Pool net vs pool fence?

[evolver]

Now that my daughter can walk, we are facing the problem of protecting her from the pool we have in the backyard. It is not a big pool, around 100 ft in perimeter. To the best of my knowledge, there are two types of protection against toddlers, pool nets and pool fences. It is more or less clear what a pool fence is and we don't like it enough. For the pool of our size and backyard of our size, the fence is going to be too big and ugly. On the other hand, a pool net probably look cleaner while providing necessary safety. However, I'm not sure if it is easy to install and remove the net every day. Does any of you have first-hand experience with pool nets? Would you prefer a net to a fence if we set aside the aethstetical aspect of it?

Thanks!

[blondboinsd]

Originally Posted by evolver

Now that my daughter can walk, we are facing the problem of protecting her from the pool we have in the backyard. It is not a big pool, around 100 ft in perimeter. To the best of my knowledge, there are two types of protection against toddlers, pool nets and pool fences. It is more or less clear what a pool fence is and we don't like it enough. For the pool of our size and backyard of our size, the fence is going to be too big and ugly. On the other hand, a pool net probably look cleaner while providing necessary safety. However, I'm not sure if it is easy to install and remove the net every day. Does any of you have first-hand experience with pool nets? Would you prefer a net to a fence if we set aside the aethstetical aspect of it?

Thanks!

Have you tried a poor cover? My Parent's old house had an automatic pool cover that fully covered the pool with the push of a button and was integrated into the side of the pool

[PersonaNonGrata]

I might not be totally on the money here but as far as I know, a pool net is easier to remove and can be removed daily if you so choose. They use pretty thin diameter posts that are plugged in to small holes drilled in the hardscape. They are not bolted down or secured by cement and can be pulled out. Pulling out the poles and rolling up the net would be easy.

A pool fence is usually either chain link or wrought iron and in either case are bolted or set in cement so that cannot really be uninstalled easily. They are more secure and would be the better choice but have the disadvantage of permanence and would look stand out more.

A pool cover would not be good as it does not prevent a child from falling in and could actually wrap a child up and that would be bad.

[evolver]

Thanks for your opinions! A retractable pool cover will not work for us. This is something you have to design for when the pool is built. I don't think it can be easily added after the pool is ready. I also found a local company that builds all three types of protection systems--covers, nets, and fences. I'll stop by some time next week to see in person what they offer.

[statdoc]

Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata

A pool cover would not be good as it does not prevent a child from falling in and could actually wrap a child up and that would be bad.

The better ones completely prevent contact with the water, and work almost like a horizontal garage door, on tracks at the pool edge. We had one on our pool when our son was small. After we had to rebuild the pool post-hurricane, we didn't reinstall it since he was no longer a worry in that regard.
We had one of these.

[PersonaNonGrata]

Originally Posted by statdoc

The better ones completely prevent contact with the water, and work almost like a horizontal garage door, on tracks at the pool edge. We had one on our pool when our son was small. After we had to rebuild the pool post-hurricane, we didn't reinstall it since he was no longer a worry in that regard.
We had one of these.

That's pretty slick!

[Weasel]

I've seen old adds for those automatic covers with small cars parked on them! But I'm sure not all are built equal.