch to fully engage. Install your pool gate alarm and test it to ensure it’s working properly and that you’ll recognize its sound when you hear it.
Installing a pool fence yourself can be a fun and rewarding way to save money, but if you run into any problems, your local All-Safe Pool professional is your community’s go-to source for pool safety help. Contact them for a free estimate or to talk about a consultation that helps you get the job done right. Make sure your pool is protected. Order your DIY pool fence installation parts and materials from All-Safe Pool today.
Your pool safety plan gives you a powerful reference tool for opening your pool up after winter, keeping it protected, and ensuring the safety of your swimmers. Our top pool safety tips will give you the pointers you need to keep your pool and loved ones safer.
These safety pool fence mistakes can increase your risk of unsupervised pool access and accidental drownings. Follow these tips for a stronger DIY pool fence, or reach out to your local independent All-Safe Pool pro for help creating a safer pool area today.
Sensory swim time adapts your normal pool routine to those who may be more sensitive to sound and motion levels, such as those with autism. Swim activities are a great way to engage every child, and we’ll walk you through creating a welcoming environment.
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