Having a pool is a wonderful luxury, especially for a family with children. On hot summer days, there’s nothing that kids enjoy more than going for a swim, and a pool provides both entertainment and exercise. But many parents are reluctant to install a pool, for fear that their young children may encounter an accident. Luckily, there are many pool fences on the market that can protect the perimeter of your pool, and ensure that your children are only near the water when they are properly supervised.

Recently, the market has been favoring durable mesh pool fencing. Wooden and chain link fences are probably more well-known to most homeowners, but these fences don’t always fare very well in the elements – over time, wooden fences will warp and crack, and chain link is easily bent. Given a few years, these types of fences will not look nearly as nice as they did upon installation, and their upkeep can be a pain. Many companies now offer durable, clear mesh fences, which are much more suited to the outdoors than other types of fencing. Some of the mesh fencing is also climb-proof, which means that your fence won’t become a jungle-gym.

Childguard offers mesh fencing, and the option to completely customize your fence online. Their step-by-step instructions allow you to pick a fence that is perfectly suited to your home, and walks you through installation. The website offers tips on fence placement, and suggests configurations that will protect your family the most. Measuring details are also supplied, as are lists concerning materials.

Protect-A-Child offers a fence which features a self-closing, self-latching gate. This feature helps eliminate human error, and ensures the safety of your children. These gates are steel-free, and they will not rust or need maintenance. You can also order a fence with a manual gate, if the self-latching mechanism is not to your liking. Protect-A-Child offers fences with posts made from aluminum or fiberglass, and the latter is guaranteed not to bend, break, or become crooked. Even if an adult falls against the fence, Protect-A-Child guarantees that the posts will remain perfectly straight.

Perhaps the best bang-for-your-buck is Guardian Pool Fence, which features a patented non-climbable, self-latching gate. Their gate system has been called, “The world’s safest gate latch” by Australian manufacturer Magna Latch, and this video provides strong evidence that their poles may be the safest of their kind, as well. These fences also come in several heights and colors so that you can match your fence to your landscape design – after all, why should safety come at the expense of design? With their safety record and aesthetic mindfulness, Guardian may be the most well-rounded fence company around.

If you’ve been trying to decide on what fence to buy, or trying to decide if a pool is a safe option for your family, mesh fencing may be the answer you’ve been looking for. It may not be the cheapest option on the market, but at the end of the day, your family’s safety is priceless.