Most people don’t think about their pool fence until something goes wrong with it. It sits there quietly doing its job for years, and then one day the gate doesn’t quite catch, or a panel looks a bit off, and it gets put on the list of things to deal with “eventually.” The problem is, a pool fence isn’t really the kind of thing you want to leave until eventually.
We get called out to a lot of fences that were installed properly and have simply drifted out of shape over time. Ground shifts, hinges wear, hardware gets knocked around by kids and pool toys. None of that means the fence was badly built. It just means it needs a bit of attention. Here’s what we’d suggest keeping an eye on.
The gate doesn’t close on its own
Stand the gate open at about halfway and let it go. If it doesn’t swing shut and latch by itself, that’s the most common issue we see, and usually the easiest to fix. Nine times out of ten it’s the hinge tension, not the whole gate.
The latch needs a shove to catch
A self-latching gate should do exactly that. If you find yourself pushing or jiggling it to get the latch to engage, it’s either worn out or sitting slightly out of alignment. Either way, it’s not doing its job properly anymore.
Gaps have opened up
Check along the bottom of the fence and between panels. Ground movement, especially after a wet Melbourne winter, can open gaps that were fine when the fence went in. If you can fit more than a tennis ball through anywhere along the barrier, it’s worth having a look.
Glass panels are chipped or cracked
Toughened glass is tough, but it’s not indestructible. A small chip at the edge of a panel, particularly near a spigot, is worth getting checked rather than waiting for it to spread.
Something’s been placed near the fence
This one’s easy to miss because it’s not actually a fault with the fence itself. Pot plants, outdoor furniture, even a stack of pool noodles pushed up against the panels can all create a foothold that defeats the purpose of the barrier.
If any of this sounds familiar, it doesn’t necessarily mean a full replacement. Most of what we see on repair callouts comes down to hinges, latches or the odd damaged panel, and those are usually straightforward to sort out. Send us a few photos or give us a call and we’ll let you know what’s actually involved.