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How to raise the pool fence height?

Hi,

I am in the process of improving the usability of my back yard and decided to install a Deck. I am planning to stretch the decking all the way to the pool fence. This is going to raise the ground level and thus need to increase the height of the fence proportional to the increase in deck height. I am inspired by the low level DIY decks in this forum and decided to go with, the deck will be between 300-400mm above ground level. Would like some suggestions to increase the fence height. I have limited budget, so removing and installing a new fence will be out of my budget, appreciate any suggestions or help.

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Decking and Paving

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Fencing and Screening

Comments

Jason

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @coolnav.

Great to read that you've already been inspired by other community member projects. I'm sure you'll find there's loads of help and inspiration on the site.

This will be a tricky challenge though. Have you contacted your local council as yet? I would encourage you to do so to obtain the specific pool fencing requirements for your area. Once you are armed with that information, then our members might be in a better position to provide more specific and helpful advice.

Jason

coolnav

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/47623#Comment_47623

Thanks @Jason

Below are the key pool fence measurements, hope this helps:

be at least 1.2m high (as measured from the finished ground level)
not leave a gap at the bottom bigger than 10cm from the finished ground level
not have gaps of more than 10cm between any vertical bars in the fence
if containing horizontal climbable bars, have these spaced at least 90cm apart
perforated or mesh barriers must have holes no greater than 13mm for fence heights of 1.2m
any horizontal climbable bars on the pool fence must also be spaced AT LEAST 90cm apart

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/85863#Comment_85863

Thanks @coolnav. And how high is the existing fence?

coolnav

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/108204#Comment_108204

@Jason The pool fence and the non-climbable zone is in compliance with the rules. The current fence meets the pool requirements of 1.2m. When I install the low deck, it would be raising the ground level to 20-40 cm, this means I need to raise the fence by 20-40 cm.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/121368#Comment_121368

Hello @coolnav

Technically you would be extending the posts 20 to 40cm in height. I'm afraid the adjustment is too big and the gap underneath the fence would be a point of contention. In theory it would be covered by the low-level deck and not allow children to squeeze through, but the inspector might say otherwise and say that it needs to be a full fence that goes all the way to the bottom. I can only suggest either getting a new fence (which is outside the budget) or making the low-level deck bigger and transfer the pool fence onto the deck.

Another option is to wait until you have the budget to update your fence properly. If you are not in a great hurry to start this project, perhaps a little bit more time will allow you to gather the resources to do a full makeover fence included.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1 and @Nailbag for their recommendations.

Eric

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/129628#Comment_129628

Good Evening @coolnav

Caught between a rock and a hard place comes to mind.

I am wondering if its worthwhile removing the pavers and then the soil so your deck can stay as low as possible? Or have a stepped deck so the part within the range of the fence is at ground level, maybe even leave a path down the middle between the deck and the side of the fence?

If you dont have the funds atm but you still want the deck, why not design the new deck to finish early (before the fenceline) and also with the ability to pull up the edge later on and extend the deck to your new fence and fenceline? You could use a breaker board to deliminate the two areas?

Dave

coolnav

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/134845#Comment_134845

Thanks @EricL and @Dave-1 for your response, that was my plan B as well, if we leave 0.5m from the deck to fence, we don't need any modification. I thought there would be an easy fix ideas, looks like I need to go with plan B.

I was looking for ideas if anyone has done something silmilar to raise thee pool fence height, was looking for something like this https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/t5/Outdoor/How-to-raise-the-height-of-a-fence/m-p/236710?lightbox-message-images-236710=108062i0C47A0A53E91BC07 but for my fence type.

EricL

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/134845#Comment_134845

Hi @coolnav

If you had a timber fence that would be the perfect solution. But because it is steel there is no simple way of joining to it.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

Nailbag

Hi @coolnav

Have you considered to simply replace just the existing pool fence posts with new ones installed on top of the new deck? This means you will be able to re-purpose the existing balustrade sections and screw them to the new posts fixed to the deck. This would be a very cost effective solution.

Bunnings have a range of pool fence posts on range. And if you google fence pool fence posts, you find a lot more. Unless I have missed something, I think this should resolve the key points of pool fence regulations that both @Jason and @EricL highlighted.

Nailbag

Dave-1

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/138263#Comment_138263

Evening @coolnav

Yeah, no way I know of raising those types of fences. I would also go with a path of 800mm, two reasons. Safty being the first, its meant to be far enough away so a child cant lean and leverage themselves over the fence. The second is you might as well make the space useful, 500mm is a pretty tight area to walk along and may end up attracting stuff leaning against the fence. With a path its likely to be used and stay clear.

I have to rip out a Christmas bush that has grown through my pool fence, same as your type. And the same answer I gave you about lowering the soil height is the way I will also be going forward when I pave that area 🙂 Diggity dig dig lol I never seem to stop digging.

Dave

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