While the air feels chilly outside now, warmer temperatures and pool season are right around the corner. Winter is a great time to check the area around your pool to ensure you’re ready for spring.
Take a close look at your pool’s floor and surrounding patio or deck. Be on the lookout for cracks, missing tiles, nails or uneven patches that could cause injury or a slip. Cracks may or may not need tending to immediately. If it’s shallow and small, make a mental note and revisit in a few months, making sure it hasn’t spread or deepened. If you have a deck and see any nails or uneven boards, take the time to repair them now before bare feet and excited kids visit the pool.
When you’re finished taking a look at the pool and surrounding ground area, also take a critical eye to the fence around your pool. The State of Florida requires a 4 foot-tall barrier that completely surrounds the pool. There must be space between the fence and the pool so that someone walking through the fence doesn’t immediately fall into the water. Fence gates must open outwards, away from the pool, and must automatically close once it’s let go of. Gates must include a self-latching lock that is placed on the pool-side of the gate.
If you have an above-ground pool, the walls of the pool may act as the barrier as long as they’re at least 4 feet tall. Ladders or stairs used to enter the pool must be removed when it’s not in use to prevent children from wandering into the pool unsupervised.
If the fence around your pool is looking worn or you’d like to upgrade it to something from which you can clearly look out and enjoy the view, contact Fence Central. We’re based in Winter Haven, Florida, and service most of the surrounding areas including Davenport, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Auburndale, Bartow, Lake Alfred, Polk City, Lake Wales, Dundee, and Haines City. Our knowledgable staff can help you choose a suitable replacement for your pool fence or, if you’re thinking about building a pool in the upcoming year, can help you choose which fence will suit your needs best.
