Nowadays more than one in five Australian homes has an in-ground swimming pool and there is increasing awareness about how important it is for pool owners to understand and practice responsible fence maintenance techniques. Pool fencing keeps children safe from injury but also prevents wildlife entry into your backyard. Pools must be protected with appropriate fencing that’s effective and well-maintained.
Pool fencing Sydney owner Paul Mcnamara explains that a clean pool is a happy pool. If you want to make sure your pool fence remains safe and clean, there are some important tips to follow. Without proper care, the grime that accumulates around your pool can become dangerous for children or pets who might be tempted to touch it or crawl through it.
Here are tips for keeping your pool fencing clean and in good shape so that it does not pose a threat to those you love.
- Never use harsh chemicals to clean the pool fencing material. Harsh chemicals can damage the surface of pool fencing, leading to rust stains that are difficult to remove. If possible, only use cleaners that are approved for cleaning pool fencing materials or omit any additional cleaners entirely, as long as you can maintain mineral levels in your water.
- Most fencing manufacturers will provide specific instructions on how best to clean their pool fence, however, most companies recommend using a garden hose and soft brush like a scrubbing brush or broom when cleaning pool fencing (scrub both sides). For particularly tough stains such as rust stains, it is advised that you add some diluted bleach into the water solution; this will help dissolve rust and help loosen tough dirt.
- For particularly tough stains on the pool fencing material, you can use a poultice to help with stain removal. A poultice is simply a combination of water and baking powder kneaded into a paste that works similar to an exfoliant. This is most effective when left overnight or for long periods, allowing it to soak up any minerals in the wrought iron pool fencing. When cleaning the next morning you should find that certain areas are much easier to remove than others, due to having already been softened by the poultice overnight which will assist with removing dirt after moistening the area again with some water.Â
- If you have rust marks that are difficult to remove, sometimes adding white vinegar into the water solution can help, or if you have at your disposal a pressure washer then this will provide good results for rust and dirt removal.
- Cleaning pool fencing regularly in addition to following the manufacturer’s instructions will ensure that they look their best and will last long. Regular maintenance is always better than waiting for problems to become worse before attempting to fix them.
- It is highly recommended that when cleaning pool fencing you place some form of mesh over the section of the fence which has been de-constructed, such as chicken wire or garden netting; this will help keep out unwanted pests such as birds and insects which could potentially damage your pool fencing further with their waste or nesting materials.
- When reassembling the pool fencing always ensure that the screws are screwed in tightly. Over time, gaps can appear along with joint points between panels which you may not initially notice, however after a few months these could widen to allow for the entry of insects or pests.
- If you are looking to paint your pool fencing then it is important to follow any instructions given by the manufacturer as different types of paints can have different results on different surfaces, however typically if there are no specific instructions provided with your pool fencing then be sure to use a rust-inhibiting primer before adding any final coatings to ensure protection from the elements.
- Always wait 24 hours after painting before allowing children back into/around painted areas of the fence as some paints contain strong chemicals that should not come into contact with a child’s skin until they have been given time to dry.
- If you are looking to stain your pool fencing rather than paint it then ensure that you use the right kind of stain for the type of material used in your fence. For example, if you have powder-coated wrought iron pool fencing then using paint on this would likely damage the surface, however, stains specially made for powder-coated surfaces can be applied without worry.