Need fence advice for keeping trespassers out

[sburer]

Neighborhood kids have been climbing our fence at night to swim. We will be replacing current fence (5 feet tall) with a new one, which is at least 6 feet tall (maybe as tall as 8 ft).

Besides a taller fence, what type / style of fence is the most difficult to climb? Privacy and cost are less of a priority than keeping the trespassers out.

Thanks for your help. --Sam

 

[RobbieH]

I did an 8' at my last house, tried to find a picture but could not. It was boards laid side-by-side, with a cap at the top. Looked really good, especially after we stained it. If you do the boards on the outside, there'd be nothing to climb on to get to the top. I want to warn you though, unless your yard is very large, an 8' fence can make your yard feel a little clausterphobic. We had a 1/4 acre lot, and the fence made the back yard feel like a room instead of a yard.

If I find those pictures, I'll post one.

 

[Bama Rambler]

I'd invest in some motion lights and a surveillance system. Determined teenagers can figure a way to get over any kind of fence but it's a different story when you show up with a video of them doing so.

 

[Nightmare]

How about an electric fence to keep the raccoons and possums out of the yard? If it happens to shock some kid climbing the fence...Ooops

http://www.fishock.com/

 

[sburer]

RobbieH, thanks for the ideas. Our yard is fairly big, and the pool is just one section. So an 8 ft fence should be OK.

Bama Rambler, I will probably do motion lights and a professional surveillance system too, but I figured I should improve the fence first to help limit my liability.

Nightmare, I already thought of this. Unfortunately, my city doesn't allow this.

 

[Nightmare]

This type of fence is more difficult to climb. There are no footholds and you can't jump on top of it. I would think twice before I tried this fence with the spikes on top.

I had an AmeriStar Aluminum fence until we installed the pool, then I switched to a similar type of galvanized iron fence (cheaper). My fence was one of the desgins with a top rail instead of spikes (ECHELON PLUS 3-Rail).

http://www.ameristarfence.com/backyards

 

[texasdad]

Motion lights and a 12 guage will cost alot less then a new fence.

Any fence can be climed, burrowed under, or cut: Buy a fence that you think looks good, because most of them will do very little to keep determined people out.

 

[sburer]

Nightmare, thanks for the links. That definitely gives me some good ideas.

Texasdad, one of our challenges is that the pool is set back about 50 ft from the house, and I'm not positive I would always see the lights. I also wonder if they might just knock them out with rocks or whatever. But maybe I should give lights a try first since they're less expensive like you say.

 

[Nightmare]

You might want to double check the Pool Barrier (fence) code in your area. You don't want to spend a bunch of money on a new fence and have any code problems after it's installed. My first AmeriStar fence was technically 2" too short to qualify for my code, but the inspector let it pass.

 

[frogabog]

Pretty sure H would choose to add razor wire over replacing a fence in such a situation.

Wonder if there's something you could put in the pool to brand them... purple dye? lol

 

[MajorDIYer]

I would have a few motion sensors and a few lights wired together so that any movement lights up the entire backyard. Actually, I don't need that since I have an Alaskan Shepherd that lights up when any movement is detected

 

[JTS]

Maybe something like this would work. It says it has a long range and cannot be turned off by removing it from pool.

http://www.amazon.com/PoolGuard-In-Grou ... 292&sr=1-3

 

[sburer]

Thanks for all the suggestions, guys. I'm going to try a multi-faceted approach (fence, lights, etc.) I even found about these hunting cameras that could be good for photographing trespassers: http://www.trailcampro.com/firsttimebuyersguide.aspx

 

[PoolGuyNJ]

Warning: Property Protected By Smith & Wesson 3 Nights A Week. You Guess Which Nights.

Warning: Guard Dogs

Motion lights with grates to protect the bulbs.

Best Solution:
Get to know the kids. Invite them to swim. Take the "thrill" of getting away with it away.

Scott