What should we do with this fence?

[Tarheel2000]

We moved into this house a year and a half ago. The fence has always bothered me, because it is around the pool only. And for some reason, the previous owners put fence sections in the front on either side of the house. I originally wanted the whole backyard fenced in but it would cost a lot more than we wanted to spend. We might do it though. Then I thought maybe we should just have somebody take the fence from around the pool and open it up and connect it to the back corners of the house. That would make it to where we could step out our screened in porch right to the pool with no fence in between. It might look bad though with those pieces sticking out to the left and to the right of the house. What do you think we should do?

1. Leave it as is
2. Fence in whole backyard
3. Open up fence and connect it to corners of house and remove other fence in front of house (could cost a lot removing brick columns)
4. Open up fence and connect it to corner of house and leave fence in front of house.
5. Any other option you suggest.
Thank you!

 

[PoolGate]

Yeah I hate fences like that too. My guess is it's code to have a fence and they wanted to spend as little as possible. I'd tear it out and surround the entire yard with whatever code requires.

 

[Newdude]

I had that at my old house and I hated it. But it was so we could use the whole yard while keeping our small kids away from the pool. Now that they are older, I will fence the whole yard being more concerned about keeping wandering neighborhood toddlers out, not my own.

 

[Tarheel2000]

Thank you both! I think code is a 4 foot fence around the pool.

 

[Nikilyn]

I would leave it. We are actually putting one up. I have zero desire for anyone to accidentally fall in. My son and grandkids play out back and the thought of a ball or something going in the pool and them falling in trying to get it out is not something I want to happen. Here in AZ all our yards are fenced. We are putting one in just like yours so the rest of the yard can be used without worry about accidents. Even if everyone in your house can swim, you don't know who is going to come visit and what their abilities are.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

I would call the county to find out if they mean the pool itself requires fencing, or if you fence the entire back yard does that meet the requirement?

Maddie

 

[PoolGate]

I would call the county to find out if they mean the pool itself requires fencing, or if you fence the entire back yard does that meet the requirement?

Maddie

Most (all?) jurisdictions that require a fence for pool safety code simply specify that the pool must be protected by a fence. It can be anywhere in the yard. Where I live the house can be one side of the fence as long as all exits are alarmed, which ours is.

 

[Newdude]

Where I live the house can be one side of the fence as long as all exits are alarmed, which ours is

Same.

 

[Tarheel2000]

Yes the pool can be around the whole yard as long as it is 4 foot tall and have self-locking gates.