Planning a new pool? Ten things to think about

We don't build pools, but we see plenty of new ones, and the barrier is where good plans most often come unstuck. Here are ten things to sort out early.

1. Budget for the barrier

Fencing and gates are part of the pool, not an extra. Price them in from day one.

2. Position

Where the pool sits decides how long the fence is, which boundary fences become part of the barrier (they then need to be 1.8 m high), and whether any doors or windows face the pool area.

3. Doors and windows

Doors and windows can no longer form part of the pool barrier, so plan the fence line around them.

4. Approvals

New pools have their own approval and certification process. Start with the NSW Government's building a pool guidance and your council.

5. Choosing a builder

Ask how they handle the barrier and the final certificate, and check their licence.

6. Materials

Glass, aluminium or timber all work if they meet the standard. What matters is height, gaps, strength and gate hardware.

7. The clear zone

Keep 90 cm outside the fence free of anything climbable. That includes built-in seating, planter boxes, barbecues and air-conditioning units, so plan landscaping with it in mind.

8. Gates

Gates must swing outward from the pool, self-close and self-latch. Buy good hardware; cheap hinges are a common fail later.

9. Registration and the CPR sign

Register the pool on the NSW Swimming Pool Register and put up a CPR sign readable from 3 m away.

10. A barrier check before it's finished

A quick check of the fence plans can save rework.

Questions? Call Garry on 0417 277 164.